#5 Chamois

Divers constantly dry themselves off with a water-shed towel called a chamois (sham-ee) to help keep themselves warm, and to remove water from their skin that could cause their hands to slip during a dive. When it comes to staying warm, this method is less effective but can definitely help if nothing else is available.

#4 Heaters / Heat Lamps

Sometimes these heating devices are hidden, and sometimes they’re tacked onto the walls of the dive well in plain sight – either way their only purpose is to keep the divers warm while they wait behind the boards. They supply heat over a short range (within about 5 feet). If your facility is planning to install heaters, refer to heating method #1 for an upgrade.

#3 Showers

Hot showers behind the diving boards are great, if you don’t mind standing. This seems to be the preferred method to stay warm at international diving competitions. Yahoo Sports even did an article during their Olympic coverage on why divers shower after their dives.

#2 Hot Tubs

Ahh hot tubs – the runner-up method of keeping divers warm. Sit back and relax while the swimmers work on their no-breath lactate sets! Be wary of huge Rubbermaid tubs continuously filled from a garden hose, these are NOT a substitution for a fully functional hot tub. Nobody wants to sit in a warm horse trough.

#1 Complaining

This brings us to the best and most effective way for divers to keep warm: complaining. Complaining can not only help move you up the hierarchy of warming devices – it can also help you communicate your wants and needs to your coach and facility manager. Dream big! With persistance, you can get them to increase the pool temperature, or turn off specific sections of overhead ventilation during practice.