A diving camp is often mentioned in the same breath as swimming camps, but the two disciplines require completely different infrastructure, coaching and programmes. At ZwemExpert, diving is a fully-fledged discipline alongside competitive swimming — with its own coaches, its own programme and its own coaching approach. In this article we explain what makes a good diving camp unique, and what you, as a parent or diver, need to know before you book.
Diving at ZwemExpert: a separate discipline
At our camps, divers and competitive swimmers train side by side — at the same location, with shared activities (dryland, evening programme, meals), but with completely separate coaching and water programmes. As a diver you don't have to swim, and vice versa.
Why a diving camp is different
A serious diving camp has a few requirements that simply aren't present in an ordinary pool:
- Various board heights — 1m, 3m and at minimum a 5m, 7.5m and 10m platform
- Foam pit and dryland diving facilities — indispensable for safely learning new dives
- Bubble system in the pool — softens the water landing when learning new dives
- Spotting rigs and trampolines — for the first phase of somersaults and twists
Most Dutch and Belgian divers train in a pool that has at most one or two of these facilities. A good camp brings them into contact with all four — often for the first time.
Who should go?
Diving camps are valuable for:
- Divers who want to learn a new dive that is too risky at home
- Divers preparing for an important competition (national junior championships, national championships)
- Talents considering the step towards an Olympic focus who want to experience what 'training internationally' is like
What's included in a ZwemExpert diving camp?
At our diving camps we work with international coaches who have worked at Olympic level themselves. The programme includes:
- 2 sessions per day, with 1 rest day per week
- Foam pit + dryland diving for new elements
- One-on-one video analysis, in particular using centre-of-gravity tracking
- Mental support — diving is 50% mental work, and this gets structural attention
- A competition simulation at the end of the camp, with judging and feedback
What age?
Divers make the step to serious training earlier than swimmers. Our camps run for the age group 10 to 18, in sub-groups by level.
What should you look out for as a parent?
- Safety — explicitly ask about the safety protocol for new dives
- Coach-to-diver ratio — even more important in diving than in swimming; ask for 1-to-4 or better
- Height progression — a good programme builds up from the 1m board and doesn't force the platform straight away
- Pre-screening — a serious camp wants to know in advance which dives your child already masters, in order to group them well
What does a diving camp cost?
For a week at a top European facility you're looking at around €1,800-€2,500. Often slightly more expensive than a swimming camp, because the coach-to-diver ratio is stricter and the facilities are more specialised.
Next step
See our current diving offer — both the ZwemExpert Competitive Swimming Summer Camp 2026 and the ZwemExpert Competitive Swimming Summer Camp 2026 offer a full diving programme. For questions or a personal intake — get in contact.