Diving has been temporarily banned at most public pools in Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty after a teen suffered a spinal injury.

The accident has sparked a review of pool diving safety that could have national implications.

In November, a 16-year-old girl was swimming in the 25-metre lap pool at Greerton Aquatic Centre when the accident happened, NZME previously reported.

She dove from the bulkhead into the deep end and struck the bottom, knocking her unconscious.

She was resuscitated and airlifted to Middlemore Hospital National Spinal Unit for treatment.

In response to this incident, pool operator Bay Venues has paused all recreational diving across its aquatic venues while a full incident review is carried out.

The Tauranga City Council-controlled operation also runs the Otumoetai, Memorial Park, Baywave and Mount Hot Pools (currently closed), as well as the Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s seasonal Te Puke Memorial Pool and Dave Hume Pools in Katikati - which opened in December after a refurbishment.

Deep-water pools at Baywave and Te Puke were not included in the diving ban.

Bay Venues chief executive Chad Hooker said the diving decision reflected a commitment to customer safety.

“There is no confirmed timeline of when this thorough review process will be complete.”

Bay Venues chief executive Chad Hooker. Photo / Supplied

It was working with Recreation Aotearoa, the national aquatics industry body, to examine this from a national perspective.

They aimed to identify and implement any changes that could help pool operators around the country prevent similar accidents in the future, and ensure the safety of customers and communities, Hooker said.

“This work will help shape clear national guidance around minimum pool depths and the conditions under which diving can safely take place.

“We recognise this pause in diving may have an impact on some of our customers, and we thank them for their patience and understanding while we work through this process.”

Western Bay of Plenty District Council reserves and facilities manager Peter Watson said the council supported the decision.

Bay Venues was working directly with clubs and coaches on a case-by-case basis during the review to manage any risk, he said.

The Greerton swimming pool. Photo / John Borren

“All swimming meets, and events run by schools and other community organisations, need to use in-water starts at the moment as part of this pause in diving, in the interest of clarity and to avoid any confusion, misinterpretations, or misunderstandings as to who has/hasn’t had formal dive start training.”

Watson said it was anticipated that any future allowance for diving may include strict caveats, such as limiting dives to sanctioned competitions or coached sessions under trained supervision.

Many swimming clubs unaffected

Swimming Bay of Plenty spokeswoman Karen Nixon said the ban had no impact on their club members because diving was still allowed at Baywave.

“Also, diving is allowed under specialist supervision at other pools, for example, under the direct supervision or instruction of a qualified swim club coach or a registered learn to swim instructor.”

Omanu Swim Club operates at a pool not owned by Bay Venues so it was not affected either.

Evolution Aquatics is a swimming club based at Otumoetai Pools, which is affected by the diving ban.

A club spokesperson said Bay Venues communicated very well with them regarding the policy change.

“There is pause for swimmers using the pool for recreation, which does not impact on swimmers during their sessions with our club.”

Head coach Riccardo Pini said Evolution Aquatics and other clubs that have a coach on the pool deck during training hours were not affected by the ban.

“Young swimmers should learn to perform race dives following the correct and safe progressions. Teaching/coaching is the key here.”

Pini said a range of potential hazards and dangers were present at any swimming pool complex.

“Those hazards should be periodically assessed and minimised to ensure everybody’s safety.”

Liz van Welie Aquatics’ swim club hired lanes and was a professional, supervised group, so van Welie said the diving pause did not impact them.

Van Welie said during training the club generally did not do a lot of dive starts, unless it was close to a peak competition.

She said they also had their own pool to train in, with dive blocks.

Ayla Yeoman is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based in Tauranga. She holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in communications, politics and international relations from the University of Auckland, and has been a journalist since 2022.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.