Diving Competitions

Lesson programs and summer leagues are the backbone of the sport of diving. They introduce the sport and using proper instruction and supervision, introduce the sport to enthusiastic new divers. Lessons programs are offered by most USA Diving and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) clubs and you will be hard pressed not to find a summer league in an area that has season pools.

Summer leagues almost always offer a series of dual meets with a championship to finish off the season. Lesson programs often will host an exhibition to show what the diver has learned.

Once a diver has reached a particular level of expertise in lessons, they may be ready to compete in local or regional competitions in novice, or developmental competitions. These types of diving meets offer a chance for divers to show what they have learned in practice, in a competitive format.

The requirements for these diving meets may be as basic as performing front and back jumps, but provide an introduction to the competitive side of diving. Competitions usually center on the 1- and 3-meter springboard, but can also include dryland skills.

As a diver advances, they may be ready to compete in what is known as “junior diving.” To compete at the junior level a diver must be able to perform a required number of dives as defined by FINA, the international governing body for aquatics. Once a diver can perform these dives, they will have the opportunity to compete in local and regional qualifying competitions, with the ultimate goal of advancing to a national championship.

Junior diving is contested in a series of age groups ranging from 9 and under to the 16-18 age groups, on 1-meter, 3-meter and platform. A recent addition to junior diving is synchronized competition.

Competitions are offered by both USA Diving and the AAU, and once a diver has advanced to this level, opportunities begin to present themselves for high school or college diving.

High school diving is offered in the majority of interscholastic athletic programs and offer divers not only the opportunity to be a part of high school athletic competition, but to compete for individual and team state championships. All rules are governed by the National Federation of State High School Associations and all competition takes place on the 1-meter springboard.

Swimming and diving programs are offered by many colleges and universities, with opportunities at schools ranging from small college and junior college programs, to those offered by larger state universities. Many of these schools offer scholarship opportunities to the most accomplished divers coming out of high school.

Competition is governed by the NCAA, and takes place on the 1- and 3-meter springboard, as well as platform for division I institutions.

Senior competition is the pinnacle of diving competition in the U.S. USA Diving, the national governing body for the sport of diving in the United States, hosts national championships in both the spring and summer. For those with the skill and desire, the opportunity exists to compete against the best in the world in international competitions such as the FINA Grand Prix, FINA World Cup, World Championships and Olympic Games.

A divers’ career does not necessarily end once they finish diving in high school or college. Masters diving is sponsored by both USA Diving and the AAU, and offers the opportunity for divers over the age of 21 to continue competing well into their 80’s! National and international championships are available for masters’ divers.