Swim Lessons Available at the Y of San Diego County
Why Swim at the Y
At the Y, our swim lessons for all ages are designed to build swimming skills, confidence, and endurance in a supportive and encouraging environment. What sets the Y apart is our focus on safety, community, and lifelong learning—creating a welcoming space where every swimmer can thrive. Led by nationally certified instructors trained in CPR, AED, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration, each lesson offers personalized guidance to help every swimmer succeed.
Sign up for swim lessons and see for yourself why the Y is ‘America’s Swim Instructor!
About Swim Lessons
Swim lessons at the Y of San Diego County are for those of all ages and swim levels and are available to group or private lessons. Our curriculum focuses on skills-based instruction with an emphasis on personal safety, while also providing tools and resources to support students and families outside of the Y. Student progress is tracked throughout the session, with mid-session reports shared with parents and certificates of achievement awarded upon completion.
Lessons take place at our Y branches aquatic facilities located throughout San Diego County. Wondering where to begin? View our swim lessons level selector and read through our descriptions below for more information!
ALL SWIM LESSONS OFFERED
Private Swim Lessons
We offer private swim lessons for swimmers of any age and skill level who are seeking extra attention and focus. Our trained instructors customize each lesson to fit the participant’s unique needs and find the level that best fits the swimmer – there’s nothing quite like it! Our private swim lessons are available for all our swim lesson stages. Sign up for private swim lessons at the Y near you!
SEMI-PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS
Semi-private swim lessons are available for swimmers of all ages seeking to enhance their skillset alongside a small group of three to four others at a similar skill level. Semi-private lesson participants must first register for a private lesson. For further details on enrolling in semi-private swim lesson, contact your location’s aquatics department, which you can find on the YMCA aquatic facilities page.
Swim Starters
Parent and Child lesssons
Infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through fun and confidence-building experiences, while parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention and the importance of supervision. Parent participation is required in stages A and B.
Water Discovery (Stage A)
Parents accompany children in Stage A, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.
Water Exploration (Stage B)
In Stage B, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
Water Independence (Stage C)
In Stage C, students experience their first class without a parent and learn how to be comfortable and safe in the water.
Swim Basics
Students learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency.
Water Acclimation (Stage 1)
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water in Stage 1. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.
Water Movement (Stage 2)
In Stage 2, students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
Water Stamina (Stage 3)
Stage 3, students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.
Swim Strokes
Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique, developing skills that prevent chronic disease, increase social-emotional and cognitive well-being and foster a lifetime of physical activity.
Stroke Introduction (Stage 4)
Students in Stage 4 develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.
Stroke Development (Stage 5)
Students in Stage 5 work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.
Stroke Mechanics (Stage 6)
In Stage 6, students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
Adult and Teen Swim Lessons
Everyone learns at a different pace, and it’s never too late to start! We offer several swim lessons tailored specifically for adults and teens, providing a safe and encouraging learning experience for every skill level.
ADAPTIVE SWIM LESSONS
We believe that our community is stronger when we are inclusive of everybody, including those with disabilities. Our adaptive swim lessons, offered in partnership with the San Diego Regional Center, are designed for individuals with a variety of unique needs, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, sensory challenges, and physical disabilities. These specialized swim lessons will focus on basic water safety and swimming skills, achieving incremental goals, building self-confidence and functional abilities – all in a relaxing, fun and supportive environment!
Risk Reduction: One Lesson at a Time
Increased risk of dying from drowning compared to other children.
— National Autism Association
Of all injury deaths among children with ASD due to drowning.
— American Journal of Public Health
LOCATIONS WITH ADAPTIVE SWIM
Inquire more about registration by calling the YMCA location near you.
Toby Wells YMCA
- 5105 Overland Ave. San Diego, CA 92123 | (858) 496-9622
- For more information, contact Aquatics Director David Mangat at dmangat@ymcasd.org.
- Check for available classes here.
Cameron Family YMCA
- 10123 Riverwalk Drive Santee, CA 92071 | (619) 449-9622
- For more information contact Aquatics Director Hannan Mouawad at hemouawad@ymcasd.org.
- Check for available classes here.
John A. Davis Family YMCA
- 8881 Dallas Street La Mesa, CA 91942 | (619) 464-9622
- For more information contact Aquatics Director Hannan Mouawad at hemouawad@ymcasd.org.
- Check for available classes here.
T. Claude and Gladys B. Ryan Family YMCA
- 4390 Valeta St., San Diego, CA 92107 | (619) 226-8888
- For more information contact Aquatics Director Andrea Hunziker at ahunziker@ymcasd.org.
- Check for available classes here.
McGrath Family YMCA
- 12006 Campo Road Spring Valley, CA 91978 | (619) 462-9622
- For more information contact Aquatics Director Tomas Diaz Bahena at tdiazbahena@ymcasd.org.
- Check for available classes here.
Rancho Family YMCA
- 9410 Fairgrove Lane San Diego, CA 92129 | (858) 484-8788
- For more information contact Aquatics Director Richard Padilla at repadilla@ymcasd.org.
- Check for available classes here.
Joe and Mary Mottino Family YMCA
- 4701 Mesa Drive Oceanside, CA 92056 | (760) 758-0808
- For more information contact our Aquatics Director Melissa Rodriguez at mrodriguez@ymcasd.org.
- Check for available classes here.
New! Parent & Child adaptive Swim Lessons
registration coming soon!
We’re excited to introduce our new Adaptive Parent/Child swim lessons, designed for children with diverse abilities and adaptive needs, ages 1.5–6, and their parents. Together, they’ll explore the aquatic environment in a safe, supportive setting.
Instructors lead parents and children through fun water safety games and foundational skills like back floats, wall grabs, and swim-float-swim. Parent must be in the water with their child for each class.
Parent and child lessons will be offered at Ryan Family YMCA, Mottino Family YMCA and Toby Wells YMCA.
Swim Clinics at the Y
Looking to take your swimming skills to the next level? Learn more about swim clinics at the Y!
