AN EXPERIENCED skydiver has died during a competition in San Diego, California after he struck a pond while attempting to perform a difficult ‘swooping’ manoeuvre.

Sean Carey, 35, was participating in a swooping contest with over a dozen other competitors on Saturday morning when he failed to pull up in time as he approached a pond, crashing into it at speed.

He received medical treatment at the scene but was later declared dead at hospital.

The move involves skimming within feet of the ground at speeds of up to 95 kph before pulling up higher into the air again. The AP reports that the Perris Valley Skydiving facility had banned the move after a death in 2011, but had recently begun allowing experts such as Carey to use it again.

Carey had worked as an instructor and trained Navy SEALs. He had completed over 8,000 jumps.

Fox5 San Diego reports that five skydivers died in accidents originating at the San Diego facility last year. The facility’s manager said that over 140,000 jumps are logged there every year.