Pathways
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Term 1 Registrations
For information on our term 1 sessions, please view this document. Registrations are now open and you can register here.
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At Canterbury Diving, we provide a clear and supportive pathway for every diver, from first-time jumpers discovering the joy of diving to athletes striving for national and international success.
Our club is organised into three main pathways
- Recreational
- Competitive
- Performance
The pathway begins with our Canterbury Beginner Grading System, designed to build strong foundational skills and confidence, and progresses all the way through to Olympic-level events.
Our structured progression aligns with both national and international standards:
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Canterbury Grades 1–4
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Diving New Zealand Skills Levels 1–3
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New Zealand Age Groups
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World Aquaitcs Junior Elite
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World Aquaitics Open Men’s & Women’s
Below is the structure we are working towards as our club continues to grow. While some squads will begin in combined groups during this early stage, this diagram shows the long-term pathway we are building, from trial classes and beginner grades right through to our future skills groups, development squads, age-group squads, recreational streams, and performance pathways.
Canterbury Grades 1–4
Our grades 1–4 are developed through our dedicated Grades 1 & 2 and Grades 3 & 4 classes.
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30 minute Grades 1 & 2 class
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1 hour Grades 3 & 4 class
These sessions focus on building fundamental diving technique, body awareness, and confidence in the water, providing a strong foundation for future progression.
There are no external competitions at this stage. Divers are graded internally during sessions, allowing them to learn and improve in a fun, supportive environment without pressure.
DNZ Skills Testing Level 1, 2, 3 and 4
(By invitation only)
Diving New Zealand's Skills Levels Series can be competed locally within Christchurch and nationally around New Zealand.
The pinnacle event the annual Nationals Skills Event which is held in Auckland. Divers are awarded with either Bronze, Silver or Gold ribbons for their performances.
In addition to their skills ribbons, divers also receive an overall medal that reflects their average score across all three boards ,1m, 3m, and Platform/Poolside. This result is measured against each diver’s personal grading, encouraging them to focus on self-improvement and progress rather than comparison with others.
Award thresholds:
• Bronze award 75 – 97.45 (Avg 5.0 & above)
• Silver award 97.5 – 112.45 (Avg 6.5 & above)
• Gold award 112.5 and above (Avg 7.5 & above)
NZ Age Group
(By invitation only)
After completing the Skills Programme, divers progress into the New Zealand Age Group pathway.
At this stage, divers begin creating their own “lists”, personalised combinations of dives which they perform at competitions locally within Christchurch and across New Zealand.
Each event awards medals to the top three divers in each category.
Divers who achieve consistent results at the NZ Age Group level may also be selected by Diving New Zealand to represent the country at entry-level international competitions in Australia, providing valuable experience on the international stage.
World Aquatics Junior Elite Lists
(By invitation only)
To progress further, divers can work towards their World Aquatics Junior Elite Lists. These lists are internationally recognised, allowing divers to be considered for selection to compete at events around the world.
World Aquatics is the global governing body for aquatic sports, including diving.
World Aquatics Junior Elite divers are categorised into Groups A, B, and C, following the same age-group structure as Diving New Zealand (note: there is no Group D at this level).
The World Aquatics World Junior Diving Championships is the pinnacle event for Junior Elite divers. It is held every two years and serves as the junior equivalent of the World Championships.
Canterbury divers training on World Aquatics Junior Elite Lists are part of our Junior Performance and Performance Squads, where they refine their skills to meet international standards.
World Aquatics Open Men’s & Women’s Lists
(By invitation only)
These lists represent the highest level of competition in diving, featuring the dives you’ll see performed at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games.
This stage is for divers who have progressed beyond Group A, though it’s common for some of our World Aquatics Junior Elite divers to compete in open events for experience and exposure.
At this point, divers have usually specialised in either Springboard or Platform. Men are required to perform six dives, and women five, showcasing their highest degree of difficulty (DD) dives.
Divers competing on these lists may be selected by Diving New Zealand to represent the country at senior international events — including the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and World Aquatics World Cup.
There is also the World Aquatics Diving World Series, a circuit of elite international competitions held annually around the globe.
Canterbury divers training on World Aquatics Open Lists may be invited into our Junior Performance or Performance Squads, where they continue refining their skills and technical execution to meet international standards.
