High school Diving for a beginner?

Question
Being thirteen, I was wondering if I am too old to dive and make it to Nationals or Junior Olympics? I live in the bay area of California (around Santa Clara, San Jose, and San Francisco) and I was looking at Santa Clara Diving & Stanford Diving's programs. Which would be best or is their a better program around my area? After maybe a year or a year and a half would I be prepared enough to start highschool diving? I know I need to start diving ASAP if I have any chance to make it in the diving world! Being an ex-dancer I still have a bit of flexibility and core strength (as you noted in your other responses that I would need) but is there any cross training in the meantime I can do? (running, sit-ups, ect.) Sorry about the many questions! I am very enthuastic about this sport (:

Thank you in advance!

Answer
Chloe -

What I suggest you do is contact each team and find out when you can go and watch a lesson comprised of kids your age. That way you can evaluate the way the coaches teach. Then ask if you can have a free trial lesson to see how you like diving at each pool. After that, you can talk it over with your parents and decide which program you want to dive in.

Both programs are very good. Stanford has the best pool but will be more expensive than Santa Clara. The Santa Clara pool is also very good and I think will be less expensive. You will have to go their websites to get a better idea.

No matter which team you pick, you will  be taught to be a club diver. That way when you get to high school, you will easily make the varsity team. High school diving is way easier than club diving so you will be ready in less than a year I am sure.

For cross training, running is not necessary. You will need to maintain flexibility and core strength by doing lots of sit-ups. Do them every day in the morning and you will ready when you start lessons. Go to www.diving.about.com and in the search box, enter 'create the perfect body for diving' and read that article. Also enter 'lessons' and read some articles so you know what to expect.

Check out these diving websites:

www.usadiving.org - Click on Join USA Diving and then Find A Club. Enter CA and a list of teams will come up. Contact info for Stanford and Santa Clara found there.Check out their websites.

www.aaudiving.org - you may have to join this organization to take lessons.

www.divemeets.com - site you will need to know how to use when you dive in meets.

Good luck and have fun.