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The average swimming pool used to have a diving board,
but there were accidents, and finally Insurance
Companies
raised the rates so high that almost all of them were
torn
down. They tend to survive only in certain sporting
venues, which means that the average amateur, who
wants to become
a diver, is very limited in places to go
to
practice.
It is my understanding that more of the accidents were
related to the diving boards breaking, than to, say,
divers
colliding with people already in the water below. So,
what
if there was a safer alternative?
Well, there is "platform diving" (linked). Solid
reinforced concrete
will break extremely rarely, compared to a frequently-
flexing diving board, and so far as I know, the Insurance
Companies haven't declared them to be too risky. But
the
"feel" of starting a dive is very different, especially for
someone used to a flexible diving board....
So, see the linked image; it is the kind of springboard
used in gymnastics for vaults and such. Now suppose
such
a springboard was solidly attached near the edge of a
diving platform? It would be possible to run and bounce
and get most of the enjoyment associated with classic
diving boards.
And springboards are safer, too; they have actual
springs
that are designed to be removed in patterns, for
different
amounts of springiness. This means they all could
simply
be replaced at intervals, preventing surprise breakages.
Diving platform
https://en.wikipedi...iki/Diving_platform
As mentioned in the main text. [Vernon, Apr 10 2013]
Gymnastics springboard
http://www.american...ht=300&maxWidth=300
As mentioned in the main text [Vernon, Apr 10 2013]
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Annotation:
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//It is my understanding that more of the accidents
were related to the diving boards breaking, than to,
say, divers colliding with people already in the water
// On what basis? I've never heard of a diving board
breaking, though I suppose they must sometimes. |
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[+] Concrete platforms suck for springboard diving (obviously)... but note you won't get anywhere near the amount of springiness of a diving-board with a gymnastics springboard. |
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This is a great idea. What about just a waterproof springboard you set next to the pool with skid proof pads? Sort of a portable diving board. Kids would love that! A small round trampoline would work well, too. |
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