starting diving in my twenties

Question
Hi Tom

Firstly I'd like to say thanks - your diving answers have been a huge help to me. I live all the way in New Zealand and there isn't a huge wealth of knowledge that exists in the bigger countries.

I'm 23 and have just began diving. I used to do gymnastics up until my mid teens then pulled out to concentrate on my academics. Now that I have gone through school I am focusing again on my sports.

My question is, realistically how far can someone get when starting dive training in their twenties. I'm looking for a goal to strive for so am aiming towards the best possible outcome I can expect.

Do you have a benchmark I should be aiming towards?

The second part to this question is what progress should I ideally be making? In a 'best possible outcome' - is there 'milestones' I should be achieving? When should these happen?

Thank you for your time and advice.

Kiaora

Robbie

Answer
Robbie -

Someone your age can go as far as they want as you are not too old to start diving. The question is at what level will you do this. Here in the States, the highest level is called 'Senior Diving' also known as 'Open' diving. I am sure they have a similar level in NZL but I do not know what it is called. There is also 'Masters Diving' all over the world. This is a term used for adult recreational competitive diving. Here is the difference between the two:

If you pursue senior diving, you would have to do only the most difficult dives know as 'optionals'. You are required to six of them, one from each group and then repeat one group. The five groups of dives are forward,backward,reverse, inward and twist. You can look up the types of choices there are at a website listed at the end of this response.

If you pursue Masters Diving, you would be in the youngest age group 21 -25. Divers in this event do 5 easy dives (called voluntary dives) and 5 optional dives. This might be the place to start as new people your age would have a hard time with Senior Diving. I have listed a website about masters diving at the end of this letter.

I would spend time learning the fundamental required dives on the one meter board: Front dive, back dive, inward dive and reverse dive. The twisting group should be easy for you since your were a gymnast. The hardest thing for a gymnast to do is got head first- especially backward. So I would work on fundamental dives before trying the harder optional dives.

Once you learn a list for your age group, the best milestone to attain is being able to compete in a masters diving meet at least on the one meter. I do not know if you have access to the 3 meter or platforms. Stick to one meter and learn dives at the higher boards later on.

Go to www.mastersdiving.org. Click on 'E-mail addresses' and then click on International. There I saw several names of adults who dive in NZL. Contact them to find out about meets in your area.

Also go to www.fina.org. This is the international governing body of diving. Navigate your way to finding out more on NZL senior diving and also look up the list of all dives that can be done in competitions.

Good luck with your pursuit of this great sport.