SWIMMERS took the plunge yesterday following the opening of Southend’s new £13.5million swimming pool.

The facilities at Garon Park, Eastern Avenue, boast a 25m, eight-lane pool along with a children’s section which includes a water slide and a giant shell which sprays water.

It also has Olympic-quality diving facilities.

The seven diving boards are set above an adjustable floor which can change the pool depth from one to six metres.

There are also 374 tiered spectator seats, including 22 wheelchair spaces.

David Taylor, the pool’s general manager, said: “The first day has been fantastic. The new facilities are great.

“I think it will definitely attract more people to come swimming here, especially because it has dedicated areas for everything.

“We have also employed a head diving coach because we are really keen for Southend to become one of the main areas for talent identification.”

The British Diving Team, which expressed an interest in using the pool as a training base for the 2012 London Olympics, will be conducting an assessment of the base on December 3 and 4 before confirming if members will use it.

On the second floor there is a dry dive area, where divers can perfect their technique using a sunken trampoline and harnesses.

Mr Taylor added: “I have been told by Alexei Evangulov, head coach of the British diving team, this is the best facility outside Beijing.

“If everything goes well with the assessment by Team GB we will have them signed up to use our pool before the new year.”