INDEPENDENT SWIMMERS

From 3.5 years old

ALL LEVEL OF INDEPENDENT SWIMMERS ARE SKILLED BASED AND DO NOT HAVE PARENTS IN THE WATER.

The independent swim programme involves small groups of children in the water without parents. Our programme is based on the highly successful Australian model of small classes, warm water, and teachers in the pool to ensure each child has personal attention. The maximum students per teacher is between 3 and 7 students, depending on level.

We teach each child a specific set of skills in a sequential manner to successfully progress them to the next level, when they are ready. We start in Level 1 with putting head in the water, and by Level 9, children are swimming butterfly.

Note for parents: all children learn in the same sequence but at different speeds. Children should only move to the next level when ready. It is not a competition. They may become disheartened if they move to the next level before they are ready. It is important that children enjoy lessons and look forward to coming each week.

VERY IMPORTANT - Swim levels for independent swimmers are SKILLED based, not aged-based. We put in a minimum age as currently we have rarely seen children younger than the minimum age be able to reach that level (but happy to be proven wrong). Please therefore choose a class based on skills, not on age.

PLATYPUS - From 3,5 year old - no parent in the water

Entry Criteria:

Minimum 3.5 years of age, beginner level.
The child accepts the separation from the parent, voluntarily gets in the water & is able to understand and follow simple instructions in French or English BUT is not comfortable putting head in water or does not do it when asked
Maximum children per teacher: 3.
Class lasts 30 minutes.

PUFFERFISH - Only for children who have received a Pufferfish medal in the past.

This level is the same as sea otters but only from 3 to 4 years old and only open to children who have received this medal.

SEA OTTER - From 4 years old - No parents in the water

Entry Criteria:

Minimum 4 years of age.
The child accepts separation from parents for 30 minutes & is happy to go in the water.
The child can float on their tummy with face and ears in the water for 3 seconds upon request.
Maximum children per teacher: 3.
Class lasts 30 minutes.

CROCODILE - From 4 years old - No parents in the water

Entry Criteria:

Minimum 4 years of age
The child is autonomous in the water & can swim 6m (dog paddle) without stopping or sinking.
Maximum children per teacher: 4.
Class lasts 30 minutes.

PENGUIN - From 5 years old - No parents in the water

Entry Criteria:

Minimum 5 years of age.
The child is autonomous & can swim 10m on the front & 5m on the back without sinking & can do an arrow on the front for 7m without breathing with a strong, continuous kick.
Maximum children per teacher: 5.
Class lasts 40 minutes.

Please note that this level is a technical level and your child might have this level for several months or even a year or longer.

SEAL - From 6 years old - No parents in the water

Entry Criteria:

Minimum 6 years of age and able to do all the exercises in the lower levels
The child can swim freestyle (crawl) with perfect arm technique for 10m (no side breathing necessary) & must maintain strong kick.
Strong, continuous kick on the back over 10m with hands by the side without sinking (no flotation devices admitted).
Maximum children per teacher: 6.
Class lasts 40 minutes.

Please note that this level is a technical level and your child might have this level for several months or even a year or longer.

DOLPHIN - From 7 years old - No parents in the water

Entry Criteria:

Minimum 7 years of age.
The child can swim 15m freestyle (crawl) - breathing on one side every two strokes. Must start breathing with correct lateral breathing technique (ie rolling of head, not lifting of head).
The child can swim 10m backstroke with straight back stroke arms & no sinking.
Maximum children per teacher: 7.
Class lasts 40 minutes.

Please note that this level is a technical level and your child might have this level for several months or even a year or longer.

The following three levels are taught together. They are our highest levels and are only for children who can swim all three strokes very well for 20m.

This level is a technical level and your child might have this level for several months or even a year or longer. Only children who have been swimming in this level can enrol. New children can only enrol in Dolphin and we will assess them at the pool. This is only from 8 years old.

MANTA RAY

Entry Criteria:

20m controlled conventional freestyle (bi-lateral breathing) every 3 strokes. No lifting the head. Correct rolling technique of head.
20m controlled backstroke
20m controlled Breaststroke with correct timing.
10m dolphin kick underwater with flippers.

SHARK

Entry Criteria:

60m controlled freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke.
10m dolphin kick without flippers

RED WHALE

Entry Criteria:

100m controlled freestyle (with correct bi-lateral breathing)
100m controlled backstroke
100m controlled breaststroke with correct timing.
20m controlled butterfly with flippers