Queensland’s biggest celebration of splash, creativity and community was on full display on Saturday February 7, with the Queensland Bomb Diving Championships drawing record crowds and national attention at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre. 

Presented by Diving Queensland, the one-day event known as ‘Q Splash’ brought together 132 athletes, more than 1,600 spectators across the day, and a further 1,600 viewers via live stream, highlighting the rapid growth and broad appeal across Australia.

The championships also served as a qualifying event for the Z Manu World Championships Grand Final in Auckland, with athletes competing for coveted international qualification spots across multiple age groups.

While traditional competitive diving focuses on precision and minimal splash, Q Splash flipped the script, celebrating maximum splash, expression and style.

Diving Queensland officials said the event showcased the sport’s diversity, with competitors ranging from children discovering Manu for the first time, through to elite athletes including freestyle cliff jumpers, death divers and former Olympic competitors.

Athletes travelled from across Queensland, interstate and overseas, including competitors from New South Wales, New Zealand, Europe and North America, with one adult athlete making a journey of more than 1,000 kilometres to compete.

A standout moment of the day came in the Death Diving competition, where 15-year-old Coby Shandler (Maroubra, NSW) was crowned Australian Death Diving Champion, competing against elite international athletes including Chris Acton (USA) and Kai Beech (QLD). 

With demand exceeding capacity and a significant waitlist, plans are already underway to expand Q Splash in future years, including regional Queensland events and larger-scale festivals alongside high diving and freestyle cliff jumping initiatives.

Q Splash demonstrated that diving in Australia extends far beyond the Olympic spotlight, offering inclusive, exciting and culturally rich pathways that invite more people onto the boards and into the sport. 

Diving Australia congratulates the following athletes who secured qualification for the Z Manu World Championships in Auckland.

Adult 18+ Male

• Stacie Aporo (Pimpama, QLD)

• Korota Ingram (Upper Coomera, QLD)

• Edwin Jongejans (Belmont, QLD)

Adult 18+ Female

• Jackie Kuru (Condobolin, NSW)

• Tehilla Peseta (Coomera, QLD)

• Nunz Tuituu (Auckland, NZ)

Youth 13-17 Male

• Zion Juvakka-Gray (Nerang, QLD)

• Chase Haumaha (Maudsland, QLD)

• Lincoln Eden (Springwood, QLD)

Youth 13-17 Female

• Miha Tahere (Ormeau, QLD)

• Maddy Woods (Manly West, QLD)

*Image credit to Jonah Mercieca Photography