Diving bòards
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Diving bòards
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.
Re: Diving bòards
None that i can think of in the area
Re: Diving bòards
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.
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Re: Diving bòards
Rodneyyouplonker wrote: ↑Fri Aug 01, 2025 8:19 pmHi 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.
This user liked this post: dougcollins
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Re: Diving bòards
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.
Hard to find a pool over 1.5 metres deep nowadays, you're not gonna get a board in there.
Re: Diving bòards
I remember Padiham with the high board and springboard. Couldn't get us kids off them at night and weekend.
Re: Diving bòards
Used to love it at Skipton Baths as a kid in the 60's springboard and 15(ish) foot highboard 
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Re: Diving bòards
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.
Re: Diving bòards
The top board was concrete if I remember rightly. The other 2 were spring boards.
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Re: Diving bòards
Once jumped off Skipton high board. I emphasise the ‘once’.
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Re: Diving bòards
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?
Does anyone remember or know the heights of the middle board and tallest board at Thompson centre?
Re: Diving bòards
3 metres and 5 metres.
Stanbill05 used to dive off the top for fun.
Stanbill05 used to dive off the top for fun.
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Re: Diving bòards
Not embarrassed to admit that I sh!t out of diving/jumping off the top board at the Thompson centre (on multiple occasions).
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Re: Diving bòards
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
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Re: Diving bòards
There was a mark on my mobile when I saw this thread - for a second I thought it said Diving B'stards! 

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Re: Diving bòards
I remember my mate coming home from swimming with slap marks ... wasn't from the diving board thoughpureclaret wrote: ↑Sat Aug 02, 2025 2:43 pmI 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
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Re: Diving bòards
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
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Re: Diving bòards
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 

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Re: Diving bòards
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??
Re: Diving bòards
Manchester aquatics centre,think you only get 1 hour in the diving sessions.
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Re: Diving bòards
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.
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.

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Re: Diving bòards
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
Now id be lucky to dive of a 1 meter board lol
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Re: Diving bòards
The 10 meter board at Derby baths was a rusting metal structure which actually swayed when you were on it.pureclaret wrote: ↑Sat Aug 02, 2025 2:43 pmI 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
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Re: Diving bòards
Added to the excitement don't you thinkDressinggown wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 6:13 pmThe 10 meter board at Derby baths was a rusting metal structure which actually swayed when you were on it.
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Re: Diving bòards
Experiencing peril was character building.
Kids now don't know they're born.
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Re: Diving bòards
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 !
Perfect entry only to resurface into a swarm of jellyfish. Stung everywhere. Holiday ruined !