Depths

For POOL water depths 5 feet (1.5 m) or shallower, all deck depth markers required by MAHC Section 4.5.19 shall be provided with “NO DIVING” warning signs along with the universal international symbol for “NO DIVING”

The symbol is required as it is the universally recognized symbol for “No Diving” and can be understood by those who do not read and non-English speaking individuals. Diving boards are permitted only when the diving envelope conforms to the STANDARDS of the certifying agency that regulates diving at the facility - National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSHSA), the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA), or U.S. Diving. If the AQUATIC VENUE does not have competitive diving, then the diving envelope must conform to these diving envelope STANDARDS. The intent of this section is to prohibit recreational and/or unsupervised users from performing DECK level diving into water five feet (1.5 m) or shallower. It is not intended to apply to competitive divers competing under the auspices of an aquatics governing body (e.g., FINA, U.S.A. Swimming, NCAA, NFSHSA, YMCA) or under the supervision of a coach or instructor. The vast majority of current STANDARDS allow for diving off the side of the POOL in water five feet (1.5 m) deep or greater. Water depths of at least five feet (1.5 m) are generally considered as safe for diving from the edge of a POOL where the coping/DECK is the typical six inches (150 mm) above the water surface. AQUATIC VENUE size and geometry may necessitate additional depth marking placements about all sides of the AQUATIC VENUE. The American Red Cross recommends nine feet (2.7 m) of water depth based on analyses of spinal cord injuries.⁸² The organization has clarified this recommendation to state, “Be sure water is at least nine-feet deep unless performed with proper supervision and in water depths that conform with the rules of the concerned regulating body, such as USA Swimming, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSHSA), YMCA of the USA, and the International Swimming Federation (FINA).” Although there are some national data on spinal cord injuries (SCIs) in general, data on diving-specific SCIs are limited, particularly for SCIs involving public POOL-related competition diving. General data on spinal cord injuries: For SCIs in general, approximately 40 SCIs/million population occur each year in the US (about 12,400 injuries for 2010) with approximately 4.5% related to diving injuries.⁸³ SCIs are a catastrophic public health problem leading to disability and decreased life expectancy with a large economic and social burden for those that suffer the injury.⁸⁴,⁸⁵ The MAHC recommends that these national databases be re-analyzed with aquatics in mind to gather more detailed information on SCIs related to diving in treated AQUATIC VENUES, particularly public AQUATIC VENUES. Deck level diving and swimming pool-related SCIs: Most SCIs are related to diving into open water (lakes, ocean)⁸⁶ or use of private/residential POOLS. Analysis of the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center database shows that 341 enrollees from 1973-1986 had an SCI as a result of diving into swimming POOLS⁸⁷. Almost all of the injuries (87%) resulted from diving into private residential POOLS and 57% of injuries were a result of diving into water less than four feet (1.2 m) with almost four out of five dives (76.8%) being DECK level dives. Almost half (49%) of injuries involved alcohol use and 46% occurred during parties. In a summary of 194 neck injuries from DECK level dives into in-ground POOLS (33% private residential)⁸⁸, 86.6% were in water less than or equal to four feet (1.2 m); 99.0% were in water less than or equal to five feet (1.5 m). Only one injury occurred in water between six and seven feet (1.8 to 2.1 m). Another global review study showed that 89% of diving-associated neck injuries occurred in water less than five feet.⁸⁹ These data support keeping non-competition DECK level diving to water depths greater than five feet (1.5 m). An example of an international “No Diving” Marker: Also see: NEMA/ANSI Z535: Safety Alerting Standards