Lap Swim Schedule
Open lap swim is available during all IMA operational hours (barring pool closures due to staffing or mechanical issues). Water Walking is also allowed in any open lap swim lane. There are 14 total lanes, with varying amount available for lap swim at any given time. See the schedule above for specific times and lanes available.
The IMA pool is available to all Rec Members during IMA open hours; below are descriptions of the specific programs available. There is no registration or additional payment for these programs.
Fall ’26 Schedule Changes
- There are no longer ‘1 swimmer per lane’ hours. All hours are available for lane sharing. If you have questions or concerns about sharing lanes, please email us at recaqua@uw.edu or jvklay@uw.edu.
- Husky Swim Club now uses Lanes 8-11 for weekday evening practices, instead of Lanes 11-14. Saturday morning practices are still in Lanes 8-14.
- Group Swim Lessons are now scheduled to start at 4:15pm and end at 6:15pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. No group lessons available on Wednesdays or Fridays.
- H2O Cardio is scheduled for Wednesdays, 6:30pm – 7:30pm. Lanes alternate between 1-4 for shallow aerobics, and 11-14 for deep aerobics. The class time is the same for both.
This schedule shows recurring weekly lap lane availability (number of lanes available) on a given day during a given week. It does not reflect one-off events such as rentals, private swim lessons, and unscheduled closures.
*Please note the schedule below does not reflect one-off events (i.e. Intramurals, private swim lessons), unique changes to the schedule, or reduced IMA hours.
Link to Full-Size: https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2026/06/04125431/ima-pool-schedule-fall-2026-a.j
NOTE: Pool closes 30 minutes prior to times listed below.
| Event | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Juneteenth Day | Friday, June 19th | 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM |
| Independence Day | Friday, July 3rd – Sunday, July 5th | CLOSED |
| Labor Day & Fall Maintenance | Wednesday, Sep. 2nd – Tuesday, Sep. 15th | CLOSED |
| Home Football Games | Saturday, Sep. 19th Saturday, Sep. 26th |
CLOSED |
| Extended Hours | Sunday, Sep. 27th | 11:00 AM – 7:30 PM |
IMA Administration Offices are closed during all University holidays
Lap Swim + Water Walking
Lap Swim Rules
- Open lap lanes are first-come, first-served.
- Lanes cannot be reserved by individuals.
- When lap swim is scheduled, other types of swimming (treading, pool games, etc.) must yield to lap swimmers. If you are looking for more freedom in your swimming experience, check out our Rec Swim hours below!
- All users are expected to share lap lanes following the guidelines outlined below.
- Exceptions may be granted for swimmers with limited mobility, or those utilizing adaptive devices, which might impede other users’ space in that lane.
- Please notify the lifeguards if you require your own lane due to one of these circumstances.
- No large floaties, pool toys, or balls for throwing are allowed.
- Mono-fins and mermaid tails are allowed, however lifeguards may ask to verify your swimming ability in the shallow end prior to use in the deep end.
- All other facility policies apply during Lap Swim.
Sharing Lap Lanes
Due to the wide variety of swimmers, programs, and lane space available at any given time, there are no lanes with designated Medium or Fast swim speeds. Instead, each swimmer will pick a lane that already has swimmers of their intended speed. If there is no one in a lane yet, your swim speed will determine the speed for that lane.
If you are planning to join a lap lane which is already occupied, follow these steps:
- Confirm that the pre-existing swimmers are swimming at a speed similar to your intended speed
- Get the attention of the swimmer(s) and ask if you may join the lane.
- Decide with the swimmer(s) whether you will split the lane, or circle swim (descriptions for each are below).
- Split Swim: When 2 swimmers are sharing a lane, you may “split” the lane down the middle, so each swimmer stays on one side the whole time. This way, there is less concern about running into each other.
- Circle Swim: When 3 or more swimmers are sharing a lane, swimmers will swim on the right side of the lane in both directions–the same as driving on the road. If a swimmer stops at the wall, they should move into a corner of the lane so the other swimmers can pass them without contact.
Lifeguards may intervene to ensure everyone is following these expectations and to avoid conflict/collision. If a lifeguard asks you to move lanes to improve speed consistency, please do so.
We hope that everyone can communicate in a kind and cordial manner as we navigate these shared spaces together. Should you have any questions or issues with sharing lanes, please notify the lifeguards on deck or email the Aquatics Manager at jvklay@uw.edu.
This video describes lane sharing etiquette with visuals:
Lane Access
- Lane 1 is the designated Slow swimming lane. It may also be used for water walking or individuals learning how to swim on their own. Please do not swim in Lane 1 if you are a medium or fast swimmer.
- There are no designated lanes for medium or fast swimming. You are responsible for sharing lanes with individuals of a similar swim speed to you.
- Lane 14 has the accessible chair lift. You may use the chair lift without help from lifeguards. If you require lifeguard help to get into/out of the chair, notify any lifeguard on deck. If another swimmer is already in that lane, lifeguards will ask that swimmer to move to a different lane. When Lane 14 is reserved for a program (i.e. club practices or swim lessons), you may ask a lifeguard to use the chair lift anyways. If possible, you will enter the water using the chair lift, then swim to the nearest open lap swim lane.
Available Equipment
- Kickboards
- Pull buoys
- Hand paddles (Size Small – Medium)
- Fins (Sizes XS – XXL)
- Please do not wear fins on the pool deck, only in the water.
When you are finished using shared equipment, please return it to the designated storage spaces before leaving the pool. Thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Lanes are open and available unless otherwise indicated by signage. Any lanes closed for programming will have purple, “Lane Closed” signs on either end of the lane.
We want to be as accommodating as possible. If your schedule allows, we recommend you try to swim during the less-busy hours of the pool. If that is not possible, please speak to a lifeguard on deck and they will coordinate lane availability to create an open lane for you; however, there may be a wait depending on how busy the pool is.
No. The only lane with a swim speed is Lane 1; accessible via the ramp and staircase, it is a designated slow lane for lap swim or water walking. All other available lanes are first-come, first-serve with no speed requirements.
When all lanes already have a swimmer, you are responsible for selecting a lane in which the current swimmer is going a speed similar to you. Lifeguards are available to assist with picking an appropriate lane.
Diving, or any head-first entry, is allowed in the 9-foot depth only. When lane lines are in place, diving must be parallel to the lane lines. Diving is not allowed anywhere else, including the 5-foot depth on the other side of the pool, or the 4-foot depth in the shallow end.
Towels, deck shoes, and water bottles may be placed in the small alcoves on either side of the pool deck, which also have several hooks.
Any other personal items, including small or large bags, must not be placed on the pool deck in the walking path. Instead, they can be placed on or under benches, or in the wings of the deck (larger deck area by the deep end). Benches are located against the north wall, near the shallow end, and the south wall, at the windows.
The pool deck and walkway must remain clear of personal items at all times, to ensure accessibility and smooth emergency response.
The pool is typically least busy around 8am – 2pm on weekdays. However, we cannot guarantee that you will get your own lane at any given time.
The busiest times at the pool are weekdays 4:30pm – 7:30pm; there is typically programming in addition to lap swim at this time, so there are fewer lap lanes available. Weekends also see spikes of swimmers at opening and throughout the day.
Chair Lift
Patrons are welcome to utilize the chair lift with or without Lifeguard assistance. The chair can be moved using arrow keys on the battery pack or on the water-resistant corded remote, reachable by someone sitting in the chair.
The chair lift is located in the Southeast corner of the pool, and reaches only Lane 14, at a depth of 5 feet. The lane slopes to 9 feet deep halfway through. Any swimmer currently in Lane 14 who is not using the chair lift will be asked to move to another lane if the chair lift is requested.
Water Wheelchair
The water wheelchair is located at the Northwest corner of the pool deck, and may only be used to access the pool or locker rooms. The chair should not be used to transport injured participants to or from other rooms in the IMA.
The chair fits down the in-water ramp, which descends slowly from 0 feet to 4 feet deep. Due to the height of the seat and and the depth of the shallow end, the chair may not be used for activities once in the water. It is designed to get swimmers into and out of the shallow end. The ramp descends into Lane 1, which is 4ft deep the whole length of the lane and is a designated Slow lane for swimming and/or water walking.
Features:
- Two swing-away arms for transferring.
- Optional footrest which slides in and out.
- Main wheels with handgrips for manual propulsion.
- Two Locking front wheels.
- Anti-tip legs which prevent the chair from tipping forward while in use.
- Made of PVC pipe and mesh fabric.
Dimensions:
- Seat width 21”
- Seat depth 16”
- Back height 16”
- 350lb maximum weight
- Floor to seat height 21”
For more answers, or to schedule a tour of the pool space prior to paying for entry, reach out to recaqua@uw.edu.
To ensure constant and frequent rotations between lifeguard stations, there are typically 3 lifeguards scheduled at once. However, sometimes only 2 guards are scheduled for a shift–or a scheduled lifeguard is unable to work. When there are only two guards present for a shift, some lanes are closed to ensure we maintain an adequate reaction time for the amount of lanes open.
Any scheduled lane closures will be visible on the facility calendar. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as lane availability changes.
It depends on the type of test. Staffing is not available for one-off or individual 10-minute swim tests. Any UW department or RSO looking to organize a group swim test can reach out to jvklay@uw.edu to inquire about options. Additional costs may apply.
Items left in the pool space are stored in the Lifeguard office until closing that day; then, items are moved to the lost & found located at Equipment Checkout (1st floor, in front of Locker Room 3).
Rec Swim
At pre-scheduled days and times, some lane lines will be removed to allow for less structured swimming! This time is ideal for individuals looking to use the pool for something other than lap swim, such as playing games with friends or treading water. The specific lanes and pool depth for each Open Swim will vary to accommodate different swimming abilities.
Rec Swim Hours – Fall 2026
- Saturdays, 1:15pm – 8pm, Lanes 13-14 (Deep end)
- Sundays, 12:30pm – 8pm, Lanes 1-2 (Shallow end)
NOTE: Rec swim is not scheduled on holidays or when the IMA has reduced hours. Please check the updated schedule linked above for specific date availability.
Rec Swim Rules
- Lap swim should be avoided within the rec swim lanes when possible, to avoid collision between swimmers.
- Toys for throwing/playing are allowed IF the item is a soft material and smaller than a basketball. If a lifeguard determines that the item/use of that item may cause damage or harm, they will ask you to stop using it.
- Small personal foam floaties are allowed (i.e. noodles).
- Large inflatable floats (donuts, lounge floats) are not allowed except during pre-approved events by the Aquatics Manager.
- All other facility policies apply during Rec Swim.
Logrolling
Log Rolling is part of our Friday Night Activities at the IMA! Participants face off in 1-on-1 battles to see who can stay on the log the longest. Or, try it alone to get the best record of the night!
Schedule – Fall ’26
Fridays, 7:30pm – 10pm, 10/3/26 – 12/11/26
Set-up begins at 7pm in Lanes 1-4; lanes are closed until logrolling is set up.
Logrolling Rules
Participants using the logs must follow all pool rules, in addition to the logrolling-specific policies below:
- Maximum of two participants can be on one log at a time.
- No one should be in the fall zone directly next to the logs while someone is using them.
- Before getting on the log, ensure it is parallel to the wall and not close to any other items or obstruction (e.g. lane lines).
- When standing on the log, do not reach for or grab the backstroke flags.
For more information on the sport and using the logs, check out the Instruction Manual.
Feedback
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