Spinal injury at Tauranga pool sparks regional diving ban

Recreational diving has been temporarily suspended at most public pools operated by Bay Venues across Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty, following a serious accident in November last year. A 16-year-old girl dived from the bulkhead into the deep end of the 25-metre lap pool at Greerton Aquatic Centre, struck the bottom, and was knocked unconscious. She was resuscitated and airlifted to Middlemore Hospital's National Spinal Unit for treatment.

In response, Bay Venues — which operates pools including Otumoetai, Memorial Park, Baywave, Mount Hot Pools, the seasonal Te Puke Memorial Pool, and the Dave Hume Pool in Katikati — has paused all recreational diving while a full incident review is carried out. Chief executive Chad Hooker said there is no confirmed timeline for when the review will be completed, but the organisation is working with Recreation Aotearoa, the national aquatics industry body, to examine the issue at a national level and develop clearer guidelines around minimum pool depths and the conditions under which diving can safely take place.

Swimming clubs that operate under qualified coach supervision have largely been unaffected. Swimming Bay of Plenty spokeswoman Karen Nixon said the ban had no impact on club members because diving remains permitted at Baywave under specialist supervision, and competitive swim meets are using in-water starts in the interim. Evolution Aquatics head coach Riccardo Pini noted that clubs with a coach on the pool deck during training hours were not covered by the ban, adding that teaching safe dive progressions was key. Bay Venues acknowledged the pause may inconvenience some customers and thanked them for their patience while the review is under way.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).