Required course for coaches in the USA Diving safety certification process. Send registration form and fees, payable to USA Diving, directly to USA Diving, 201 S. Capitol Ave., Ste. 430, Indianapolis, IN 46225. Registration forms and course flyers are available in Downloads.

Two elective coach training courses are available: Dive Safe Coach Training and Spotting Training. To reserve your place, send registration forms to the instructor no later than the registration deadline. Fees may be paid at the course site by cash, check or money order payable to USA Diving.


Diving is a sport with a high skill component of fitness. Coaches need know-how to provide successful learning experiences that help to foster a positive perceived competence for beginning divers. Using guided assistance (hand-spotting) techniques and with only a tumbling stack mat, deep water, poolside and 1-meter available, Dive Safe Coach Training provides coaching skills related to the three levels of core skills in the Dive Safe Athlete Development Program.
1. Bronze
2. Silver
3. Gold

Two coach certifications are offered: 1. Grassroots FUNdamentals Coach (Dive Safe Bronze and Silver Levels) and Dive Safe Coach (Dive Safe Gold Level). Eligible Dive Safe Coaches may become Dive Safe Program Instructors (i.e. authorized providers of the Dive Safe Athlete Development Program).

Elective course open to all coaches (members and non-members). Provides coach training on entry-level diving fundamentals from warm-up skills to front dive tuck with an approach and hurdle. Send registration form and fees directly to the course instructor.

Dive Safe Coach elective certification is open to eligible USA Diving coach members and YMCA coaches and instructors (see registration form for YMCA eligibility requirements) who have passed Bronze and Silver spotting skills. The course provides additional coach training on basic dives in the front, back, reverse and inward groups in the tuck and pike positions.


Elective course open to eligible USA Diving member coaches. Course provides Level I-beginning, Level II-intermediate and Level III-advanced spotting skills in overhead belt-, manual-, hand belt- and visual spotting skills in hands-on session at three different spotting stations: 1. trampoline, 2. mats, and 3. dry board ropes under the supervision of an expert spotter. In addition, specialty spotting training on 1-meter and/or 3-meter wet board ropes is also available at some sites.