This week, Diving WA said goodbye to two of our wonderful diving coaches, Mike and Deanne.

Mike has been involved with Diving in WA for many years as a competitive diver, judge, and coach.

In 2012 Mike started up his own affiliated club and brought much-needed experience to the pool at a time when coaches were limited in WA. His commitment and dedication to the sport shone through when the clubs merged into the State Sporting Association (Diving WA) and Mike continued to be an integral part of the transition.

Over the years Mike has taken many Age athletes to Diving Australia’s Age Championships and can be proud of the many achievements the athletes under his coaching have reached along the way. Mike also made his time available as a judge during competitions as a level 4 Diving Australia accredited judge.

Mike is a valued member of the Diving WA community which was reflected in 2017 when he was awarded a Diving WA lifetime membership.

Diving WA CEO, Board, staff, and members wish Mike all the best for his time ahead and thank him for his dedication to the sport and the impact on the growth of diving, he has contributed to.

Dee had her last session in her coaching role with Diving WA today, which coincides with her completion of her Ph.D. in conservation genetics. She has been coaching since 2015 whilst studying at UWA. Dee will now move into full-time employment and has said “I would like to continue doing genetics research that informs the management of threatened species.”

Dee started diving as an athlete at the age of 16 after doing many years of gymnastics. Dee successfully dived at the club level for a few months and was then moved to WAIS.

Dee started coaching Learn-To-Dive and has since coached Age Pathway squads and more recently the Elite Emerging Talent squad for the past year.

We would like to thank Dee for the dedication and kindness she has given to all the athletes she has coached at Diving WA over the years. Her contagious smile on the pool deck will be missed and we wish her well in her next chapter of life (but hope she will return to the dive tower occasionally as a judge and friend, regularly!)

Thank you to all members, past and present, who sent messages/ gifts and came to wish Mike and Dee farewell.