About

Is diving safe?

Diving is very safe. Some of the things that make diving safe are:

Supervision – our highly trained coaches make sure that divers understand safe diving practices. We have a certified lifeguard on deck for all of our pool practices. Diving is performed over water and it is very rare to have a serious injury in the water. 

Design – The diving board is designed to move divers away from the diving board and into the water. The depth of the water is sufficiently deep that beginner children will rarely touch the bottom. The walls of the pool are a safe distance away from the diving board so it is very difficult for divers to come close to a wall after jumping.

Where do you teach diving lessons?

Most of our diving classes are taught at Rochester Institute of Technology. RIT has one of the safest, cleanest and most technically advanced diving wells in the Western New York.

How much does diving cost?

Our Learn to Dive classes start at $60 per month.

How long are diving classes?

The Learn to Dive classes are 45 minutes long. Intermediate classes are 1 ½ hours long and the advanced level divers are in practice for two hours.

How long do divers stay in the Learn to Dive Class?

Every diver is different. It usually takes about 3 months to one year for divers to complete the Learn to Dive class. 

How long does it take for divers to advance?

Divers will generally advance one group each year. There are six different groups of diving. Learn to dive, Novice, Sparks, Fire, Blaze, and Elite.

Do new divers have to compete?

No. New divers do not need to compete. Competition is available to divers when all three parties – diver, parents and coaches are in agreement that the diver is ready for competition. Children interested in competition will usually start competing in fun novice events.

When do divers start competition?

Divers start competition when the family is ready to try a competition for their diver. Upstate Diving has a recreational track that allows divers to go through the Learn to Dive program and then to the Lessons program where they continue to dive recreationally. Some divers may never feel ready for competition and they are still welcome to come to upstate diving lessons practices.

Are college scholarships available to divers?

Yes. Division I diving institutions offer scholarships to divers. The scholarship process is quite long and complicated. There is, of course, no guarantee that a diver will get a scholarship. But approximately 85% of Upstate divers who train on the competition team are offered an athletic scholarships. College scholarships are usually offered to club divers with extensive 1 m, 3 m and platform diving experience. High school diving does not have 3 m or platform and generally does not offer enough experience for divers to secure a scholarship.

How cold is the water?

The water at the RIT pool is kept at a consistent 80°. The air temperature is kept at 85°. This is a comfortable temperature for diving. It is not a sauna, but it is quite comfortable.

What is diving dryland training?

Dryland training is a series of training exercises that are done outside of the pool. These training exercises involve trampolines and diving boards that go into large foam pads. Dryland training allows divers to do about five times more skills than what they are able to accomplish at the pool. It eliminates the time of getting out of the water and waiting in line. The trampoline offers literally hundreds of skills to be accomplished in just a short time. This type of training keeps diving fun and keeps the divers moving. Upstate Diving has the only complete Dryland Facility in NY State.

What is the difference between Upstate Diving and other diving clubs?

The primary difference between Upstate Diving and other clubs is our focus on developing divers for long-term success. By starting divers with a safe and successful environment they are able to progress to reach their full potential. Upstate diving began in 2006 and is the largest club in Western New York. Upstate Diving has the most experienced coaches in the area with more youth and national experience than any other club in New York.

What is the difference between the Learn to Dive Group and the Lessons Group?

Learn to Dive is for children that have no diving experience. Children from ages 5 to 12 may start in the Learn to Dive program.

The Lessons group is for divers who have some experience and want to continue to dive recreationally. This group is for divers 12 and up.

How many divers are in each class?

Most diving classes have about 8 divers. 

What are dead-end dives?

Dead-end dives, when practiced regularly, will actually hurt your progress in the sport. These dives have been phased out of much of the diving world, but some inexperienced coaches continue to teach these detrimental skills. It is important to make sure that divers do not practice these dead-end dives and impede their progress in the sport. Upstate coaches do not teach these dives and have a progress plan that helps divers reach their highest potential.

How good of a swimmer does my child need to be to start diving?

Young children who would like to start diving do not need extensive swimming experience. Children need to be able to swim 20 yards without assistance in the deep end.

How high are the diving boads?

RIT has two levels of diving boards. The 1 m board is approximately 3 ½ feet high and the 3 m board is approximately 10 feet high. The University at Buffalo platforms (where we train our platform divers) has platform levels of 1 m, 5 m, 7.5 m and 10 m. The 10 m platform is approximately 33 feet high.

Do beginner divers have to go off of the high board?

No. New divers are not required to go off the high board (3 m diving board). If children are not comfortable doing a skill or going off the high board they should wait until they feel ready and safe going off of the high board. Our coaches are trained to know when it is the right time for divers to go up to the high board.