Five of Otago's best young divers have been selected to compete at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide in December.
The group is part of a larger New Zealand team of 27 athletes who will contest the event which has been described as ''a mini Olympics''.
Zoe Allibone (10), Sophie Derbyshire (10), Georgia Stevens (12), Theo Smith (12) and Kate Bryant (14) qualified following some strong performances at the national championships in Auckland recently.
Diving Otakou coach Trudy Schievink coaches all five competitors and said, for the majority of them, it would be their first international experience in what was a really big tournament.
''I've heard it described as a mini Olympics for school kids,'' Schievink said.
The Games are expected to attract more than 4000 competitors from 15 countries in the Pacific.
The event, which is being staged for the 10th time, was first held in Brisbane in 1982 as a lead into the Commonwealth Games.
Allibone took up diving in 2015 and claimed silver in her age-group in the 1m and 3m springboard at the nationals this year.
Fellow Otago diver Derbyshire edged Allibone in both events, claiming gold. She also contested the Australian age-grade nationals in April, so has some international experience.
Stevens has also been diving for about two years but is in the age-group for 12-13 year olds. She secured silver in 1m springboard at the nationals.
Smith, who has been diving for about four years, took gold in the 5m platform, while Bryant picked up two silvers and a bronze medal at the nationals.
Bryant is the most experienced of the group and also attended the Australian age-group championships in April.
All the athletes have a background in gymnastics.
Schievink said it was ''hard to know'' how they would perform at the Pacific School Games but it would be a valuable experience for the young athletes.
''For most of them this is their first [competition overseas]. What we hope is they will have consistent performances and be competitive in that way.''
