Diving instruction near Seattle

Question
Hi Tom,

My 17-y.o. son wants to take up diving, but I am not familiar with the sports, and it is not a prominent sport in Washington State. He used to be a dancer, but he suffered a back injury when he was 13. He swims as well.

Is there a club near Seattle for him to start diving? His high school doesn't field a boy's diving team, so that is out of the question.

Thanks!

Answer
Sean -

At the end of this response I will list the places your son can go to learn diving. If his school does have a diving team, it does not mean he can't dive for a high school diving program. All high school sports are under the direction of the WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association). They have a provision where a student who goes to a school that does not have his sport (boys swimming team), then the student can attach himself to the closest school that does. If his school has a boys swimming team but no diving board, he may not be able to do this. If there is no boys swimming team at all, then he can. Go to www.wiaa.com or see your athletic director for more info.

Here are the pools in the Puget Sound area that have diving instruction:

The King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. Home of the Pacific Northwest Diving Team. http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/pools/ Contact the pool manager, Mike Dunwiddie, to find out how to get a hold of the coaches.

Queen Anne Pool in Seattle. http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/aquatics/queenannepool.htm

Juanita High School in Kirkland. Contact the pool manager, Mike Fahrenbach: [email protected].

Northshore Pool in Bothell. Contact Jolynne Leitzel. [email protected].

There is a pool on Bainbridge Island with a program. Contact Coach Chris Miller: [email protected].

Good luck in your search and pursue high school diving that goes from the middle of November to the middle of February.