It may seem a daring try at having fun in and by the poolside. But no one can deny it: there’s no feeling in the world like jumping on a diving board, feeling the air swooshing as you make your way up, and then cannonballing in the pool with a large splash.
Remember the summertime during your childhood and the excitement and sheer joy of jumping into the water? It didn’t matter if it was your family pool, the community pool, or your favorite place to swim. Jumping into that refreshing water was even more fun when you had the extra boost in the air from a diving board.
Now that you are an adult and times have changed, modern diving boards may seem a little different than what you remember. So, what are the best diving boards for the swimming pool today?
Best Diving Boards: 8 Top Pick Product Reviews
Taking into account aspects such as safety standards and the quality of construction, we will introduce you to the eight best diving boards for the swimming pool in the section below:
S.R. Smith Fibre Dive Replacement Diving Board
The first of many models from S.R. Smith in this review, the Fibre-Dive Board comes designed with a matching SureFoot tread that doesn’t slip, ensuring maximum safety.
The board will retrofit perfectly onto Flyte-Deck II as well as U-Frame stands. Designed with safety in mind, the hardware is made of high-grade stainless steel that is finished to resist corrosion.
This replacement Fibre-Dive has probably the longest board on the market. You have a choice between three size versions – the 6 feet model, 8 feet model, and the 10 feet model.
The platform comes in 6 different colors. You have a choice between radiant white, pebble, marine blue, taupe, pewter gray, and gray granite.
For replacement, ensure the old board is from the same brand – S.R. Smith – as this one for perfect fitting. Ensure your pool exceeds or meets the size requirement for dive boards. Installing a wrong stand and board combination can be fatal or lead to serious injury.
Pros
- Comes in three different sizes
- Beautiful, pool-fitting, elegant colors
- Finished to resist corrosion
Cons
- Can only be used to replace a diving board from S.R. Smith
S.R Smith Frontier II White Jump Stand with 6ft Diving Board
This is a system with a complete stand and board combination. It has a matching, non-slip SureFoot tread, guaranteeing maximum safety.
Guaranteed to resist rust and corrosion, it’s made of high-strength steel for the longevity of the entire structure when installed by the poolside out in touch with the rain, sun, and snow. The package includes the stand, the board, and other hardware you will need for installation. It’s made by S.R. Smith, a leading manufacturer of diving boards from Oregon, the United States, with more than 80 years of experience.
It’s perfect for customers who are sensitive to price. It is a big jumping platform that comes in seven different designer color versions. Therefore, you will be able to find a color that will match your backyard.
The product features a Frontier II board with heavy-duty sand trade that is slip resistant. The stand and board combo come with instructional videos that will help you ensure safety while using the springboard. Without a doubt, it is one of the best diving boards on the market.
Pros
- Frontier II model
- Beautiful radiant white color
- 6 and 8 feet sizes to choose from
Cons
- Not for salt pools
- It’s heavy at 114 kg (around 250 lbs)
Inter-Fab DS8BW Replacement Board for In-Ground Pools
The third best diving platform on our list may be a little bit pricier, but the overall quality you get makes it worth it. This Inter-Fab board is sturdy and safe. The core is made with high-quality laminated wood and has a coating made of protective fiberglass, for maximum strength.
The board has an anti-slip platform and the outer layer has an acrylic material that resists ultraviolet rays, ensuring weather resistance and durability.
The product is easy to install for starters. It has three houses pre-drilled into the stainless steel hardware. The product also comes with easy-to-follow instructions. Assembly videos are also available on the official website of Inter-Fab. Overall, assembly takes around five minutes.
Moreover, the Inter-Fab diving board comes with three years of warranty. You may however not need the warranty as it is made of high quality and reliable materials.
Pros
- Quick and easy to assembly
- Made of fiberglass coating with a core made of laminated wood
- Three-year warranty
Cons
- A bit expensive
- Pre-drilled holes do not match all configurations
Inter-Fab DB6BW Replacement Duro-Beam Diving Board for In-Ground Pools
Here’s a diving board you may want to look at if you are looking to replace your existing springboard. Like its brother in the previous review, it has a lot of interesting features which qualify it to be on the list of the best models on the market.
The main difference between both models is the price. If the price of the previous one is too high, this may be more suitable for you. This diving board is made for light use. The Inter-Fab board features a laminated dual-beam core. The surface is made of acrylic that is skid-resistant, ensuring you and your kids are safe while catching fun.
Like the other one, it also comes with two drilled holes that ensure installation is easier. But these holes may not be fitting for all configurations. The diving board’s hardware kit is made of stainless steel.
For easy assembly, the installation instructions are clear and you also have additional information on the official website.
Pros
- Easy to install (in five minutes)
- Non-skid acrylic layer
- Budget-friendly
- Stainless steel hardware
Cons
- Could be springier
- Only for light use
S.R Smith 66-209-600S2 Replacement Diving Board with 10-Feet Frontier III
This is a 6-foot saltwater-friendly diving board made of fiberglass material. There are two bolt holes in the board. It is a Frontier III diving platform with an acrylic outer layer that is durable, non-skid, and pre-drilled. The fiberglass and resin materials are hand laid over a solid core of wood laminate, which acts as the skeletal frame of the board. Unlike the previous model, this platform is ideal for light and heavy uses. It also comes with an additional instructional video for diving.
The springboard is recommended for replacement purposes. For ease of installation and safety during use, use it to replace an S.R. Smith-made board. However, it can fit into Cantilever, saltwater jump systems, Flyte Deck II, Steel Meter, and Supreme and U stands.
The S.R Smith board and stand is available in three size variations – 6 feet, 8 feet, and 10 feet lengths.
Pros
- It’s not a universal replacement board
- Available in three different sizes
- Up to 10 feet in length
- Ideal for saltwater pool
Cons
- Price too high for the quality
S.R. Smith 68-209-5962 Frontier III Diving Board and Cantilever Jump Stand Combo
The S.R. Smith Jump Stand is a powder-coated structure that is designed to resist corrosion. It’s made of hardware that consists of 316 stainless steel for increased resistance to rust. Slip-resistant and high-grade sand tread ensure maximum safety.
Available in 6 feet and 8 feet versions, the diving stand is available in different designs colors that can match with your backyard decor and any pool slide. The board is designed in radiant white, taupe, silver-gray, and pebble colors. Just like other S.R. Smith stands, you can make jump styles such as the jackknife, karate kick, cannonball, and freestyle on the board.
However, this swimming pool diving board is not suitable for saltwater pools. The cantilever jump board is a premium system made from heavy-duty, stable, and safe materials. Its size variation from 6 to 8 feet ensures you can find the right size for your pool.
Pros
- Available in 6 feet and 8 feet versions
- Heavy-duty, stable, and corrosion-free material
- Made of 316 stainless steel material
Cons
- Not for saltwater swimming pool
S.R.Smith Truetread Diving Board with Gray TrueTread
The TrueTread diving board is a revolutionary board surface that looks sporty and modern in any pool. Easy on divers’ feet, it is made with composite, durable, marine-grade materials. The structure offers a great launching grip, keeping your feet happy.
It is a new saltwater swimming pool-friendly stand that has a more modern look and is made of materials that are more durable and will not rust.
To use it as a replacement, begin by using a wrench to remove the two bolts from the back of the board where the board meets the spring assembly. Once these are removed, the board becomes front-heavy.
Be sure to balance it properly especially as you lift the board from the spring assembly. Next, remove the four bolts that connect the base to the pool deck. Finally, remove the base exposing the one-and-a-half-inch bolts in the deck.
Older stands and boards may have significant corrosion that may result in an inability to remove the bolts in the correct order. If this is the case, the stand and board may need to be removed as one unit.
Before installing, be sure to measure the exposed jig. All four bolts should measure one and a half inches high from the pool deck and 12 inches on center between each bolt.
Pros
- Made from durable, composite, marine-grade materials
- Great launching grip
- Saltwater friendly diving platform
Cons
- Installation may be a bit complicated
S.R.Smith 68-211-59620 6-Feet Diving Board and Stand
This jump system for the swimming pool has 6 to 8 feet in length, depending on what you want. Also, it is available in two colors – white and pewter gray color.
The hardware of the diving platform is made of stainless steel for corrosion resistance. The product includes a diving stand, a spring set, mounting hardware made of stainless steel, and the best-selling Frontier III board. The stand is backed by low-profile fiberglass.
You can retrofit this into a set of existing cantilever jigs. The diving board is available with slip-resistant Sandtread or a new TrueTread surface. The hardware is made of 316 stainless steel.
The system has a composite spring assembly that performs really well in harsh pool environments. With the salt pool jump system, there’s no limit to the jump styles you can make. You can make jump styles such as the jackknife, karate kick, cannonball, and freestyles.
Overall, the item is light, resistant, and resists rust. It weighs 70 pounds and measures around 98 x 20 x 3 inches in total dimension.
Pros
- All-inclusive and complete package
- Available in pool friendly white and pewter gray color
- Ideal for saltwater pools
- Comes with the jig
Cons
- Not very springy
How to Choose a Diving Board
The fun swimming pool diving boards allow may be thrilling and always tempting you to take a dive. But an evening of fun can quickly turn into a nightmare when you choose the wrong, poorly made diving board. This is why you should take a look at the following features to choose the safest and best-quality diving board:
Diving envelopes and the pool type
To choose the best diving board, first, you have to calculate something called the dive envelope. This is used to refer to the depth a diver can enter the pool as well as the distance and depth that they can travel while diving.
It is vital to ensure that not only is there enough depth underneath your diving board. The floor of the pool must not start to rise close to the dive area. You will need several pool measurements so you can determine the diving envelope of your pool.
To avoid hitting the bottom of the tank, make sure the water depth at the dive point is at least 2.5 meters. Dive pool type I to V refers to your pool’s dive envelope. It determines how higher enough the diving board can go above the waterline.
Also, it shows you if you have accessories or features that impede the dive area. These can be slides, waterfalls or ladders. This area must be free of obstacles that a person can hit while diving.
Safety and material
Safety issues are serious. However, choosing a diving board is not as serious as taxes and death. When choosing and installing a diving board, ensure that the material the surface is made of is non-slip to avoid falls and other accidents when wet. Check that it is well anchored to the ground to ensure maximum stability,
Now, you will find boards with interesting colors, elegant shapes, and heavy-duty materials like natural stone or even wood. Other models allow you choose among a wide range of non-slip surfaces.
Resistance to corrosion
Thanks to advanced manufacturing processes, you can buy saltwater pool-safe diving board made with salt corrosion resistant materials.
You can fix the diving board directly on the flooring of the pool edge, without any support, or mount it on two stainless steel columns, a stainless and resistant material. The columns can be fixed or adjustable.
Ambient lighting
If the water isn’t exciting enough, there are diving boards that have colored LED strips at the ends. If you’ve, however, already installed pool lights to the pool, by installing a diving board, your night swims can even be cooler.
However, if you cannot come across an LED light-equipped diving board, you can install an LED strip that is waterproof to the board, helping you create your colorful atmosphere.
FAQs
How far should diving board hang over pool?
We know playing at the furthermost edge of the board seems more fun. But it’s like playing on a knife-edge. The farthest you and the board are, the more dangerous. For the safety of divers and longevity of the diving board, the board should not hand more than 10 feet over the pool.
How much does a new diving board cost?
A new product costs around $300 for the most budget-friendly and up to $600 for premium models. Meanwhile, you can also find diving platforms with up to $1,000 price.
What is the best diving board?
The diving board is available in different types, from the simplest one in which the fiberglass board is installed directly on the edge of the pool to the more complex one with a fixed or adjustable steel support.
The best model is carefully designed and finished, for a result that adapts to any environment. The platform is usually made of fiberglass, a material that ensures great lightness and excellent strength.
Fiberglass is also ideal for its resistance to mechanical stress and chemical agents present in the products used to disinfect pool water. It must be made with first-choice materials that can withstand mechanical stresses and chemical agents present in the water.
What is the highest diving platform?
To safely install a diving board, ensure the platform is at least 2.5 to 3 meters tall to the bottom edge of the pool. It is, therefore, better to place it in the deepest part of the pool structure.
How can one ensure the safe use of the pool diving board?
To be safe, the platform surface must be treated to ensure safe and stable use even when wet. If you have small children, to avoid unpleasant accidents, make rules of good behavior such as: not running and not pushing themselves along the edge of the pool and on the platform. Also, they must not use the diving board except in the presence of an adult.
Conclusion
The diving board brings the whole family together. It is the right accessory to personalize your pool and to make it a place for fun and relaxation. Given the great demand, the manufacturers have worked hard and have developed different models of safe diving boards, to satisfy the most disparate tastes and needs.
Today there is a wide range of diving boards that differ in shape, colors, and materials. They range from the elegant and refined to the colorful and cheerful one. In short, there is something for all tastes and all dives!