My 16 year old daughter started diving at California Diving Academy this past summer and it has been an outstanding experience. She was an avid gymnast for the past ten years. On vacation last summer, her aunt (a former D1 diver) showed her some dives and suggested she just "try" diving. They looked online, found Cal Diving Academy, and sent an e-mail. Coach Eric called my daughter that afternoon to tell her about the program and suggested she come in the following week just to try it out. My daughter did not intend to switch sports then and there, but she loved diving and everything about Cal Diving Academy. From day one, the coaches and the other divers have been welcoming, friendly, and inclusive. The coaching has been incredible. Her diving is beautiful and she has learned so much. More importantly, the coaches show incredible kindness, compassion, and are very attentive to the whole athlete. Guiding them gently through fears and getting to know them as people. I am so grateful that my daughter found coach Eric and Cal Diving Academy. She is a happier person having found this new home away from home. read more

California Diving Academy - Diving Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

California Diving Academy offers an amazing diving program with professional coaching and a clear, well-run structure. My daughter started at age 9, and under Coach Eric's guidance, she has quickly improved in both diving and life skills like confidence, focus, and teamwork. CDA stands out because it combines high-level training with strong character development. Younger kids learn from older teammates in a positive, respectful environment. The whole community is supportive, and the kids truly thrive. Coach Eric is very experienced and always gives clear, personalized feedback. He's great at explaining things to both kids and parents. Whether it's in the water or Dryland, he's always focused and encouraging. The facility is fully equipped, and the flexible schedule is a big plus for families. If your child wants to compete at a high level, or just enjoy diving in a caring place, CDA is the best in the Bay Area. Highly recommend! read more

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I have never met a coach with a knowledge base that even comes close to that of Coach Eric. Combined with the state-of-the-art dryland facility, becoming a better diver was easier than I ever thought possible. After just one week with CDA I walked away with over three new high-level dives and dozens of new habits and practices that have improved every aspect of how I approach and execute diving. I cannot recommend Coach Eric and the incredible CDA he has created enough. You will be amazed at how much you will learn so quickly and joyfully when you choose to dive here. Thank you Coach Eric and CDA! read more

No need to overthink it. Absolutely have your child/teen do the Try It Out program with the amazing CAD community. Our 17 year old son started diving in his High School junior year (now a senior), coming in late in to this sport with a background in gymnastics and tricking. He has made great friends that include the coaching staff. Coach Eric has pulled off a minor miracle for our son to currently have opportunities to dive in college. More importantly, our son has been challenged, inspired, and so very much cared for by the CAD family. read more

My 8 year old son started diving at California diving academy 2 months ago and we couldn't be happier! Our experience with CDA is just awesome, coach Eric and coach Paul go above and beyond to teach my child and are always patient and understanding. When we first started with CDA we had tons of questions regarding registration and scheduling, coach Eric always welcomed our questions and never hesitated to offer his help and patiently helped us navigate through the different processes. read more

I can't say enough about coach Eric and his crew. They took my gymnast daughter from 0 to Nationals in 2 years! She had never dove before, but wanted to transition from gymnastics. Eric was patient and precise. She just went to Nationals. Didn't score in the top but the fact that Eric got her to Nationals in 2 years is crazy! Highly recommend this diving academy. Not one complaint. read more

California Diving Academy - My daughter at Nationals this last weekend! - Diving Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

We were looking for a dive coach and program to help my daughter achieve her goals. I had to search and travel to California for this but the truth is, his was the only program that was flexible to accommodate our schedule. My daughter is a beginner diver who wanted to improve her skills this summer. She has some gymnastics and lots of guts. Coach Eric used that to transform her into a confident and better diver by guiding her through the basics and encouraging her to push herself to the fullest. She practiced everyday for 2 weeks and loved almost every moment - she is not a fan of the 3m springboard but tried it anyways. I am thrilled with her progress thus far. As for Coach Eric, you won't meet a more patient and encouraging coach than he. He will push your child to have them push themselves. If you are looking for a dive home, I would highly recommend California Diving Academy!! read more

My middle school son recently joined California Dive Academy and we are very pleased with the program! Eric and Paul are fantastic coaches and they do really well with all levels of divers from younger kids who are new to the sport to collegiate divers. From my observation, as a parent, the coaches are able to cater to the different levels, ages and personalities of each diver. Divers excel with their coaching while making it fun and safe. My son has improved so much in the last month and can't get enough of it! Their facilities are top notch. The dryland building is amazing and one of the best we've seen. It has multiple boards, trampolines, belts, and video recording that allow them to really work on the skills that can be executed at the pool and helps them improve at a faster rate. The club uses pools in multiple locations, as well as being able to offer the opportunity to dive platform. Eric and the admin are very responsive to any questions or concerns and are wonderful with communicating to the club. Since the scheduling is very flexible, it makes it easier for coordinating family activities which allows my son the ability to practice more. Being military and moving frequently, we have had multiple kids diving at clubs across the country and California Dive Academy has been the best club! read more

Was looking for an alternate sport after kiddo quit gymnastics after 6 years. Diving was an "experiment" and thanks to coach Eric and coach Paul, she is loving it! This is a perfect blend for a competitive sport, but not an overwhelming sport. The try it out program and flexible scheduling here really lets my kid set the pace, yet have the structure and goals of a competitive environment. Most importantly the coaches as super friendly and supportive, and my kid smiles more coming out, sweaty and happier than ever! There are too many hyper competitive soul sucking sports leagues out there. If you are looking for a good balance between school, kid life and a sport, this is it. read more

My daughter, a former gymnast, is thrilled to be a part of the California Diving Academy team. She began with their Try It Out Program (TIO) and knew right away that she was in great hands with Coach Eric and his team. They have clearly put an emphasis on creating an environment that focuses on safety, fun and personal growth, both physically and mentally. Coach Eric's holistic coaching style seems to bring out the absolute best in his divers. He and his team see each diver as an individual, with their own strengths and challenges, which is impressive given the size of the club. Our daughter had some concerns going in, not knowing anyone, but those fears dissipated within the first few minutes of first TIO session. The other divers were friendly and greeted her with a smile and an eagerness to learn more about her. Great coaching, great kids, great environment! We can't recommend CDA enough! read more

* World-class facilities * Coach Eric is the "man" * We are lucky to live close by * The most valuable asset in our community on a hot summer day. :-) I have to say that when it comes to aquatics, these guys have it down. The facility is expansive, clean, caters to a multitude of disciplines. Our kids absolutely love it. Coach Eric has been a wonderful instructor to deal with on the diving side and is motivating our kids to do great things both in the pool and beyond. Would recommend to anyone without reservation. read more

Eric at California Diving Academy is absolutely amazing! We feel so blessed to know him and to be able to dive with him. I am a coach from Wyoming and while trying to find a "camp" for one of my divers, I came across the Cal Diving website. I am so glad we contacted them. I brought my diver during our winter and spring break where she had the opportunity to learn from Coach Eric, both in dryland and in the pool. They created an individual schedule for her to work one on one with Eric. I'm just 5 days, she had improved so much both in her dives and in her confidence. As a coach, I also learned so much from Coach Eric. He really cares about all of his divers and challenges them to become stronger, both as a divers and as a person. We are looking forward to coming in the summer to continue to learn from Eric. I would 150% reccomend Cal Diving Academy to any level of diver. read more

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We started at California Diving Academy 3 years ago in the summer class program and then joined year round. Both my kids love diving and have been excited to go to practice since they started. It is their favorite activity. I feel so fortunate to be a part of California Diving Academy. The coaches are excellent. Coach Eric and Coach Paul clearly have a lot of experience and are fantastic instructors. They give each student their attention and feedback. The classes are structed and fun. The kids are learning many new skills and practice dives they have learned. They are learning that patience and hard work pay off. It has been wonderful to see my son and daughter active and doing something they really enjoy. I highly recommend California Diving Academy. read more

California Diving Academy - Diving Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I contacted the California diving academy because my daughter who is in the military needed to be able to jump of a 6.5m board. In no time, I was contacted immediately by coach Eric who assured me they could help. We flew from Las Vegas to Novato, California. Coach Eric was very patient, kind, professional. We decided to do an extra day more so coach Eric immediately contacted the admin who didn't hesitate and managed to squeeze us into their schedule the next day. By the time we left, my daughter who is afraid of heights could actually stand on the 10m without her legs shaking anymore. She could also dive the desired height. Coach Eric not only coached her physically, he mentally prepared her to overcome some of that fear. For someone who couldn't even dive 1m, was now diving 5m with a huge smile on her face. We will be going back in October. Thank you coach Eric and the team at the California diving academy. read more

CDA is an exceptional organization run by Eric and his fantastic instructors! My son was in the Bay Area for a month so I signed him up to continue the couple of weeks of training he started when school first let out for the summer. His confidence and skills have greatly improved over such a short time. Since my son loves to flip he really enjoyed the dry training facility in Concord. We travel back and forth to the Bay Area so my son will definitely be training with CDA when we return. read more

California Diving Academy - Diving Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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We have been really impressed with California Diving Academy. When we joined, our son was new to diving and the coaches were very patient in their instruction and guidance. Our son loved the sessions, and as a result we have been loyal customers over the past 2 years. Our son looks forward to his sessions each week and the coaches (both Coach Eric and Coach Paul) helped him improve tremendously over that time. Coach Eric is also very prompt in providing responses to us when we have questions. They have also been very good with ensuring safety for all divers during Covid. They practice social distancing at all times and wear masks when coaching. Our family is very pleased with Cal Diving and we would recommend them to any family and friends that are interested in learning diving. read more

My Son joined California Diving Academy 2 years ago. From the very first day, he felt at home with Coach Eric and Coach Paul. He felt very easy to work with them. They have unique ability to bring out the best from the Diver and I can see the result in the progress my Son has made. Even in the period of COVID, the club and coaches have shown great flexibility and care for the students, parents and sports community. I can reach out to Coach Eric and he will always respond quickly. I feel confident that my Son has found great coaching club and would certainly recommend it. read more

I can't say enough great things about the CDA diving program. My daughter just started, and has learned so much in a couple short months. Coach Eric has been a solid and helpful when questions are asked, and is very prompt in his response. If you want to try it out, you should!! read more

Was looking for a diving program for my kids in the east bay. Came across this club and spoke to Eric over the phone. He was great and took time to explain to me how lessons could work with my odd work schedule! My kids did the program in pleasant hill for 2 weeks with coach Paul. They learned allot and had a great time. We plan to try and keep up with diving it was a good experience read more

My 10 year old daughter expressed an interest in diving and I didn't find a whole lot of options in the Walnut Creek area, that is until I found out about a new club - CAL Diving Club. She started in August 2013 and we have been going ever since. I could not ask for a more supporting environment from both staff or coaches. The Executive Director and coach, Eric is great! We've had the pleasure of working with three different ones (even Coach Todd Mulzet who coaches at UC Berkeley) and they are all fabulous and very generous with there time. Their enthusiasm is infectious and my daughter has developed a love for diving in a very short period of time. Having no experience before, my husband and I were a bit worried about the skill level of others in her age group but while some have been diving longer and are therefore more experienced than others, the coaches teach to the student and the peers are very supportive. As I sit on the sidelines and watch, I've had the pleasure of meeting some of the other parents who are also supportive. It's so much fun for everyone and at the end of the hour, I can hardly get her out of the pool...a true sign that she loves it! read more

It's a magical experience watching expert coaching in practice. Coach Eric and his team are invested in their students, no matter what level. My 12-year old is a complete beginner and Coach Eric took an extra half an hour after class to work with her so she nails the muscle memory and the physics behind a simple back dive. He does it patience, humor, and perseverance. CalDiving provides the coaching, culture and space for kids to learn to struggle through discomforts and difficulties, leading to real growth and confidence. What more can a parent ask for? read more

Not long ago if you had asked me for adjectives to describe the sport of diving, I would have said: SCARY, DANGEROUS, DIFFICULT, and INTENSE. But that was before my son started diving with CAL Diving Club... Under the tutelage of Coach Eric and Coach Paul, diving is FUN, LOW PRESSURE, REWARDING, and SAFE. In just a short time, my son has come to LOVE the sport and has learned so much. More importantly, he is HAPPY. He had his second meet this weekend. His first time up on the board, he did the wrong dive. When he realized his mistake, I watched his face fall. He was clearly on the verge of tears. Within moments of talking to his coach, he was smiling, full of confidence, and ready to get right back up on the board for his next dive. My son has played a lot of sports but he has never had such kind, nurturing, and effective coaching as he has gotten with CAL Diving Club. read more

Our daughter participated in the Cal Diving Summer session. This was her first diving experience. Coach Eric and the sport of diving have made a big impact on her in only a few months. Coach Eric has been very supportive and kind in guiding her through the process. She has improved greatly not only as a diver, but most importantly as a person, who has always been fearful to try new things. We hope she continues in her diving journey. We will be grateful for the experience she had at Cal Diving, even if she chooses to move on to other things. read more

Great program provided solid positive training environment for divers. We are very happy with the club.

We have been so pleased with Cal Diving Academy, in particular, Coach Eric. My daughter is an elite diver and her regular training facility has been closed due to Covid-19. Eric was kind enough to open his program up to divers in the area/ out of the area who had been displaced. He has been so, so, so supportive of my daughter. She has her regular list back, a couple of new and harder dives, and Eric has been working hard with her on the details of her dives (entries, getting more height on the board, etc) The kids in my daughters group were so incredibly nice, they treated her like she had been training at their club for years! Such an all around positive place and experience:) read more

Cal diving club is a fantastic program for either the beginner for the advanced diver. My daughter started here brand-new with zero experience diving. I was also completely new parent to the sport of diving, and had no idea how the process worked. Coach Eric spent about 30 minutes with me on the phone (one two separate occasions) to explain how the process of diving works. My daughter has had the privilege of working with Coach Eric at practices. Coach Eric is kind and motivating. I often stay to watch and am always impressed by his calm demeanor. Other bonuses...The club offers a variety of class times at several local diving pools and dry land practice. I would highly recommend this club to a friend. read more

I took my son to a clinic here this weekend. The instruction, feedback, support and training were great. Coach Eric has a fantastic way with kids and helped my son improve a great deal in just one morning. The facility was beautiful. We traveled from out of the area and it was well worth the trip. We will be back! read more

I cannot accurately capture what a great organisation this is. I signed my 11 year old up in August for a Try It Out trial period. She is absolutely hooked. If you are looking for a very fun and unique sport with exceptional coaches, look no further. The coaches truly care about the whole child. I have heard coaches encouraging the kids to focus hard on their studies while they are learning new diving skills. I'm so impressed with this diving club. My daughter leaves every practice invigorated and she exclaims how much fun practice was. How rare is that nowadays in this hyper competitive environment our kids live in now? Check out Cal Diving. Top Notch!!! read more

Excellent instruction with an eye to safety, always, especially because my son is a VERY tal diver, and so there are more issues with regard to body dynamics. Eric and Paul are both superlative instructors, and my only regret is that there is not a closer pool to Berkeley, although that may change in the near future. Highly recommend. read more

What a great diving program you have! It has everything: supportive, knowledgable coaches who focus on positives and encourage progress, a commitment to the joy of the sport, great training facilities and individual attention to the athletes. My daughter really enjoyed her diving trial, and I did too. read more

Eric is an excellent coach! He basically came to the rescue of our Napa divers! He knows how to get the best from each of his divers, through encouraging, enthusiastic, patient, persistent, knowledgeable, individualized training. AND most important- he has a passion for what he does and for the divers he coaches! read more