Divers performed a running plain dive and a running forward somersault from the 1 metre board, a one-and-a-half somersault and a backward spring and forward dive from the 3 metre board, and three (different) dives of the competitor's choice from the 3 metre board.

[3] The voluntary dives were selected from a list of 20 options, most of which could be done from either a standing or running start.

[5] In no case was the point-for-place result different for any round from the final scores, however, and ties in final scores led to an extra diver advancing to the semifinals as well as two bronze medals being awarded; the Official Report contains only the final scores and not the ordinal rankings from the judges.

The two divers who scored the greatest number of points in each group of the first round advanced to the semifinals.

A tie for third place resulted in both divers receiving bronze medals.