Why Is The Olympic Diving Pool Green? Here's What Twitter Thinks

Theories range from the plausible to the downright revolting.

There were bizarre scenes in Rio on Tuesday as the Olympic diving pool turned bright green on Tuesday - and no one seemed to know why.

A picture from the diving on Monday and the same pool on Tuesday
A picture from the diving on Monday and the same pool on Tuesday
ASSOCIATED PRESS

The picture above shows the dramatic change in colouration in the space of just 24 hours.

The strange incident prompted Tom Daley, who won bronze in Monday’s men’s 10m synchronised diving alongside Dan Goodfellow, to tweet his confusion:

Ermmm...what happened?! pic.twitter.com/pdta7EpP2k

— Tom Daley (@TomDaley1994) August 9, 2016

Officials did not explain why the water had turned such a murky shade but Twitter users had their own theories.

These ranged from the plausible...

#Rio2016 diving pool water is green. Algae usually tends to do that. That is water that's supposed to be "Filtered".

— Thomas Burton (@tpb1990) August 9, 2016

Hear suggestion that the pool is green because of copper reacting with chlorine. It's interesting, but not disgusting like many suggesting.

— Fran Lane (@narflet) August 9, 2016

#riopool theory: jacuzzis were green yesterday, blue today. Did they empty the jacuzzi water into the pool and that made it green? #Rio2016

— Helen Freer (@hmfreer) August 9, 2016

Low chlorine. Bad filter. Green pool. (Clear the pool and add chlorine to shock water).

— Juliette Kayyem (@juliettekayyem) August 9, 2016

To the revolting...

Right no joke I think people need to stop pissing in the #Rio2016 diving pool.... It's turned green 😩

— Jordan Guillot (@JLG_1990) August 9, 2016

#RioOlympics2016 diving pool problem. Basic color theory. Blue+yellow=green. Tell athletes to stop peeing in the pool

— Karen Preddy (@preddyk2) August 9, 2016

Some suggested sun cream was the culprit...

Olympic diving pool is green due to a reaction with the chemicals and suntan lotion @BBCSport happened to our holiday pool #turkey1999

— Robert Devine (@BobDevineCSM) August 9, 2016

While others posited that it could be a prank...

My theory on the green diving pool: Ryan Lochte dropped food coloring in it for funzies. #Rio2016

— Gretchen (@GretchenIsFunny) August 10, 2016

Just FYI, I used to install and maintain PONDS for a living. This is NOT algae. This is DYE. Its a PRANK. https://t.co/vxt18cPCuU

— Smyth Radio ⭐ KGB (@SmythRadio) August 10, 2016

Whatever the reason, the mystery has utterly gripped Olympics fans...

Need to know why the pool is green NOW!

How's a person meant to sleep FFS!

— Jonny Mangas (@jmangas86) August 9, 2016

WHY HAS NOONE TOLD ME WHY THE POOL IS SO GREEN!? I NEED TO KNOW. IT WAS BLUE YESTERDAY

— Kezzy (@KerrynXX) August 9, 2016

I need to know why the water was green in the swimming pool ?! 😂 #Olympics #Rio2016

— Rosie (@rosieridgewell) August 9, 2016

Team GB divers Tonia Couch and Lois Toulson were among those to plunge into the murky depths for the women’s synchronised 10m platform event.

The pair, who missed out on a medal after an error in their final dive and finished fifth, admitted they could not see each other under the water.

Couch said: “It’s so green. But, we got a personal best score, so maybe we should ask for a green pool from now on. I kind of liked it.

“As the sun went down it looked worse.

“I couldn’t see you when I was underneath. I was like ‘Lois, where are you?’”

Toulson added: “We can’t do anything about it, so just concentrate on what you’re doing.”

According to The Times’ chief sports reporter Martyn Ziegler, no explanation was offered by officials.

Jobsworth media manager at the diving venue says he knows the reason for #greenpool but will not reveal it until the press conference

— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) August 9, 2016

Rio 2016 spokesman unable to provide explanation for #greenpool - says tests showed "no risk to health + we are investigating the cause"

— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) August 9, 2016

The official organising committee echoed this:

The water quality at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre was tested and there were no risks for the athletes. We are investigating the cause.

— Rio 2016 (@Rio2016_en) August 9, 2016

The men’s 3m synchronised springboard event takes place at the pool this evening, so it will be interesting to see what colour the water is on day five.

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