A diving coach at BH Live Active, The Quays has celebrated a major milestone in his sporting journey after competing for the first time at one of the UK's most prestigious diving events.

Adam Tearle recently represented Southampton Diving Academy at the Aquatics GB Diving Championships in Birmingham, where he placed 14th in the Men's 3m Springboard preliminary competition. Competing at senior national level for the first time, Adam showcased his talent and determination against some of the country's leading divers.

The achievement marks another significant step in a journey that began more than a decade ago when Adam first took to the boards as an eight-year-old participant at Southampton Diving Academy, based at BH Live Active, The Quays.

Over the years, Adam progressed through the club's development pathway, spending five years competing as a Junior Elite diver before moving into senior competition. Alongside his own training, he has also spent the last two years coaching as part of BH Live’s Learn to Dive programme, helping others discover and develop a passion for the sport.

Reflecting on his diving journey, Adam shared:

"I started diving when I was eight years old and have loved the sport ever since. Competing at the Aquatics GB Diving Championships was an incredible experience and a proud moment for me. It was my first senior national competition, and it was exciting to compete against some of the country's best divers.

"Diving has helped me build confidence, determination and discipline. It has also improved my fitness and taught me how to balance training with school and college commitments. I'd encourage anyone interested in diving to give it a go. It can seem scary at first, but overcoming those fears is one of the most rewarding parts of the sport."

Adam credits much of his development to the support of experienced coaches throughout his career, who helped tailor training to his individual needs and guided him through each stage of his progression. His achievements include being named Best Diver in his age group at an international competition in Bulgaria, and he now has ambitions to continue competing at senior level and work towards future international opportunities.

Alongside his coaching role, Adam remains dedicated to his own training programme, which includes regular gym-based strength and conditioning sessions as part of Southampton Diving Academy's performance pathway.

As one of the South Coast's leading diving venues, BH Live Active, The Quays offers a range of opportunities for people to get involved in the sport through its Learn to Dive programme. From introductory taster sessions to structured coaching and regular diving lessons, the programme supports participants of all ages and abilities as they build confidence and develop their skills.

In Southampton, young people aged under 5 can also build upon their water skills and confidence with free swimming sessions, when accompanied by a fully paying adult at BH Live Active, The Quays and BH Live Active, Bitterne.

BH Live Active, The Quays is operated by registered charity and social enterprise BH Live in partnership with Southampton City Council.

On behalf of BH Live, Maxwell Bradbury-Knight, Area Manager for Southampton, shared;

"Adam's journey is a fantastic example of how sport can help people develop confidence, resilience and ambition. Having started diving as a young participant at BH Live Active, The Quays, it's inspiring to see him progress through the sport to become both a coach and a national-level competitor.

"We are incredibly proud of what Adam has achieved so far, particularly his debut at the Aquatics GB Diving Championships. His success reflects not only his dedication and hard work, but also the strength of the development opportunities available through Southampton Diving Academy and our Learn to Dive programme. We look forward to supporting Adam as he continues pursuing his goals while inspiring the next generation of divers."

To find out more about BH Live’s Learn to Dive programme, visit bhliveactive.org.uk/learn-to-dive.

Public diving sessions can be booked via BH Live Active’s swim timetable at bhliveactive.org.uk/find-an-activity, or via the BH Live Active app.