Watching the 10m platform diving on the Olympics got me to wondering: if you had to jump into the water from a significant but survivable height (cruise ship deck, etc), what is the safest way? Or at least, what maximizes your chances of surviving it?

I figure some of you Navy vets will know.

Don’t jump into the water if there are sharks.

Clench. The water is known to "enter with force" from heights.

cross your legs and cross your arms over your chest and jump feet first. I would suggest that you have a life vest on and the straps that go around your crotch are tight or the vest will leave you when you enter the water.

I dunno.

I was taught to swim from the airlock to the surface saying "ho ho ho ho" all the way up to prevent rupturing a lung.

No jumping from a submarine.....

I always pulled both legs way up close to my chest, wrapped my arms around the bent knees, and yelled "CANNONBALL!!!"

Without question, feet first.

Years ago I was on our high school swim team and competed as a diver. I still recall how painfull a slightly off-vertical dive from a 5m springboard could be -- I can't begin to imagine screwing up from a 10m platform.

Jim

How many feet does it take for a person to get up to terminal volecity,126 mph? After that point it doesn’t make a difference how many feet the drop is, does it? You reach your maximum speed and that’s it.

I can understand wanting to get out ahead of time, you don’t want to get sucked under with the ship. But I would try to make the drop as little as possible.

Yes, DO CROSS YOUR LEGS!

Besides having the feeling of being kicked in the ba*ls you will get a high power enema. It is a VERY violating feeling and uncomfortable. (Yes that is experience talking).

I'd recommend jumping with your shoes on as the impact is substantial over 25 feet. Assume you are going to hit the water at any instant. Most people don't get the timing right the first few times. Stunt men use a bubbler that serves two purpose 1)It helps them to clearly see where the water is below (compensates for depth perception issues) and 2) lowers the surface tension of the water (so the water doesn't impact as much).

In a survival situation, cross the legs, cross the arms and keep ensure your face FOLLOWS your body. I'm not an expert! This is just what I've learned from quarry jumping.

-NIM