Swim Lessons

We utilize a waitlist function to ensure that you only pay once we match you with an instructor. Just follow the steps below:

1. Click on the “Register Here” button below, and read through our program details
2. At the bottom of the page, click “Waitlist Options”
3. Add yourself to the waitlist (can only be done with a current Rec Membership)
4. Next, fill out our Swim Lesson Intake Form so we can quickly match you with an experienced instructor who can assist with your specific goals!
5. Once an instructor becomes available, they will email you from their UW email and send a registration email from our registration software.
6. Register and pay for the lessons through the registration email.
7. Email the instructor back and begin scheduling your sessions!

We may not be able to accommodate every client on the list. If that happens, you will be notified 2-3 weeks before the end of the quarter.

If you are having issues joining the waitlist or filling out the form, please email recaqua@uw.edu.

All packages are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Packages expire 6 months after date of purchase.
Clients forfeit a session if they are more than 15 minutes late for appointments over 30 minutes OR 5 minutes late for appointments 30 minutes or less.
Clients forfeit a session for appointments canceled or rescheduled with less than 24 hours’ notice.

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 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!

We do recommend in most cases that individuals continue to practice on your own outside of swim lessons. Instructors will give you drills, tips, and feedback during your sessions which may take more time to implement than you have available in the sessions.

You will schedule your session dates and times with your instructor after you pay for the program. You can schedule sessions for any time the IMA is open, except for the following time blocks:

• Monday through Friday, 9am – 1pm
• Monday through Friday, 8pm – 10pm
• Saturday, 11:30am – 1pm

There may be some additional restrictions on how many private swim lessons may run at one time; your instructor will be aware of those as you are scheduling.

You will split up the 3 hours of instruction into multiple sessions. You can split the time up one of the following ways:

• Six 30-minute sessions. This is ideal for individuals looking for two sessions per week.
• Four 45-minute sessions. This is ideal for individuals looking for one session per week.
• Three 1-hour sessions. This is ideal for individuals looking for one session per week or less.

Usually, packages are completed within the span of one quarter, and any second package will spill over into the following quarter. If you’d like to continue working with the same instructor for a second package, we will first have to verify that the instructor is available to work the next quarter. We will also verify if you are planning to or able to get a membership for the next quarter. If both are true, you will be able register and pay for a second package without rejoining the waitlist.

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 and your goals align with our group levels, then the group lessons are a good fit.  If you prefer one-on-one instruction or have more specific/unique goals that aren’t covered in our group levels, then private lessons may be the better fit.

No. Currently all programs are available for adult (16+) individuals with an active IMA membership.

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 or with submerging face underwater, OR
• Be unable to float on front and back independently

In this class, you can expect to:

• Get comfortable in 4ft of water
• Learn breathing control in the water
• Learn to float independently
• Learn to submerge underwater comfortably
• Learn safety rolls
• Learn to glide off the wall
• Learn flutter kicks
• (Time permitting) Learn freestyle arms

Beginner is equivalent to Levels 1 and 2 of last year’s program.

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

Intermediate is equivalent to Level 3 of last year’s program.

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 is not for individuals who can swim more than 100 yards without stopping; if you are looking for more specific swim training, consider private lessons!

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
• Treading water
• Optional: Open turns and Flip turns*
• Optional: Butterfly*
• Optional: Diving*

*Optional skills can be requested during the class, however there may not be time to get to all optional skills in one course. They will be included in the course content if the instructors are able to teach the skills within the allotted course time.

Advanced is mostly equivalent to Level 4 of last year’s program.

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 further, email recaqua@uw.edu.

Group lessons are each 30 minutes, twice a week, for three weeks (6 total classes).

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 you do not fulfill the pre-requisites for a level, then you should take the previous level or go into private instruction.

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 needs, or move you to a more suitable class level.