Cannonball (diving)

A cannonball, also referred to as a bomb, is a diving style where the diver hugs their knees and attempts to enter the water with their body shaped as much like a sphere as possible. The goal is to create a large splash.^[1]

Recreational diver doing a cannonball

Known in German as the Arschbombe, the cannonball has been turned into the competitive sport of "Splashdiving".^[2]

In New Zealand, the dive is referred to colloquially as a Manu - a word from the indigenous Māori language.^[3]

Variants

• Can opener: a cannonball with one leg extended. This is the standard "bomb" in Australia, involving rocking back at the last minute to trap water under the body for a direction spurt .
• Hammerhead: a cannonball with forward rotation, landing head first.
• Watermelon: a cannonball with forward rotation, landing back first.^[4]
• Clanfa Triestina (Triestine Horseshoe): a cannonball with forward rotation, landing parallel to the water. Popular in the Italian city of Trieste in the shallow waters surrounding its coastline.^[5]
• Horsey. Into the water with hands and feet extended, toes pointed, pushing water out with the stomach. Fairly popular in Australia but difficult to execute correctly.^[6]
• Rabbit. Most popular competitive bomb in Australia. Similar to the Trieste bomb, but diver pulls legs in and clutches with arms at last moment. This often is done from a considerable height, and can send a narrow spurt of water with accuracy even higher than the dive point. Requires daring and skill.
• Chinaman. Arms and legs crossed, leaning back about 30 degrees. By trapping water under the arched back, the bomber can make a very substantial splash even from a pool edge, for heavier proponents.