Water depth is usually well marked in pools, but in natural bodies of water the depth is usually not indicated. To decide whether or not a location is safe for diving, anyone planning to dive should first check the depth of the water and make sure it is free from underwater obstructions. At an unfamiliar location, divers should ease into the water slowly and feetfirst. In competitive diving, divers perform basic dives, somersaults, and twists, which they complete with an entry into the water. Separate events are held for platform divers, who dive from a fixed, rigid platform, and springboard divers, who dive from a narrower, springy board that flexes under weight and movement.
Judges evaluate each dive and assign a score.
Divers learn each of these components by repeating the dive or skill over and over. Divers also use skill progressions to learn more difficult dives. They first master simple skills such as feetfirst jumps before learning body positions, alignment, somersaults, and twists. These complex skills are often taught on dry land using special equipment such as trampolines combined with safety harnesses that can suspend the diver in the air with ropes. Foam pits that cushion landings from low springboards are also used.