It would be difficult to find anything more graceful than a lot of
slender boys speeding up this spring-board and shooting out, feet
first or head first, into the river, pond or swimming pool.

When a boy can turn a somersault from the end of the board, and come
down feet foremost in a clean-cut way, he may be said to be an expert.

Contrary to the belief of those who have not tried it, it is much
easier to turn a back than a forward somersault, though neither can be
achieved without some practice.

In the back somersault great care should be taken that the diver leaps
far, so as to be free and clear of the board when he turns; otherwise
his head may strike with bad results.

As I have said before, diving may be useful in saving life, or in
finding objects that have been lost in the water. In such cases it
will be necessary to keep the eyes open, otherwise you will be much
like one groping in the dark.

The tendency in diving is to keep the eyes closed. There is a feeling
that if they are opened the water will hurt them, or that its touch
will be painful; but this is a great mistake. If the water is clear,
and clear water is the best to swim in, one can see under water nearly
as well as on top and the eyes are in no way affected.

Pearl divers in the Persian Gulf sometimes stay under water for
minutes at a time, and if they could not keep their eyes open while
searching for the pearl shells, their descent would not profit much.