My kid is a proficient swimmer and knows how to dive, why should I have them jump feet first instead of dive off a pier?

Diving into unsafe water can lead to serious, and sometimes permanent, spinal injuries. It is important to know the water’s depth beforehand so that a diver doesn’t hit the bottom and get a head injury. Also, going in feet first helps a swimmer know whether there are underwater hazards like large rocks that can’t be seen from the surface. Make sure swimmers look for―and follow―any “No Diving” instructions posted.