An Introduction to the Levels of Diving

Within sanctioned diving meets, there are two different levels of competition. Novice or Future Champions, and Junior Olympics Age Group. Here are the standards that are presented by USA Diving, and World Aquatics, (the governing body of international aquatic sports). Age groups are determined by the divers’ age on December 31 during the year of competition.

Every dive has a degree of difficulty, as well as a numerical system to identify it.

Future champions levels

The purpose of the Future Champions program is to encourage the learning of fundamental skills by a broad base of divers. The choices listed in the Skill Bank reflect a list of safe progression performance options for any diver at almost any level of experience in the sport. These skills provide divers the opportunity to participate in the sport of diving at any age and/or level of experience. These skills can be performed on 1m, 3m, and tower.

Tier 1 (6 Actions)  

• Future Champions Level 1:

6 skills chosen from the bank below.

Skills may be reused in a different position/degree of twist (i.e., 100C and 100A may be performed as separate and distinct actions in the competition.)
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• Future Champions Level 2:

5 skills chosen from the bank below and any 1 dive.

Skills may be reused in a different position/degree of twist.

The dive may be 101, 201, 301, or 401 –any position with true DD; any other dive may instead be selected at DD of 1.0.
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• Future Champions Level 3:

4 skills chosen from the bank below and any 2 dives from different groups.

The dives may be 101, 201, 301, or 401 – any position with true DD; any other dive may instead be selected at DD of 1.0.
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• Future Champions Level 4:

3 skills chosen from the bank below and any 3 dives - of different groups.

The dives may be 101, 201, 301, or 401 – any position with true DD; any other dive may instead be selected at DD of 1.0.

Tier 2 (7 Actions)  

• Future Champions Level 5:

3 skills chosen from the bank below, 2 voluntary dives and 2 optional dives from different groups.

The voluntary dives shall be selected from 101, 201, 301, or 401 (any position) and will be given true DD.

The optional dives may be any competitive dives and will be given the true DD.
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• Future Champions Level 6:

2 skills chosen from the bank below, 3 voluntary dives, and 2 optional dives from different groups.

The voluntary dives shall be selected from 101, 201, 301, or 401 (any position) and will be given true DD.

The optional dives may be any competitive dives and will be given true DD.
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• Future Champions Level 7:

1 skill chosen from the bank below, 3 voluntary dives, and 3 optional dives from different groups.

The voluntary dives shall be 101, 201, 301, or 401 (any position) and will be given true DD.

The optional dives may be any competitive dives and will be given true DD.
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• Future Champions Level 8:

4 voluntary dives and 3 optional dives from different groups.

The voluntary dives shall be 101, 201, 301, and 401 (any position) and will be given true DD.

The optional dives may be any competitive dives and will be given true DD.

Junior Olympic Age Groups

Divers are encouraged to compete at the Junior Olympic (JO) level of competition when they have learned enough dives and can perform them regularly for a score of 5s or better.  It is easier for a younger diver to advance to the J.O. level since the dive requirements get harder as a diver gets older. The dive requirements for J.O. levels A-C are according to the 2022-2025 World Aquatics Technical Rule Book, Groups D & E according to USA Diving.

Group E (USA Diving)
Ages 9 and Under | 5 dives total

The contest shall consist of three voluntary dives from different groups, followed by two optional dives from different groups.

Group D (USA Diving)
Ages 10 & 11 | 6 dives:

For 1-meter and 3-meter springboard, divers will perform four (4) voluntary dives from different groups, followed by two (2) optional dives from different groups

Group C (World Aquatics)
Ages 12 & 13 | 7 or 8 dives:

For 1-meter and 3-meter springboard, divers will perform five (5) voluntaries from different groups, followed by two (2) or three (3) optional dives from different groups. Voluntaries are limited to 9.0 D.D cap for 1m and 9.5 for 3m.

Girls perform 7 dives and boys perform 8 dives in age group competition.

Group B (World Aquatics)
Ages 14 & 15 | 8 or 9 dives

For 1-meter and 3- meter springboard, divers shall perform five voluntary dives, one from each group, with a cumulative degree of difficulty not to exceed 9.0 for one meter and 9.5 for three meter, followed by four optional dives from different groups without limit of degree of difficulty .

Girls perform 8 dives and boys will perform 9 in competition.

Group A (World Aquatics)
Ages 16 & 18 | 9 or 10 dives:

For 1-meter and 3-meter springboard, divers shall perform five voluntary dives, one from each group with a cumulative degree of difficulty not to exceed 9.0 for one meter and 9.5 for three meter, followed by five (5) or six (6) optional dives from five (5) groups without limit of degree of difficulty.

Girls perform 9 dives and boys will perform 10 in competition.