Nearly 100 years of diving…

A person falling headfirst from a height in mid-air against a cloudy sky.
A male coach demonstrating stretching techniques to a group of six young male athletes in swimwear, standing around a poolside in an indoor swimming pool area.

Late-80s

Founded at Highgate Ponds in North London.

The club was set up by a group of English divers to excel British diving following the Olympic Games in Amsterdam.

Diving outside at Highgate Ponds had its own challenges - creaky boards, murky pond water, and pond life - something our divers don’t have to worry about at Medway Park!

Sometimes the divers had to wait for a group of ducks to pass underneath.

1928

Four people performing a synchronized dive from a diving platform with two levels, a person standing on the lower level holding a flag, and a few people in the background, under a cloudy sky.
Two athletes in mid-air diving into a swimming pool during a diving competition, with spectators watching from the poolside.

1939

Becoming one of the most successful British clubs.

By 1939, the club dominated the British diving scene, featuring many top divers in Olympic, European, and Commonwealth Games.

The club had to break during the War.

1945

Moving to Ironmonger Row Baths & Showtime!

Following the 2nd World War, the club moved to Ironmonger Row Baths, with additional training at Crystal Palace and Willesden. Olympic diver, Brian Phelps trained there regularly, as did many of the club's other international divers, such as John Chandler, John Cooze, John Miles, Billy Wood, and Alun Roberts.

With the club’s resumption, the Highgate Display Team formed, and was invited to perform at many large events. This continued up to the late-80s - the most successful being the Queens Jubilee and the Debenhams invitational broadcast on the BBC. It was a very special time to be a member of Highgate Diving Club.

An indoor high diving platform with multiple levels overlooking a swimming pool.

Moving to White Oak Leisure Centre

The club moved to White Oak Leisure Centre in Swanley in the late-80s, with the focus shifting to sessions for both children and adults on Sunday and Thursday evenings. With many diving centres starting to close around the UK, the aim of the club was to encourage people to get into diving in a fun and casual environment.

Despite our best efforts, the centre closed for refurbishment in 2022 and diving boards weren’t reimplemented. Therefore, the club once again had to find a new home.

Group of kids and two adults sitting on a poolside mat at an indoor swimming pool.
Four people in swimsuits practicing synchronized swimming or a similar water activity indoors, with three in a line and one being lifted horizontally by two others.
A young girl performing a backwards dive pike into a swimming pool, with other swimmers and a coach watching in the background at White Oak Leisure Centre.
A woman in a blue swimsuit performing a dive, with a group of children watching nearby.
Three men standing in line at the edge of a swimming pool, wearing white T-shirts and black shorts, looking towards an emergency light and fire equipment on the wall.
Divers listening to a coach during a diving practice at an indoor pool, with some kids raising their hands and others standing or sitting on the pool edge.

Moving to Medway Park

The club moved to Medway Park, Gillingham, in January 2022 - one of the few remaining pools with diving boards in the South East.

We now run sessions for both children and adults on a Saturday morning, and are thankful for both divers and coaches who made the move with us!

2022

Indoor diving pool with at Medway Park, with a 5m diving platform and springboard.

Highgate Diving Club was founded in London in 1928 and has been supporting the advancement of British diving ever since.