Springboard Diving and Platform Diving.
Basic dive has four distinct phases: the starting position, the take-off, the in-flight maneuvers, and the entry into the water.
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.
A diver first master simple skills such as feetfirst jumps before learning body positions, alignment, somersaults, and twists.
Each dive begins from a starting position, and there are two basic types of starts: standing and running.
For standing dives the diver stands on the edge of the platform or springboard with the body held straight, the head erect, and the arms straight. In front and reverse dives from the standing position, the diver looks forward out over the pool. In back and inward dives, the diver turns around to face the platform or springboard.
For running dives, the diver takes the starting position far enough back from the edge of the platform or tip of the springboard to take a few steps and build up forward momentum before take-off.
The take-off is the portion of the dive prior to flight when the diver prepares to jump up and away from the platform or springboard.
The in-flight maneuvers define which dive the athlete is performing. During the passage through the air, a diver can hold his or her body in one of several positions. These positions are straight, pike, tuck, and free.
In all positions the diver should hold the feet together and keep the toes pointed. A diver must be flexible enough to move in and out of these positions while completing twists and somersaults, and strong enough to hold the position while spinning rapidly.
Source: Watersports India