Don't High Divers Need to Actually Dive?

[The Man In Black]

As in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uHkyMh9FW4 the "diver" hits the water feet first. Yes, of course I am amazed at the height of 172 feet, but how can it be called a dive?

[Shmendrik]

Yes.


dive
verb \ˈdīv\
dived or dove | dived also dove | div·ing
Definition of DIVE
intransitive verb
1
a : to plunge into water intentionally and especially headfirst; also : to execute a dive

[Exapno Mapcase]

Words don't have a fixed meaning bestowed upon them by omniscient aliens from the Pedantic Galaxy. Usage creates meaning. Always, for every word, throughout all history.

The history of dive itself is proof. It doesn't come from any root word meaning headfirst and its subsequent secondary meanings don't all use that sense either.

dive (v.) (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=dive&searchmode=none)

13c., from O.E. dufan "to dive, duck, sink" (intransitive, class II strong verb; past tense deaf, pp. dofen) and dyfan "to dip, submerge" (weak, transitive), from P.Gmc. *dubijanan, from PIE *dheub- (see deep). Past tense dove is a later formation, perhaps on analogy of drive/drove. The noun is attested from c.1700. Sense of "disreputable bar" is first recorded Amer.Eng. 1871, perhaps because they were usually in basements, and going into one was both a literal and figurative "diving." Related: Diving. Dive bomber attested by 1939.

[mnemosyne]

For what it's worth, FINA, the international federation that dictates diving regulations, allows both head-first and feet-first entries since this provides divers with more options of twists, rotations and other in-air movements to increase the difficulty of the dive.

I'm not familiar with the entire set of rules, but here (http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=84:diving-rules&Itemid=184&layout=default)they are. Officially, a feet-first entry (http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=305:d-8-judging&catid=84:diving-rules&Itemid=184)has to be done with hands below the head:

D 8.6.4 In feet first entries, the arms shall be close to the body with no bending at the elbows. If one or both arms are held beyond the head on entry, the Referee shall declare a maximum award of 4½ points.

[Robot Arm]

Yes, of course I am amazed at the height of 172 feet, but how can it be called a dive?When someone willingly jumps off something 172 feet high, I'm willing to cut him a little slack on exactly what to call it.

I wonder what the current record is.

[The Man In Black]

When someone willingly jumps off something 172 feet high, I'm willing to cut him a little slack on exactly what to call it.

What if he called it a truck? If someone tells me he dove a bridge, I assume he hit the water head first. Otherwise, it's a jump.

But a bellyflop from that height would be really awesome!

[USCDiver]

At those heights (ie cliff diving), head first entries are not practical or safe.

[Telemark]

When someone willingly jumps off something 172 feet high, I'm willing to cut him a little slack on exactly what to call it.

I wonder what the current record is.
177 feet, by Oliver Favre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLd529gWKJ4

[Brown Eyed Girl]

177 feet, by Oliver Favre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLd529gWKJ4

Eek! That entry was just terrible.

[The Man In Black]

177 feet, by Oliver Favre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLd529gWKJ4

I read that that was not a record, because the guy was not able to exit the water on his own, because he was badly hurt in the attempt.

[Princhester]

At those heights (ie cliff diving), head first entries are not practical or safe.

... but then neither is any other angle of entry ;)

[constanze]

Words don't have a fixed meaning bestowed upon them by omniscient aliens from the Pedantic Galaxy. Usage creates meaning. Always, for every word, throughout all history.

All the more apparent when you compare the English word to other languages, i.e. German:

Dive as in jumping of a board: Turmspringer/ Kunstspringer

Dive as in jumping of a cliff: Klippenspringer
(Springer means jumper)

Dive as in "go below the water with Scuba etc.": Taucher

[Telemark]

I read that that was not a record, because the guy was not able to exit the water on his own, because he was badly hurt in the attempt.
That may well be, I did a quick search and that video came up in a few places. There was a previous WR at 174 feet, but I didn't look for video or confirmation from it.

I've done dives from 10 meters, and you really don't want to mess up your entry from that height. I can't imagine the issues with messing up from 6 times that height! :eek: