PLC Aquatic provides springboard diving for fun and fitness for all ages and abilities of the college and wider communities.
Diving at PLC
Our qualified coaches work with each diver to help them reach their individual goals and the squad structure allows athletes to train at their level, ranging from recreational to National & elite competitors. We have four squad levels; Stars, Bronze, Silver and Gold, where children can learn to dive from the age of 6 years. Each squad has a performance level that must be met prior to joining a squad.
Club Focus
Our focus is to develop the diver's love of the sport, their fitness, technique, training, knowledge and competition skills in a positive and enjoyable environment whilst providing divers at every level the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Competitions
Divers who train at PLC must be members of PLC Aquatic Diving. Each term, divers from all squads are encouraged to join the In-house diving meet - a fun and social event. Gold Squads are competitive squads which compete initially at Club Challenge, with options to compete at States and Nationals. All competing divers must be members of Diving Victoria (DV).
Holiday Programs
January, April, July and September
Come and Try
GSV / APS
PREPARATION AND TRAINING
Photo credit: Andrew Robinson
Squad Program
Dive Stars
Beginners
Stars are beginner divers, 6yrs+, wishing to experience diving for the first time. We focus on developing the skills and confidence to take the diver from the pool edge to the 1m diving board. These children learn strong basics, body awareness and position during a fun 40 minute class from the pool edge and 0.5m block.
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The program runs for the school term.
Holiday Programs are also available.
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Aims:
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develop and have fun learning the basic skills necessary to do
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forward and backward jumps in different positions: pool edge/0.5m/1m
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a forward dive: pool edge/0.5m/1m
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board bouncing
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forward and back somersault rotations in water
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develop and improve body strength, control and awareness in space
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to gain confidence jumping and diving from 1m springboards
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Progression:
When students master the the basic skills of a forward and a back dive students progress to the Bronze squad
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Photo credit: Andrew Robinson
Silver
Competing Club Challenge Series/States
Silver Squad is a development squad of children selected from the Bronze squad.
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Divers must be keen, strong, willing and committed to improving their diving list, to training and beginning to compete. They are required to attend at least one 90 minute session per week and building up to three sessions per week for athletes who have aspirations to compete at State Championships.
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The Silver Squad also prepares athletes all year round to compete at relevant school diving competitions, such as GSV, APS, SSV and Team VIC.
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This program runs for the school term. Divers will be learning and developing a forward dive in both tuck and pike, a back dive, a forward one and half somersaults, an inward dive and demonstrate the different body shapes and techniques used in diving. Divers will be comfortable using the 3m board for jumps, entries and basic dives.
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Aims:
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developing skills for dives from all dive groups
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developing the skills for dives from the 3m board
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developing dives with different shapes
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Progression:
Divers require a State list of dives in their age group in order to progress to the Gold Squad.
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Age group | 1m dives | 3m dives | Platform dives |
|---|---|---|---|
11yrs old & under | 6 | 6 | 4 |
12/13 yrs old | 6 | 6 | 5 |
14/15 yrs old | 7 | 7 | 6 |
16/18 yrs old | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Bronze
Advanced Beginners
Bronze Squad is for beginner divers who have some prior experience of diving, good aerial awareness and who are wishing to take on the demands, experiences and challenges that springboard diving has to offer. They will be developing diving skills during 75 minutes sessions.
The program runs for the club term (includes the holiday) and includes an in-house dive competition held at the end of the season.
Aims:
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develop and have fun learning the basic skills necessary to master a
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forward dive, straight and tuck position
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a backward dive in straight position
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inward dive tuck
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forward somersault in tuck position
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basic 1 step hurdle
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develop and improve body strength control and awareness in space
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to gain experience diving from 1m and 3m springboard
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Progression:
When students master a forward dive tuck; inward dive tuck; a forward somersault tuck, and a back dive, students can progress to Silver Squad.
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Photo credit: Andrew Robinson
Gold
Competing Pennant/States and Nationals
Gold sessions are 2 hours long and also be committed to compete in all Diving Victoria (DV) diving meets.
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Gold divers are expected to set the standards for the developing divers in the club. They are required to attend at least two sessions per week, but we recommend 3 to 4 sessions per week for athletes who have aspirations to compete at Age National Championships and the SSA National Diving Championships.
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Aims:
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continually develop, improve and challenge the diver both in and out of the water on all boards/platforms
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continually develop strength, flexibility and fitness
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expand a dive list to a standard needed to compete at Club Challenges, State and National meets
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Progression:
Students can progress to Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) or other state high performance programs.
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Our focus is to develop each diver’s love of the sport, their fitness, technique, training knowledge, and competition skills in a positive and enjoyable environment whilst providing divers at every level the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Our Training Facilities
The PLC Aquatic Centre dive pool (4m deep) comprises of two 1m springboards, two 3m springboards and platforms up to 5m.
Our new gymnastic/dryland centre is used for dryland training comprising of dry boards, two trampolines, sprung floor, and foam pit, which will develop and extend divers.
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Dryland and Trampoline
Dryland training sessions are timetabled as part of the Gold and Silver squad training schedules. These focus on developing muscular strength, endurance, core strength, flexibility, agility and cardiovascular fitness - all a high priority of this program.
Trampolining is also a major focus during these sessions.
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When attending dryland sessions, divers must wear shorts, a t-shirt, and bring their water bottle.
School sports uniforms may be worn.
Coaches
Brodie O'Connell
Silver Diving Coach
Elizabeth Howard
Head Diving Coach / Gold Diving Coach
Elizabeth is a level 2 diving coach with over 40 years experience. Elizabeth began as the Head Coach of Diving at PLC in 2025 after 16 very successful years at St Kevin’s College. Elizabeth has an excellent competition record, coaching Firbank Grammar divers to 18 consecutive GSV premierships and leading St. Kevin’s College to 15 APS diving premierships. Elizabeth’s divers have won countless State and National medals including gold and she is the current Head Coach for School Sport Victoria. Elizabeth is the 2023 Diving Victoria Coach of the Year and a former Diving Australia Coach of the Year. Elizabeth is thrilled at the prospect of coming in the new Joan Montgomery Centre.
Brodie began diving at PLC before moving to St Kevin’s Aquatic Club when he started at St. Kevin's as a student in year 7. Brodie became a National level diver and participated in many APS premiership winning teams at St. Kevin’s. Brodie is a level 1 coach and has supported divers at all levels. Brodie is a university student studying Aviation/Business at Swinburne.
Maddi Garwood
Bronze Diving Coach
Maddie was heavily involved in the PLC school diving team. She represented PLC at all GSV meets and participated in the Club Challenge Series for the PLC Aquatic Club. Maddie's love for the sport gave her the drive to set goals and strive at achieving her aspirations of going to Nationals.
Riki Lethbridge
Bronze Diving Coach
Riki was a National level diver and began his diving at PLC. Riki enjoys coaching his bronze squads developing a joy for the sport in his young athletes. His strong focus is on good basics which is the foundations of every good diver.
Training
Tim O'Connell
Bronze Diving Coach
Tim began diving at PLC before moving to St Kevin’s Aquatic Club when he started at St. Kevin's as a student in year 7. Tim became a National level diver and participated in many APS premiership winning teams at St. Kevin’s. Tim has 2 years experience coaching beginner to intermediate level divers and studies Law/Commerce at Deakin.
Term 3 Training Timetable
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