BH Live Active, The Quays recently welcomed some of the country's most promising young divers as part of Swim England’s National Skills Finals competitions.

Held in Southampton for the first time in 15 years, the prestigious competition was hosted by Swim England on 18-19 July. Delivered in partnership with Southampton Diving Academy (SDA), a resident club at BH Live Active, The Quays, the event brought together talented divers from across the UK to compete in one of the sport's leading development events.

The event marked a significant milestone for Southampton's diving community, with BH Live, Swim England and Southampton Diving Academy working closely together to ensure the competition was delivered successfully. Following a successful return to the city, the National Skills Finals are set to return to BH Live Active, The Quays in 2027.

Southampton Diving Academy athletes performed strongly throughout the weekend, securing several impressive results against national competition. Among the standout performances was Freya Sisson, who claimed silver in the Female A 1m event before going on to secure third place overall in the Female A category.

Other notable results included fourth place for Lily Bryant in the Female B category, seventh place finishes for Emma Etheridge and Daniel Tull in the Female C1 and Open D1 categories respectively, and fifth place for Tirana-Kacie in the Female D2 competition.

Adding to the celebrations, Southampton Diving Academy Head Coach, Matthew Roberts, was awarded The Margaret Davis Trophy for Diving Coach of the Year, recognising outstanding performances achieved at the Swim England National Age Groups and Aquatics GB Next Gen Diving Championships. Matthew said;

"We're incredibly proud of all our divers and the way they represented Southampton Diving Academy throughout the National Skills Finals. Hosting such a prestigious event in Southampton was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the talent within our programme, our amazing coaches, and the excellent facilities at BH Live Active, The Quays. Receiving The Margaret Davis Trophy for Diving Coach of the Year has made this an especially memorable event for me, and I’m delighted to see that the competitions will be returning to the centre in 2027."

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;

"We were delighted to welcome Swim England’s National Skills Finals to BH Live Active, The Quays and to play a part in bringing this prestigious event back to Southampton for the first time in 15 years.

"The success of the competition reflects the excellent partnership between Swim England, Southampton Diving Academy and BH Live, as well as the quality of facilities available at BH Live Active, The Quays. It was fantastic to see so many talented young athletes competing, and we look forward to welcoming the event back in 2027."

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. With structured coaching and regular diving lessons, the programme supports participants of all ages and abilities as they build confidence and develop their skills.

Diving taster sessions are also available for Adults and Teens (ages 13+) on Wednesdays and Sundays. Sessions are bookable via BH Live Active’s swim timetable at bhliveactive.org.uk/find-an-activity, or via the BH Live Active app.

Delivered in partnership with the Swim England Awards Scheme, Learn to Dive provides a clear pathway for progression, enabling divers to work through recognised achievement levels while earning badges and certificates that celebrate their development.

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.

More information about BH Live’s Learn to Dive programme and taster sessions for ages 6-12 is available online.

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.