Hi all, wanting to take my son swimming during the holidays but we want somewhere with a diving board preferably. I used to go Clitheroe and skipton as a kid but they all seemed too of disappeared. Does anyone know anywhere with a diving board? Dont mind travelling aslong as its not stupidly far . TIA.

None that i can think of in the area

ISpeds00 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 01, 2025 8:29 pm

None that i can think of in the area

There will be plenty of diving going on in our area in a few weeks time.

Some years back the national guidelines changed regarding the depth of water the diving boards went over. It's a while since I managed swimming pools but I seem to recall 3.5 metres being the "new" regulation depth for a 1m unsprung board, increasing as the boards became higher and sprung. Before then it was pretty much down to whomever ran the pool. Few councils or companies could afford to make the actual pools deeper so they just got rid of the boards. At my last pool (Ilkley Lido) we had to remove the two diving boards and the slide from the outdoor pool.

Rodneyyouplonker wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 01, 2025 8:19 pm

Hi all, wanting to take my son swimming during the holidays but we want somewhere with a diving board preferably. I used to go Clitheroe and skipton as a kid but they all seemed too of disappeared. Does anyone know anywhere with a diving board? Dont mind travelling aslong as its not stupidly far . TIA.

Have you tried Shipley diving pool?

Used to go as a kid. Late 70's.
Still going strong.

Shipley would be my nearest.

Hard to find a pool over 1.5 metres deep nowadays, you're not gonna get a board in there.

I remember Padiham with the high board and springboard. Couldn't get us kids off them at night and weekend.

Used to love it at Skipton Baths as a kid in the 60's springboard and 15(ish) foot highboard

Brings back happy memories of the Thompson centre as a kid in the 90’s. At the time it felt a big climb to that top board.

The top board was concrete if I remember rightly. The other 2 were spring boards.

Once jumped off Skipton high board. I emphasise the ‘once’.

karatekid wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 9:27 am

The top board was concrete if I remember rightly. The other 2 were spring boards.

Yep. Remember as an 8/9 year old I’d attempt a dive off the middle board, but would only jump off that top one. Definitely won’t have actually been as high as I remember it!

I remember scaling the top board at Thompson centre, at the time seemed like huge height. never dived, only jumped, pretty sure we had to do it in pjs too for swim safety? Tried to dive off the middle board which was really difficult.
Does anyone remember or know the heights of the middle board and tallest board at Thompson centre?

3 metres and 5 metres.
Stanbill05 used to dive off the top for fun.

Not embarrassed to admit that I sh!t out of diving/jumping off the top board at the Thompson centre (on multiple occasions).

I used to go to Blackpool Derby baths in the 1970s a couple of times a year to go and there were 3 or 4 boards 1mt spring a 3mt 5mt and the 10 meter the 3 and 5 were easy but going off the 10 meter board into 16ft of water, got to say if you weren't lined up properly you ended up with slap marks on face and thighs. I came home with a few slaps lol it closed in the 1990s i think

There was a mark on my mobile when I saw this thread - for a second I thought it said Diving B'stards!

pureclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 2:43 pm

I used to go to Blackpool Derby baths in the 1970s a couple of times a year to go and there were 3 or 4 boards 1mt spring a 3mt 5mt and the 10 meter the 3 and 5 were easy but going off the 10 meter board into 16ft of water, got to say if you weren't lined up properly you ended up with slap marks on face and thighs. I came home with a few slaps lol it closed in the 1990s i think

I remember my mate coming home from swimming with slap marks ... wasn't from the diving board though

Bosscat did he not follow the signs to say will patrons kindly refrain from running, shouting, no smoking no swimming in diving area and no petting

We were on holiday in Switzerland last year and the brilliant outdoor pool in Interlaken had boards at 1.5m, 3m, 5m, 7.5 & 10m. Was with my youngest daughter who was 13 at the time "come on dad, let's try the 5m". Knees knocking but managed that. "Dad, let's do the next one". Jesus 7.5m seemed as high as a house. Did it but the slap on my feet and arms when I went in stung like ****. "Dad, shall we do the 10m"? Never been so relived when the lifeguard called time on the diving sessions

I'd travel over on the bus from Nelson after school, aged 12-14, a few times a week to dive off the top board at Thompson centre - loved it Would I do it now??

Manchester aquatics centre,think you only get 1 hour in the diving sessions.

I did a swimming teachers course when in the Army and used the 1936 Olympic Diving Pool in Berlin.

First task was to jump from the 10m board, no bail out option was given. It became a daily routine to jump off the board but I can't say it became enjoyable aside from the variety of screams of bravado.

Have done some diving of rocks and waterfalls usually 8 to 12 mt. Highest ive gone off a cliff head first is 18 mt and ended up with a sore neck for some months.
Now id be lucky to dive of a 1 meter board lol

pureclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 2:43 pm

I used to go to Blackpool Derby baths in the 1970s a couple of times a year to go and there were 3 or 4 boards 1mt spring a 3mt 5mt and the 10 meter the 3 and 5 were easy but going off the 10 meter board into 16ft of water, got to say if you weren't lined up properly you ended up with slap marks on face and thighs. I came home with a few slaps lol it closed in the 1990s i think

The 10 meter board at Derby baths was a rusting metal structure which actually swayed when you were on it.

Dressinggown wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 03, 2025 6:13 pm

The 10 meter board at Derby baths was a rusting metal structure which actually swayed when you were on it.

Added to the excitement don't you think

pureclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 03, 2025 6:53 pm

Added to the excitement don't you think

Experiencing peril was character building.

Kids now don't know they're born.

Dived from some cliffs in Pula, Croatia as a teenager. I reckon it was around 20 meters.

Perfect entry only to resurface into a swarm of jellyfish. Stung everywhere. Holiday ruined !

Clevedon Claret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 01, 2025 9:33 pm

Have you tried Shipley diving pool?

Used to go as a kid. Late 70's.
Still going strong.

Thanks Clevedon, booked Shipley this morning, only get an hour but plenty of time for him to have some fun and a dive and surprisingly quiet. He didn't dare go from top board though ha. Will be going again. We both enjoyed it. Thanks again. UTC.

Wonder if the Lazio players are interested in this thread?

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 03, 2025 6:57 pm

Experiencing peril was character building.

Kids now don't know they're born.

you know that makes me think you could do a sketch about it ending with
''Yah, you try an tell the young people of today that, and they won't believe you..''

Rodneyyouplonker wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 10, 2025 5:02 pm

Thanks Clevedon, booked Shipley this morning, only get an hour but plenty of time for him to have some fun and a dive and surprisingly quiet. He didn't dare go from top board though ha. Will be going again. We both enjoyed it. Thanks again. UTC.

Good to hear you enjoyed the day.

The top board is scary.
I'll never forget my first dive from up there.
Toes folded over the edge, stood tall. I intended to push up and out. Ended up just bending my knees and rolling forward. Happy days.