actually there is something in the middle that you can use to pole swing

your thinking of the wrong water wheel.... you have to attain water breath , you get it by collecting 20 dark gems and beating the boss!

No that's not how, I defeated the boss, got water breath, collected 20 dark gems, and I still wasn't able to get it.

I reckon you have to jump off something tp get it.

go to the water wheel and use water breath on it until the platform moves

yes! in order to get the light gem on top of the water wheel you must earn water breath!!
i have been trying it for hours on spyro then finally!!! i suggest though when you have
came to the point where you have 18 dark gems.. look for 40 light gems and go to the the
cloudy domain where the professor tells you that you can use the super charge gadget.. to
break open the reienforced door. once you have done that go inside and get the 2 dark gems
remaining i have been doing this for a matter of days now so i hope this help's you all as
well as it did for me! goodbye!

I cant get on to[p of the wheel either, and I have 39 light gems! I need that last gem, or
I cant use the supercarge gadget!