Courtesy of Jorge Paulo Pereira of 3 Iron Sports and organizer of the Swim Challenge Cascais.

The flat dolphin is a means to safely dolphin in shallow water.

The second photo above shows the lead swimmers doing flat dolphin dives. These types of dives are used by competitive open water swimmers and triathletes, especially when they begin or finish a race in shallow waters. The dive is purposefully flat with the body extended horizontally and projected parallel to the water surface because of the shallow depth of the water.

The flat dolphin dives helps prevent accidents and is the quickest means to start or finish a race when the depth of the water does not allow easy running. Shortly after entering the water or while coming into shore at the finish or T1 transition, the legs are brought up under the body and a quick dolphin action begins through the shallow water.

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