Cannonballs, belly flops, pike dives and, for the more adventurous, backflips…Diving boards can certainly take the level of swimming pool enjoyment up a notch.

However, many residential pools are not large enough for diving boards, making diving dangerous. If you are considering adding a diving board to your pool, make sure your pool is large enough for diving safely.

If pools are not deep enough for a diving board, divers could hit their head on the bottom, causing paralysis or even death. The same could happen if a pool is not long enough and a diver runs head first into the wall.

Whether you should install a diving board depends on the size and shape of your pool. Diving board manufacturers consider the water in front, below and on each side of the diver when creating their diving board regulations. Pools must contain enough water surrounding the diver to ensure that the diver will not hit the bottom or sides.

The American Red Cross says that most diving injuries happen in less than five feet of water, and the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals recommend a six to nine-foot minimum swimming pool depth to accommodate diving.

If you have any questions at all, just ask the experts at SE Pool and Spa. We would love nothing more than to dive right into the conversation to help you out!