How deep for diving

[jrcinnh]

Not scuba, but just diving of the boat.

Last weekend, on my lake, an adult man dove into the water from a boat, at a shallow sandbar. My guess is the water was about a foot deep. He broke his neck, but seems to have some hope of recovery.

It got me thinking about how deep is deep enough. Obviously a foot is too shallow, but what's a safe limit for the average person?

Yes, I know that a swim platform dive is different than a higher dive, a skilled diver can control a dive better and that even in deep water there may be rocks or other obstructions.

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

1st rule is never ever jump unless you know what is beneath you. The accident you describe is one that all to often happens because of too much cold adult beverages flowing or exuberance.

I have no idea how much depth you need in water because has a lot to do with the dive or jump. I googled it and came up with this article that might give some insight. Looks like twice the divers height is recommended minimum.

http://www.visualexpert.com/Resources/divingaccidents.html