Follow-up: Adult recreational diving lessons

Question
Hi Tom,

I'm interested in the adult recreational diving course offered by the Dive Toronto Club, which holds its courses at the University of Toronto's pool. Their program is described on their website as: "Diving is a great way to get some exercise while having fun! Experiencing the thrill of learning a new skill. Participants work at their own pace and all abilities are welcome. No experience is necessary."

There's also a small chance I might decide to try a course offered by the university's campus recreation department. The description of that course is "Experience the exhilaration of diving into the pool! Divers learn basic skills in a safe and non-competitive environment at their own pace. Emphasis will be on basic skills from the 1m spring board, with the option to do 3m and 5m entries. No experience is necessary and all skill levels welcome; participants must be comfortable in deep water."

Unfortunately I don't know anything more about the qualifications of the instructors.

In both cases, it'd be a once a week class for me.

(Original question:  I'm an adult interesting in trying diving for fun and fitness. What should I expect from beginner recreational  lessons? The structure of a typical lesson and the average progression of newcomers would be helpful. Thanks!)

Answer
Daniel - Thanks for providing me with additional information on the class you are taking. Now that I know where you will be learning diving, I can assure you that you will be in good hands with the Toronto Dive Club. They are a member of CADA, the national governing body for diving in your country so all of the instructors will be certified coaches.

Since you will only be diving one day a week for about an hour, you will only have time to learn the fundamental skills of diving which is fine since you do not have any experience. You will most likely spend most of your class time on the 1 meter springboard and then learn the 3 meter when the instructor feels you are ready.

Basic diving info: There are five groups of dives - front, back, reverse, inward and twist. New divers should expect to learn the front, back and inward group when they start. The reverse and twist groups are more difficult and may take some time before you are ready to pursue them. There are four basic positions dives can be done in - tuck, pike, straight and free. The last position is used for twisting dives. You will also learn the front approach which consists of at least three steps followed by a hurdle. A hurdle is where you take off from one foot and then land on two feet on the end of the board. You may learn some skills standing on the end of the board before you learn the front approach. There is also a back take off for the back and inward groups where the diver has half their feet on the board and half off, followed by an armswing and press into a take off.

When I teach new adult divers, I tell them that if they can learn the following in my class they will understand the basic principles of the sport:

1. Be able to take off forward and go head first (front dive in the position of choice).
2. Be able to dive backward headfirst (back dive straight).
3. Be able to do the front approach (as described a above).
4. Understand how to do the 3 basic positions dives can done in (even if it is just by doing jumps, front and back).
5. Know how to change direction ( this is the inward group where the diver takes off backward and rotates forward headfirst like a front dive).
6. Know how to do a somersault (front or back in the tuck position).
7. Be willing to at least jump off the 3 meter. If they like that, learn how to do a front line up where the diver stands on the end of the  board, bends at the waist and then just falls in the water headfirst without pushing. Start to learn some fundamental dives on the 3 meter that they are proficient at on the 1 meter.
8. Take a look off of the 5 meter platform or higher and jump off if they feel they can.
9. Start to understand what a diving meet is about so if they ever want to compete, they know the basic rules of a competition.
10. Participate in a class ending mock meet to see how well they can do the dives they learned.

Here are some websites to go to further prepare yourself for the class:

www.diving.ca - website for Canada's national governing body. Click on Resources, then diving 101 and then spectator guide. Explains the basics of the sport.

www.diving.about.com - US site that explains the sport. Lots of articles here about beginning diving.

www.flipnrip.com - US site for divers and parents. Click on videos and then look for diving lessons. Good instructional info here from a college coach. If you have to register to see videos, it is free.

Good luck with your class.