Swim Classes
Aquatic-based classes are an excellent way to stay fit no matter your age or physical fitness. It is never too late to learn to swim or sharpen your skills and enjoy this lifelong recreational pursuit. Continue reading for descriptions of our group levels, private offerings, and additional pool activities!
Registration Schedule
Summer Quarter 2025:
Registration opens on June 16th at 10am
Need Financial Assistance to participate?
Apply for up to an 80% discount via the Student Recreation Fund!
Private Swim Lessons
Offered: Every Quarter
Private swim lessons provide 3 hours of 1-on-1 instruction with an experienced swim instructor! The schedule of sessions will be scheduled between you and your instructor after registration.
Prices:
- $138 for students (with Rec Membership)
- $176 for employees/+1s (with Rec Membership)
How do I register?
The process to register for private lessons is easy! We utilize a waitlist function to ensure we can accommodate everyone, but the wait isn’t long. Just follow the steps below:
- Go to our registration page and click on “Private Swim Lessons”
- Read through the program details
- At the bottom of the page, click “Waitlist Options”
- Add yourself to the waitlist (can only be done with a current Rec Membership)
- Next, fill out our intake form so we can quickly match you with an experienced instructor who can assist with your specific goals!
- Once an instructor becomes available, they will email you from their UW email and send a registration email from our registration software.
- Register and pay for the lessons through the registration email.
- Email the instructor back and begin scheduling your sessions!
What skills can the instructor help with?
We have multiple instructors who are experienced with almost anything you could want to learn, when it comes to swimming! Previous clients have improved on skills from floating and freestyle to improving endurance and reducing pain while swimming. If you’re unsure if we would be able to assist with a certain goal, or if you have specific accommodation requests to discuss, email us at recaqua@uw.edu. We will do our best to help you accomplish your goals!
Can I ask for a specific instructor for private lessons?
You can ask for a specific instructor, but there is no guarantee that you will be placed with them. You can wait on that instructor to have some space in their schedule but it may take more time than you are willing to wait.
Group Swim Lessons
Offered: Every Quarter
**Our Levels have changed for Summer! Be sure to read the level descriptions before making your selection.**
Don’t like learning alone? Group swim lessons are a great way to increase your confidence in the water and improve your stroke techniques, alongside peers of the same swim level. Group classes have 3-6 participants to one instructor. Each level of swim lessons has pre-determined skills you can expect to learn over the course of the class, but the instructor will do their best to work with your individual goals as well. We recognize that everyone learns at a different pace, so you may benefit from taking the same level multiple times.
Group Lessons are scheduled for two classes a week, over three weeks; there are two total sessions available per quarter. It is recommended that you attend all classes of your registered session to get the most out of it! Participants are required to attend the first class of the session.
Continue reading for descriptions of the different levels available. If you are unsure which level to take next, ask us at recaqua@uw.edu! For specific class days and times available, and to register, click the purple button above.
Prices:
- $65 for students (with Rec Membership)
- $100 for employees/+1s (with Rec Membership)
Beginner
Beginner swim lessons are for those who want to conquer the basics of swimming! Learn to be comfortable in the shallow end, float on your own, and start learning freestyle. This course is not for individuals who can already float on their own and have an understanding of freestyle/breaststroke.
Swimmers joining this course should:
- Have no skill/experience, OR
- Be uncomfortable in 4ft water/with submerging face underwater, OR
- Be unable to float on front or back independently
In this class, you can expect to:
- Get comfortable in 4ft of water
- Learn to blow bubbles and have breathing control
- Learn to float -> float independently
- Learn to submerge underwater comfortably
- Learn safety rolls
- Learn to glide off the wall
- Learn flutter kicks
- Learn freestyle arms
Intermediate
This course is for individuals who are comfortable being in the water and are looking to take the next step into swimming forward! Learn the fundamentals of freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke. Swimmers who can already swim these strokes should look to the Advanced class.
Swimmers joining this class should:
- Be comfortable in 4ft of water with submerging your face, AND
- Able to float on your front and back independently, AND
- Able to move forward in the water (flutter kick, arm movements) with little to no coordination, OR
- Have functional understanding of one stroke, with little to no understanding of the other two strokes
In this class, you can expect to learn:
- Freestyle kicking, arms, and side breathing
- Backstroke kicking, arms, and breathing control
- Breaststroke kicking, arms, and breathing
- Goal to swim one length of each stroke without stopping
Advanced
The Advanced course is for individuals who have a fundamental understanding of breaststroke, freestyle, and backstroke, and are looking to improve their endurance, swim technique, and turns. This course will also cover treading water, flip turns, and dolphin kick. Participants may request to learn butterfly if there is time in the course.
Swimmers joining this class should:
- Be able to swim one length (25 yards) of freestyle, backstroke, AND breaststroke
In this class, you can expect to learn:
- Endurance and technique for freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke
- Open turns and flip turns
- Dolphin kicks
- Treading water
- Optional: Butterfly
FAQs
What group swim lesson should I sign up for?
There are several different options for you in regards to group lessons. We offer Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced to accommodate various skills levels and interests. Take a look at the class descriptions to see what group would be the best fit. If you have additional questions or would like to discuss them further, email recaqua@uw.edu.
Are the private lessons better than the group lessons?
Private lessons are not better or worse than the group lessons. It really depends how best you as a student learn, and what you want to learn. If you learn better in a group, then the group lessons are a good fit. If you prefer more of a one on one interaction, the private lessons would be the better fit. Private lessons are geared to your specific goals, whereas group lessons have pre-determined skills to learn.
How long are the lessons?
Group lessons are each 45 minutes, twice a week, for three weeks (6 total classes).
How do I purchase sessions?
Lessons can be purchased online through our online portal. If you are having trouble accessing the website or seeing correct prices, please reach out to recinfo@uw.edu.
If I fit some parts in the group level description but not all, do I need to retake the level?
If you do not fulfill the pre-requisites for the next level, then you should retake the level again or go into private instruction.
What if I am not on the same skill level as the rest of the swim lesson group?
If you find that you are not on the same level as the rest of the group, talk with the instructor. We will do our best to ensure the class fits your level and needs, or move you to a different class level.
H2O Cardio
Offered: Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters
This program is part of the Rec Class Pass.
Join us for fun in the H2O! This class combines buoyancy and water resistance to tone your muscles in a cardio-focused workout. We alternate using shallow and deep water for a variety of moves to get your whole body working! Participants joining us for the deep-water days must be able to tread water confidently.
Intramurals
Check out our aquatics-based Intramural programming!
To see a list of current classes, times, and to register, click the Register Here button:
Work for Aquatics
For more information and to apply, please visit the employment page, or contact us at recaqua@uw.edu.
Questions About Accessibility?
The University of Washington makes every effort to honor disability accommodation requests. UW Recreation encourages everyone to participate in our department offerings; please contact us at (206) 543-4590 or at recinfo@uw.edu for more information on how to get involved. Requests can be responded to most effectively if received as far in advance of the event as possible, preferably at least 10 business days.
Request Disability Services Office
To request disability accommodation, contact the Disability Services Office at:
- (206) 543-6450 (Voice)
- (206) 543-6452 (TTY)
- (206) 685-7264 (FAX)
- dso@uw.edu
- hr.uw.edu/dso
Request Disability Resources for Students
Or the Disability Resources for Students Office at:
- (206) 543-8924 (Voice)
- (206) 543-8925 (TTY)
- (206) 616-8379 (FAX)
- uwdss@uw.edu
- uwdrs.uw.edu
Insurance
UW Recreation does not provide accident or medical coverage for participants. It is recommended that participants obtain their own personal coverage. Students may obtain additional information on student accident/sickness insurance by contacting: Insurance & Cost | Husky Health & Well-Being (uw.edu)
Questions About Refunds?
For questions about program or membership refunds check the Registration page or contact recinfo@uw.edu.
Have feedback?
Kudos? Comments? Complaints? We want to hear from you. Fill the Recreation Feedback Form.