In our children’s Learn to Dive Programme, you will progress through 6 different skill levels. Use the arrow buttons below to view the skills you will learn in each level.
We aim to run assessments four times a year, although we find that children progress at different paces. As diving is a progressive sport, each skill builds on the last — so we look for confidence and consistency in each skill before children can move up to the next level.
Alongside the core skills listed here, we also have bonus skills that give children additional goals to work towards, but these are not required to move to the next level.
| LTD Level 1 | Board | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Forward jump straight | 1m | Start standing facing forward, jump up and into the water whilst maintaining straight line shape throughout. |
| Forward jump tuck | p/s | From a standing start with straight line posture, jump forward into the air, bend the knees pull them in to the chest with hands on lower shins, before kicking back out to a straight shape for entry. |
| Forward pike fall | 1m | Standing folded at the hips with hands grabbed arms covering ears, lift up on to toes and fall forwards into the water moving through a straight vertical line. |
| Back circle | p/s | In the water, push off poolside reach arms back keep chin up and go round in a back somersault with straight legs. |
| Backwards jump straight | p/s | Start standing in a straight line facing backwards, jump up and backwards into the water whilst maintaining a straight line throughout. |
| LTD Level 2 | Board | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Backwards jump tuck | p/s | Start standing in a straight line facing backwards, jump backward in to the air, bending the knees pulling them into the chest with hands on lower shins, before kicking back out to a straight shape for entry. |
| Forward jump pike | p/s | From a standing straight line posture, jump forward into the air, fold at the hips to reach forward and touch the toes keeping legs straight, before opening out into the straight line entry position. |
| Forward dive straight | p/s | Start standing in a straight line facing forwards, bend the knees whilst keeping the chest high. Strong push into the air and maintain a straight shape throughout the air and into the water. |
| Back dive straight from crouched | p/s | Start facing backwards and fully crouched. Strong push up into the air whilst reaching the arms backwards into the water. |
| Forward pike fall | 1m | Standing folded at the hip with a slight rounded back. Hands grabbed arms covering ears, lift up on to toes and fall forwards into the water moving through a straight vertical line. |
| Forward jump straight with armswing | 1m | Start standing straight line posture, circle arms behind body as you jump in time with the board movement. Leave the board in a straight line with arms behind ears. |
| LTD Level 3 | Board | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Forward jump straight | 3m | Start standing facing forward, jump up and into the water whilst maintaining straight line shape throughout. |
| Forward dive tuck | p/s | Start standing facing forwards, dive up and forward into the air. Make a tuck shape whilst parrallel to the water. Sharply exit the tuck shape to make a straight line as you enter the water. |
| Backwards jump straight | 1m | Start standing in a straight line facing backwards , jump up and backwards into the water whilst maintaining straight line throughout. |
| Backward jump tuck with armswing | p/s | Start standing backwards with the arms behind the ears. Circle the arms all the way back to the ears and jump up and backwards. Make a tight tuck shape and sharply exit the shape into a straight line for the water. |
| Backward dive straight from standing | p/s | Start facing backwards. Strong dive up and backwards into the air whilst reaching the arms backwards into the water. Maintain a slight arch through the air, then circling the body whilst going through the water. |
| Forward piked wedge | p/s | Start standing forwards. Jump up and forwards whilst rotating forwards. Make a pike shape with the head in and land on your head and feet at the same time and roll under the water. |
| LTD Level 4 | Board | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Forward dive tuck | 1m | Start standing facing forwards, dive up and forward into the air. Make a tuck shape whilst parrallel to the water. Sharply exit the tuck shape to make a straight line as you enter the water. |
| Backward jump straight with armswing | 1m | Start standing backwards with the arms behind the ears. Circle the arms all the way back to the ears and jump up and backwards. Maintain a straight line throughout the air and the water. |
| Backward dive straight with armswing | p/s | Start facing backwards. Circle the arms all the way back to the ears and dive up and backwards into the air whilst reaching the arms backwards into the water. Maintain a slight arch through the air, then circling the body whilst going through the water. |
| Forward pike fall | 3m | Standing folded at the hip with a slight rounded back. Hands grabbed arms covering ears, lift up on to toes and fall forwards into the water moving through a straight vertical line. |
| Inward pike wedge | p/s | Start standing backwards. Jump up and backwards whilst rotating forwards. Make a pike shape with the head in and land on your head and feet at the same time and roll under the water. |
| Backwards straight fall | 1m | Start standing backwards on the board. Hands grabbed above the head and arms behind the ears. Lift up on the toes and maintain a straight line as you fall into the water onto the hands. |
| LTD Level 5 | Board | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Forward jump straight | 5m | Start standing facing forward, jump up and into the water whilst maintaining straight line shape throughout. |
| Backward jump straight with armswing | 3m | Start standing backwards with the arms behind the ears. Circle the arms all the way back to the ears and jump up and backwards. Maintain a straight line throughout the air and the water. |
| Forward pike jump with armswing | p/s | Start facing forwards. Circle the arms all the way back to the ears as you jump, snap in and out of a pike shape, landing in the water in a straight line. |
| Backward fall straight | 3m | Start standing backwards on the board. Hands grabbed above the head and arms behind the ears. Lift up on the toes and maintain a straight line as you fall into the water onto the hands. |
| Backward pike sit | p/s | Start facing backwards. Circle the arms all the way back to the ears and jump up and forwards. Lift the legs up and grab the toes. Landing in a sitting v shape. |
| Forward tuck roll | 3m | Start sitting forwards in a tuck shape on the end of the board. Roll forward and straighten out sharply. Grab the hands and hit the water in a straight line. Roll through the water. |
| LTD Level 6 | Board | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Forward dive tuck | 3m | Start standing facing forwards, dive up and forward into the air. Make a tuck shape whilst parrallel to the water. Sharply exit the tuck shape to make a straight line as you enter the water. |
| Forward dive tuck with armswing | 1m | Start standing forwards with the arms behind the ears. Circle the arms all the way back to the ears and dive up and forward. Make a tuck shape whilst parrallel to the water. Sharply exit the tuck shape to make a straight line as you enter the water. |
| Inward dive tuck | 3m | Start standing backwards. A strong jump backwards whilst rotating forwards. Make a tuck shape whilst parrallel to the water. Sharply exit the tuck shape to make a straight line as you enter the water. |
| Backward fall arms down | 3m | Start standing backwards on the board. Hands on top of the thighs. Lift up on the toes and maintain a straight line as you fall towards the water. Quickly reach the arms back behind the ears and grab the hands. Maintain a tight shape through the water. |
| Back dive tuck with armswing | 1m | Start standing backwards. Circle the arms all the way back up to the ears and dive up and backwards. Lift the knees up to your chest and make a tight tuck shape. Kick out and make a straight shape just before hitting the water. Maintain a straight line as you enter the water. |
| Pike fall | 5m | Standing folded at the hip with a slight rounded back. Hands grabbed arms covering ears, lift up on to toes and fall forwards into the water moving through a straight vertical line. |
