So, how deep is an Olympic diving pool?
Most Olympic diving pools are between 3.5 and 5 meters (11.5 and 16.4 feet) deep, though a few are only 3 meters (9.8 feet) deep.
The very first Olympic pool, built for the 1896 Games in Athens, was just 1.35 meters (4.43 feet) deep — so shallow that the divers could touch the bottom while standing on the platform!
The pool at the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis was 4 meters (13 feet) deep, which was considered quite deep at the time; however, one of the divers accidentally hit his head on the bottom of the pool and died soon afterward from his injuries. As a result of this tragic accident, all future Olympic diving pools were required to be a minimum of 5 meters (16.4 feet) deep.
With its 10-meter (33-foot) platforms, today’s Olympic diving pool is far deeper than most people would be comfortable with — even experienced divers! But that extra depth is essential for safety, because it gives the divers enough time to reach a safe speed before they hit the water.
