10 meters diving experience and tips from UF diver Emma Whitner

Karen Carter
Press Release
Media Contact: 513-226-5542

I know personally, I have only been given the opportunity to jump off of a 10-meter once in my life. Most pools only open these boards for diving teams or special occasions. The reason I was allowed to attempt it was because I was a lifeguard at a pool with platform boards and we were allowed to try on our last day. I remember jumping off the 5-meter was a piece of cake and was actually really fun. I thought that two meters more wouldn't be too difficult, so I climbed the stairs up to the 7-meter. I felt sheer terror looking down at how far away the pool was from me. After debating with myself for 5 minutes, I decided to just jump. It was a rush!!!!

Finally, I had worked my way up and it was time to conquer the 10-meter. I climbed all those stairs to the top and walked out onto the platform. I became increasingly aware of how close I was to the ceiling. I slowly walked to the edge and looked over down to the water.

I spoke to University of Florida diver, Emma Whitner, to see what she had to say about the platform. While Emma mostly competes on the 1-meter and 3-meter boards, she has still had her fair share of 10-meter dives. Whitner started diving off the 10-meter when she was 14 years old after joining a new diving team in Orlando, FL.

"It was very scary at first. Even jumping off the 10-meter feet first was intimidating, but you start with the basics and build from there. Eventually, it gets easier and easier until it really isn't scary anymore," says Emma.

The dive that Emma competes off of the 10-meter is a back 2 ½ with 1 ½ twists, meaning when she gets to the edge of the platform, she has to stand backwards and flip off.

"Any fear that I had up on the 10-meter went away after 2 or 3 dives. Sometimes I still get scared trying a new dive up there but the fear isn't as bad as my first time. You really do get used to it and it's not so bad," she says.