Rec Centre pool prohibits diving

The pool in the Canmore Recreation Centre has temporarily prohibited diving and the use of the rope swing by the public while it conducts an operational overview, the Town’s manager of recreation has confirmed.

In recent weeks, those visiting the pool during public swimming hours have observed signs indicating there is no diving allowed from the diving blocks while the swinging rope has also been put out of commission.

“We’re just evaluating the depth of our pool and the requirements around the diving blocks. We did the same with our rope swing,” said Chris Hay, the manager of recreation.

“We’re doing an operational review,” he added. “In looking at the standards to make sure we’re aligned with them, until we did that we put a temporary closure on them so we can review them.”

According to the Lifesaving Society, a charitable organization working to prevent drowning and water-related injury through public education and research, the only safe entry method for water less than 2.5 metres deep at a public aquatic facility is feet first. The Rec Centre pool’s depth is around 2.4 metres, Hay said.

“There’s some regulations around the depth of water and where the deep end slope is and whether or not we have the right distances to allow the general public to dive,” he explained.

“At times, the general public, without being trained, can over dive and we didn’t want to put anyone at risk,” he added. “For the most part we are a feet first entry.”

In addition to ensuring the pool’s depth is safe for the public to dive in, the Rec Centre is also using the opportunity to make sure the signs up are adequate to notify the public in anticipation of Elevation Place opening in the new year.

Hay also said that usually there are lifeguards at the station where the rope swing is, but wanted to make sure there is appropriate public signage.

In its 2008 report, the Lifesaving Society noted that over 90 per cent of spinal injuries occur in water that is less than 1.8 metres deep.

According to the Town’s website, the new pool within Elevation Place will have depths from four to eight ft (1.2 – 2.5 metres).

It has not been determined when the temporary ban on diving or the use of the swing rope will be lifted.