Image of a person making a splash in the water

Zach Quin/www.PhotoSport.nz (manu); Shutterstock.com (all other images)

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Make a Splash!

Want to make a splashy entrance at the pool this summer? According to a 2024 study, a diving technique called the manu is a good way to do it. The manu involves forming your body into a V and then hitting the water with your butt. In the water, you quickly straighten your body so you’re almost fully upside down. That movement forces the water to shoot high up out of the pool. To study how the manu works, scientists built a special diving robot, called the Manubot. 

The manu was developed by the Māori and Pasifika peoples of New Zealand, where manu jumping is a competitive sport. At this year’s world championship, a diver made a record-setting splash of more than 32 feet!

Ready to pop a manu yourself? Make sure that the water is deep enough for diving and that a lifeguard or parent is watching. Happy splashing!

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