| Diving competitions are held at various levels. Usually, | | | | dives during this session. Men usually perform six |
| the number of divers varies with age group. A diver | | | | dives and women five dives. The top 18 divers can |
| is represented by a code of three or four digits | | | | take part in the next session called semifinals. They |
| followed by a single letter. The judges evaluate the | | | | follow the same diver order in this session also. Each |
| divers' knowledge and practice by referring to the | | | | diver performs another list of dives within the level |
| diver number. | | | | of difficulty. Generally, men and women perform five |
| A smooth surface of water often causes difficulty | | | | dives from the 3 m springboard and four dives from |
| for athletes to evaluate the distance on water. So, | | | | the 10 m platform. The preliminary and semifinals |
| many competition pools provide machines that | | | | scores are added together. The top 12 divers can |
| agitate the water under springboards and platforms. | | | | take part in the finals. In this session, divers perform |
| It is easy to judge distances on an agitated water | | | | in the reverse order of their position. That is, the |
| surface. | | | | lowest-scoring diver will go first. Men perform six |
| Most Olympic and world championship competitions | | | | dives and women five dives. |
| consist of three sessions. The first session is called | | | | The scores of the semifinals and finals are added |
| preliminaries. In this session, the diver order is | | | | together after the finals. The diver who achieves the |
| randomly selected. The divers perform a number of | | | | highest score wins the competition. |