Information contained on this page is evolving.  If there is something you think should be added, PLEASE drop us a line via our Contact-Us page.

* * * ~ Welcome to the Wonderful World of Diving ~ * * *

  • Safety ~ Diving under the supervision of a trained coach is very safe (CLICK HERE for 15+ years of data)
  • CDA's coaches have thousands of hours as divers and coaches
  • Our program is designed for all participant levels and allows divers to advance safely at their own pace
  • CDA offers both water and dryland training facilities (Read about our dryland facility.)
  • Our pools (also referred to as "water") are all outdoors
  • When it is cold outside, most of our divers wear a full-body wetsuit (Send us a message to get details.)
  • Attire is typically a one-piece speedo-style suit for girls and swim briefs for boys

About this Page ~ 

How to sign-up and what to sign-up for ~ 

  • To sign-up with CDA, simply go to the "Registration" page of our website and follow steps #1 and #2
  • Yes, the participant MUST have an AAU membership for any/all levels of our program
  • In the "Diver and Guardian" section of the registration, there is a question labeled, "Is the participant under the age of 18?" This question and the "Birth Date" question refer to the participant, not to the person filling out the form.  When the participant is a minor, we must have adult acknowledgement, contact information, and release.
  • During Step#2, the registration tool will ask/offer you "Registration Options".  If this is your first time coming to us, please select CDA's "Try-it-Out" (TIO) program (regardless of your diving skill level)
  • Our TIO program is available year-round and has no start-stop dates
  • ​Our TIO program includes 4-4.5-hours of training which may include both water and dryland

Need to know ~ 

NEW TO DIVING?

Admin@CALdiving.org

SPRINGBOARD and PLATFORM
DIVING: Lessons, Classes, and Teams

Other information and facts ~ 

510-859-3149

If you are reading this, you may want more information about diving and/or CDA.

This page is written to assist you with answers to initial questions you may have about the sport and how to sign up. Our website contains much more detailed information that you'll also want to check out.

  • What is "Dryland" ~ The California Diving Academy (CDA) Dryland Training Center (SRDL) is located in San Ramon and is our EXCLUSIVE diver training facility.  Dryland versus diving at a pool?  Dryland is indoor “dry” training for divers. It is a critical component of training at every level of diving (beginner to Olympian). CDA utilizes dryland as an integral part of our club’s diver development.  The SRDL is configured for all facets of diver training: mechanics, conditioning, video analysis, air-awareness, flipping, twisting, and much more. All while safely learning and practicing proper mechanics for every dive imaginable. The SRDL is one of the most advanced and complete dryland diving centers in the Country with 3 Olympic diving boards (Duraflex Maxi-B) and 2 trampolines with safety harnesses and much much more.
  • Schedule versus Calendar ~ both Schedules AND Calendars are on our "Schedule" page...we offer general schedules for all levels.  Schedules are generalizations and are independent of the specific calendar day(s).  For example, if your choose to attend classes normally on Mondays, but that Monday is New Year's Day, the Calendar will tell you we are closed. It means you do not practice that day (select another that week).
  • Swim goggles are not allowed in diving
  • ​CDA practices year-round ~ we dive in the heat, rain, sleet, and snow ~ essentially the only weather condition we will PAUSE (or cancel practice) for is CURRENT lightning in proximity.  That said, we much prefer a nice, very warm, sunny day when at the pool, and a nice cool day when we're at dryland.
  • ​Our "Forms" page has a TON of information about our sport, some forms, governing bodies, etc.
  • The "Location" page includes the address, abbreviations, and a GoogleMap link to many of our facilities.  These abbreviations are used in the calendar to let you know when sessions are held and at which facility.
  • ​Meet schedule ~ is posted on the "Diving Meets" page along with required attendance for various levels
  • College Opportunities ~ for those interested in an athletic college team experience and competing at the college level, diving has more opportunities (per capita) than any other sport.  This is based on the number of college slots and the available count of high school divers interested, willing, and qualified to pursue a competitive sport in college.  There are approximately 500 colleges in the USA offering women's diving and more than 300 offering men's programs.  Each college typically has 3-8 men and 3-8 women on their diving team and in most cases room for more.  Unfortunately for colleges today, very few high schools offer diving and very few offer 3m competition (or even practice).  Typically there are 1,000-2,000 Seniors in the USA graduating from high school as Varsity divers and less-than 1/3rd of those show interest in diving for their college.  This creates a huge vacuum/demand for those interested in a college athletic experience.  As a comparison, gymnastics has more than 4-million participants in the USA and there are less-than 25 colleges for women and less than 15 for men offering team opportunities.
  • Diving Boards and Heights ~ there are essentially nine (9) different competition heights in all of diving.  Only the 1m and 3m boards are "springboards". All other heights are solid (typically concrete covered in RoughTex) "platforms", (sometimes called towers).  All heights are listed and/or discussed in meters (m).  The various heights are: 1m (3'), 3m (10'), 5m (16'), 7.5m (25'), 10m (33'), 12m (40'), 15m (50') 20m (66'), and 27m (89').  For most, the 12m, 15m, 20m and 27m are specifically and ONLY for the most accomplished and very highest level of diver.  Conversely, in high school, typically, nationally, only 1m is competed.  Club and college competitions can include 1m, 3m, 5m, 7.5m, and 10m although many are 1m and 3m only.  There are approximately 100 towers (5m/7.5m/10m) across the entire USA.  Many are shared by local clubs and colleges.  Not too long ago the Olympics included 1m, 3m, and 10m.  More recently, the Olympics eliminated the 1m and now only competes 3m and 10m.  There is talk that the Olympics might add 20m and/or 27m, but there is nothing official - yet.
  • Dives and Groups of Dives ~ There are six groups/directions of dives: Front (10x), Back (20x), Reverse (30x), Inward (40x), Twisting (5xxx), and Handstand (60x).  The handstand group is only for tower (platform) diving.  The number in parentheses beside the name is the dive-number designation.  We have two good resources on the top of our "Forms" page, labeled "Learn Your Dive Numbers," that will assist you in understanding the language of diving as it relates to the calling of different dives (e.g. coach may say, "I'd like to see that 105c again," or a written list for today's workout: 2x, 1m ~ 103b/105c, 203c, 303c, 403c, 5132, 5231, 4-v's, 001abc, 002abc  ///  2x, 3m ~ 105b, 107c, 205c, 305c, 405c, 5134, 5152, 5233/35, 5333/35.  This is a basic college-level list for both 1m/3m.  The "2x" means two of each unless otherwise noted.  Once you go over the "Learn Your Dive Numbers" training material, you'll be able to make sense of this diving shorthand.
  • Judging and Scoring a Dive ~ there are between 3-11 judges depending on the level and type of competition.  Typically for non-synchronized diving events, there are 3, 5, or 7 judges.  In all cases, the middle 3 judge's scores are counted (throwing out the high & low score(s) if there are 5 or 7).  Each judge awards a score between 0-10 in 0.5 increments.  On our "Forms" page we offer two "Judges Criterion Outlines" ~ one for each NFHS (High School) and FINA (basically all others).  There are a few differences.
  • Diving "Degree of Difficulty" (DD) ~ Some dives are easier and/or harder than others.  The sport of diving has come up with a metric/calculation tool to assign a DD to each dive.  The DD is essentially a multiplier.  We take the middle 3 judge's scores and multiply them by the DD.  For example, a front dive in the tuck position (101c) (a relatively easy dive) on the 1m board has a DD of 1.2; if the 3-judge total is 20 (6.5, 6.5, and 7), the diver's total score for that dive would be 24 points.  If the dive was harder...say a front 2.5 somersault in the pike position (105c) on that same 1m board, the DD is 2.4, so, with the same judge's score-total (20), the diver's total for that dive would be 48 points.  Oddly, it is typically better to perform a simpler dive better (even with the higher DD), than a hard dive badly.  Let's take those same two dives and change the total judge's award for each based on the OVERALL QUALITY (score) of the dive...same Front dive for 8's from the judge's makes the divers total score for that dive 28.8...now, for the same Front 2.5 somersault performed badly for a total judge's award of 12 (three 4s) the diver's total is only 28.8.  We've got a table on our "Forms" page showing "Total Score versus Big DD". This is a great resource and reminder that diving is the pursuit of perfection and quality is typically rewarded over difficulty. Check it out!
  • Diving Competitions ~ Club meets vary the number of dives and groups required based on 3 things: the diver's age, skill level, and board height.  High School competitions are divided only by skill level and into two groups (Junior Varsity [JV] and Varsity [V]) and are only competed on the 1m board.  For JV, the requirement is 6 dives from four groups/directions.  For Varsity, the requirement is to perform 11 dives (2 from each of the five directions + 1 more from any of the five groups - diver's choice).
  • In recent years, a new offshoot of individual performance/competition has taken hold in diving.  There is now a significant amount of time and space at the highest levels of competition to include Synchronized ("synchro") diving.  It has further developed into several categories and is based on board height, gender (M-M or F-F), and mixed teams (M-F) with each being its own competition.  It has added a lot of fun for the divers and seems to be a crowd-pleaser.  We expect synchro to be around and evolve over time.  The other upcoming competitive option showing up is team diving.  Where several divers from each team only perform 1 or 2 dives for their team - total team score wins!