obviate entering the water with the knees doubled up,
as so many do (see illustration), the toes must be pointed straight up,
back arched. Pointing the toes tends to straighten the legs out (see
page 94). Another method I use in teaching a diver to spring well out is
to hold a long stick across the water, about four feet away and three
feet above the diving-board. This makes the diver spring well out and
throw his legs up behind him. It is well to impress the diver always to
keep his thumbs interlocked. Otherwise, if he should be diving in a
shallow place, the hands would spread and the head would strike bottom;
locking the thumbs prevents this.

After deep and shallow dives have been mastered, the pupil can take up
various fancy dives, such as the "side dive," "standing-sitting dives,"
"standing, sitting-standing dive," "back dive," "jack-knife dive,"
"front-back dive," "back somersault," "front somersault," "sitting
jump," and numerous others.

[Illustration: A BAD DIVE]

[Illustration: CORRECT POSITION IN MIDAIR]

[Illustration: CORRECT POSITION ON ENTERING THE WATER]

The side dive is made by standing sideways on the diving-board, the
forward foot turned so that the toes grip the edge of board. When
springing out, the back should be well hollowed and the face turned
up, the head well tucked in between the arms.

The "standing-sitting dive" must be made from a good springboard. The
diver stands at the edge of the springboard, the arms straight down,
with the hands at right angles with the arms, the palms downward. With a
slight spring the pupil drops to a sitting position, the palms flat on
the springboard, and the legs straightened out rigidly in front. Thus
the impact, assisted by a push-off with the hands, will jerk the diver
head foremost into space. The diver then turns over, straightening the
body and entering the water as in an ordinary dive.

In the "standing-sitting-standing" dive from a standing position the
diver assumes a sitting position as in a "sitting" dive, drawing the
knees under to regain the feet again and pushing off for the dive.

[Illustration: MRS. FRANK EUGEN DALTON POSITION FOR A DIVE]

[Illustration: THE STANDING-SITTING DIVE]

[Illustration: THE BACK DIVE]

The back dive requires a depth of at least five to six feet. The toes
should be well up to the edge of the pool and the back well hollowed.
This is the main essential; one also must point the toes out well. This
is a very