There are sequences for diving just as there are for swimming. It would actually start by kneeling on the edge and just falling forward into the water. The lower you are to the water, the less chance you are going to smack or hit the water in a way that's going to hurt, As you gradually learn how to master falling into the water from your knees or one knee, then you gradually start to stand up higher and higher. It is a sequential process that you start at kneeling, then standing, then jumping, upon a starting block or platform and then moving up to a diving board or tower. It's like anything else. You have to take little steps make sure that you don't start someone off so far advanced. In diving, if they hit the water wrong and it hurts, you have an uphill battle with first teaching them because now you have to overcome that fear of pain.
