Diving lessons in Seattle area?

Question
Hi Tom,

My son is 9 and had his first diving lessons at West Point last year with Ron Contura and loved it.  We are considering a move to northern Seattle area, and I can't find recent information about diving programs.  (there is a lot of scary talk about program and pool shutdowns in 2009...)

Can you provide some updates on what might be available in the Seattle area?

Thank you so much,
Sandra

Answer
Sandra -

I lived in that area (Everett) for about 7 years and did some coaching so I am familiar with the pools there. North of Seattle there are a few options for diving lessons.

The City of Everett has Forest Park pool and they have offered lessons in the past. A guy named Lee was the last person I knew of teaching there. You can Google it to find out more info.

In Snohomish,about 7 miles east of Everett there is a very nice new aquatic facility that just opened last year. They offer diving lessons. Their website is www.snohomishaquatic.com.

10 miles north of Everett is the town of Marysville. They have a pool on a high school campus. I am not sure of the contact info. It is mainly used for high school swimming/diving but they may have lessons there in the summer.

About 10 miles south of Everett is the City of Lynnwood. They recently remodeled their pool and have one diving board. Another Google search for the City of Lynnwood Park & Rec Dept.

10 miles east of Seattle is Bellevue. They are planning on building a new very large aquatic facility that will have diving boards. I do not know when or where but will give you someone to contact. There is a woman who coaches high school diving and also gives private/semi-private lessons at various pools in the Puget Sound area (including the pool in Everett) Her name is Joylnn Leitzel and if you email her and mention my name she can get back to you with more info on diving where you may be living. Her email is [email protected].

Finally, if your son really wants to become a good diver, you have to travel 25 miles south of Seattle to Federal Way. In this city there is one of the best indoor diving pools in the US, the King County Aquatic Center, that has hosted many big diving events (nationals, NCAA events and Olympic Trials), and has a good club team. The Pacific Northwest Divers are coached by my friend Jim Southerland. His email is [email protected].

Good luck. Hope all this helps.