At Texas A&M, Nel set school records in three separate dives, including the three-metre springboard at 476.48.

[5] At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Nel competed in five diving events, winning bronze in the 3 m springboard with a score of 456.55.

[1] At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Nel failed to qualify for the individual 3 m springboard final after he scored zero points after slipping during a dive and landing on his back.

Nel had previously failed to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics after receiving shoulder surgery.

[8][9] Nel competed in the men's 3 metre springboard, where he finished 16th in the preliminary round with 395.05 points, advancing to the semi-finals.