A diving platform or diving tower is a type of structure used for competitive diving. It consists of a vertical rigid "tower" with one or more horizontal platforms extending out over a deep pool of water. In platform diving, the diver jumps from a high stationary surface. The height of the platforms – 10 m, 7.5 m and 5 m – gives the diver enough time to perform the acrobatic movements of a particular dive. There are additional platforms set at 3 m and 1 m. Diving platforms for FINA sanctioned meets must be at least 6 m long and 2 m wide. Most platforms are covered by some sort of matting or non-slip surface to prevent athletes from slipping. All three levels of the platform are used in the NCAA competition. Each level offers a distinct degree of difficulty (DD) and therefore can yield different scores for divers.

Ten-meter diving

Diving began in the Olympics in 1904 for men, in what was called "fancy diving", which has been believed variously to have been off a platform or off a springboard. The 10-meter dive began in the 1908 Olympics. Diving for women started in the 1912 Olympics, with the 10-meter dive. In 2016, dives performed by competitors in 10-meter world competition included a 3-½ somersault tuck, a 3-½ somersault pike, a 2-½ somersault with 2½ twist, a forward 4-½ somersault, and a forward reverse 3½ somersault.