Quick Facts
- Opened: October 1995
- Capacity: 1,100
- Pool Specs: 50-meter, eight-lane competition pool; graduated depths of seven to nine feet
- Dive Well Specs: 17-feet deep; contains one, three, five, seven-and-one-half and 10-meter diving platforms; also doubles as eight-lane, 25-meter pool
Hosted Championship Events
- 1996 Southwest Conference Championships
- 1997 Big 12 Championships
- 1998 Big 12 Championships
- 1998 FINA World Cup
- 1998 U.S. Open
- 2000 Big 12 Championships
- 2001 NCAA Men’s Championships
- 2002 Big 12 Championships
- 2004 NCAA Women’s Championships
- 2005 Big 12 Championships
- 2007 Big 12 Championships
- 2009 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Championships
- 2010 Big 12 Championships
- 2010 AT&T USA Diving Championships
- 2013 SEC Championships
- 2018 SEC Championships
- 2023 SEC Championships
The Student Recreation Center Natatorium has been the home of the Texas A&M men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams since 1995.
The natatorium is situated on the first floor of the Student Recreation Center, which was officially opened in October, 1995. The facility – popularly known as the “Rec” – recently completed a $50 million renovation that increased the activity and support space by 23 percent to 413,000 gross square feet.
The facility showcases a 50-meter, eight-lane competition pool equipped with two moveable bulkheads which allow for a conversion to either two 25-yard or 25-meter courses. The pool has graduated depths of seven to nine feet. Additional features include two underwater viewing windows and an electronic timing system with eight-lane display.
Also featured is a 17-feet deep dive pool that contains one, three, five, seven-and-one-half and 10-meter diving platforms, in addition to permanent and portable springboards and a bubbler and agitators. In addition, the diving well doubles as an eight-lane, 25-meter pool.
Adjacent to the dive pool is a 20-yard, five-lane instructional pool equipped for swimmers with special needs. The pool features graduated depths of 3.5 to 4.5 feet.
Other highlights are a swim meet operations room that can also be used as a classroom, staff offices for coaches, varsity and visiting team men's and women's locker rooms and showers and both 10-and 12-person heated Jacuzzi spas. In addition, a snack bar with hot and cold foods, seating and a large screen TV is located in the lobby near the building's entrance.
The Center's second level encompasses permanent on-deck spectator seating for 1,100 with an additional 1,200 spaces available.
An added facility bonus is an outdoor activity area which features a zero-depth entry leisure pool with a raindrop fountain, current channel, sun island and underwater seating area. The pool is connected to a 25-yard, six-lane lap pool and is adjoined by a large cool water Jacuzzi spa.
In 2021, Texas A&M built a state-of-the-art dry land room with the idea of being the best dry land facility in the country. Located 10 feet from the diving well, the dry land facility is exclusively used by Texas A&M divers and coaches. The facility consists of three diving boards over a 12-foot foam pit that allows athletes to preform movements without injury. It also has two diving dry boards over foam blocks designed for hurdle work and flips. The dry land space has an in-ground trampoline with spotting rig located overhead and a large spring floor for stretching and exercise, plus six TVs for practice playback. It truly has the capacity to train at the highest level.
The natatorium has hosted a variety of conference, national and even international swimming and diving events. The Rec hosted the men’s NCAA Championships in 2001, the women’s NCAAs in 2004 and hosted both NCAA Championships in back-to-back weeks in 2009. Additionally, the facility hosted the 2010 AT&T USA Diving Championships.
It has hosted championships of three different conferences – the final Southwest Conference Championship in 1996, seven Big 12 Championships (1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2010) and three Southeastern Conference Championships (2013, 2018, 2023).
