How to Dive From a Height.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 351, 16 March 1889, Page 6

How to Dive From a Height.

Diving from a height requires, as Artemus Wai d observed when he took the census, experience, like any other busintss; and ju-b as that worthy gentleman got into difficulties with the Hist two old maids he met, and whose mouths he attempted to examine, nob believing bheir answers to be correct with regard to age, so many a boy who has witnessed the apparently tasy feat of taking a header has come to terrible grief by tin ling himself come down flat on the water, which he has shoi.tly af'erwarda left with the appearance of having: had a particularly strong mustard poultice on Ma chest. Now, in diving from a height of, say, 6ft., the heels must be thrown \m-11 up, tho legs should be kept straight and well together, and tho two hands be brought forward in. front of tho head, exactly similar to the position thai a man takes in ma' ing- his first attempt at swimming on his chett. The hando act simp'y as a breakwater, and they should be turned up the moment the water i? reached, thus preventing the diver going deep, «nd al&o enabling him to dart forward along the surface the momeiit he vouches the water. A good diver can dive from a height of 40 to 50ft., and yet never go a yard below the surface. On one occa-ion, when only fourteen years of ape, a boy dived from the top deck of H.M.J*. President, stationed at the Vest India docks. The height above the water wafa4s feet, and those who witnessed him state that they did nob think he went more than two feet below the surface. Neither man nor boy should attempt to dive from such a height. Wet e they to slip or fall flat the probability is that they would be killed on the spot. But should it at any time be necessary to take a dive from a high place, bear in mind ,that you must not give the same movement! to your body as if you were going-off from the height of a few feet, otherwise ,you will turn immediately over in the air and come, down on your b^ck, which, should the distance be very great, would probably kill you ; and it .the distance, be moderate, you would , certainly have the appearance ,of .having a severe whipping. j~ In diving and in everything else, : it is ; practice only, that,will make pet feet. Webb _ ■idived off the yard harm of a^hip quite>iQfe ( efel_ , above the water ; but_if,,by chance .anypniß. fromjBuch a height .coro.e^Jn thq.taa^t igp,^' ,gree flat, heVill^urt^hifias.e^qo^sl^e^B.Dlir.*''