We offer swimming lessons starting at 4 weeks all the way through stroke development classes, as well as swimming lessons for older beginners and adults. Please review our levels below for more information. If you need help deciding on the correct level, please contact us.
Year-round swimming lessons are taught at Riverview Health Rehab facilities in Carmel and Noblesville and seasonal, outdoor swimming lessons at our outdoor pool in Carmel during the summer.
Infant/Toddler Levels
Baby Sharks 1
Age: 4 weeks – up to 6 months
**This is a FREE class for infants ages 4 weeks up to 6 months**
Swimmers are in the water with their caregiver and the instructor. Students work on skills that will help them be comfortable in the water, such as blowing bubbles, putting their face in the water, back floats, climbing out of the pool, safety jumps, submersion, propelling through the water with kicks, and swimming with an instructor. Parents are in the water for this class. Baby Sharks 1 are NOT eligible for make-ups. If a student misses class for 2 consecutive weeks without a written doctor’s note OR a total of 4 classes, they will be automatically withdrawn from the class.
Baby Sharks 2
Age: 6 – 15 months
Children in this level will learn to propel themselves through the water using flutter kicks. They will be introduced to rolling over from their tummies to their backs. Children will be taught how to climb out of the pool independently, proper safety jumps and swim back to the wall, back floats, and wall-walking. These skills are taught to ensure that should the child ever fall into a body of water, they will have resources to help themselves until an adult can reach them. Parents are in the water for this class.
Baby Sharks 3
Age: 16 – 24 months
This is our third infant/toddler class. It is similar to the first two, but students will begin working on more advanced skills. Students will learn to breathe using the roll-over method and will begin swimming more independently. They will also work on safety skills, including rolling to float. Parents are in the water for this class.
Seahorses
Requirements: Must be at least 22 months, been through Baby Sharks, AND be invited by an instructor. Invitation only.
Seahorses is an advanced class for young children who have completed our Baby Sharks 3 class and are ready for a more structured group class. Children in this class work on some of the same skills as the Angelfish class and are promoted into Pufferfish upon completion of Seahorses. Students will learn to breathe using the roll-over method and will begin swimming several feet independently. Parents are prepared to sit on deck to assist with the transition for the first few weeks.
Pre-school & School Age Small Group Levels
Angelfish
Age: 2 – 3 ½ years, new to swimming lessons or started later in infant/toddler classes, not very comfortable in water
In this class children will begin learning basic swimming techniques, including back and front floats, streamline flutter kicks with their face in the water, reaches & kicks, breath control, and basic water safety. We begin teaching the Three B’s–breath control, balance, and buoyancy–in this level and continue teaching them in all levels. Once swimmers have mastered these skills, they will be ready to move to Puffer Fish.
Puffer Fish
Ages: 3 – 4 ½ years
This class is for children who are 3 – 4 ½ years old and are comfortable in the water or have had lessons before, but are not really swimming yet. This class will teach the basics of stroke technique, including breath control with reaches and kicks, rollover breathing, back flutter kicks, balance, buoyancy, and water safety. Students move to Clown Fish upon completing this level. (New, fearful, or very hesitant 4 year olds should start in Seahorses.)
Clown Fish
Ages: 3 ½ – 5 ½ years
This level is for swimmers who have some swimming experience. The primary skills taught in Clown Fish are front & back flutter kicks, independent reaches with rollovers, dolphin kicks, and Elementary Backstroke. Completing the skills in this level will prepare students for Turtles.
Turtles
Ages: 4+ and comfortable in the water & tries to swim on their own (may not have stroke skills, but not fearful
Turtles classes work on developing proper side breathing techniques for freestyle. As well as swimming independently with freestyle and backstroke. Swimmers will be introduced to breaststroke. Proper stroke technique is a focal point in this class and children will swim shorter distances to focus more on doing the strokes correctly. Once swimmers have mastered the skills in this level, they will be ready to move to Whales.
Whales
Ages: 4+ with basic swimming skills
This class will further develop proper freestyle technique and breathing, as well as focus on backstroke and breaststroke technique. Swimmers will be introduced to flip turns and open turn as well.
Stroke Development Levels
Dolphins
Requirements: Completed Whales OR evaluated and placed in this level
This is the first class where students will begin swimming longer distances with freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke. They will also begin learning bilateral breathing, which is a more advanced form of side breathing. Butterfly and sidestroke will be further developed in this class, as well as flip turns and open turns.
Swordfish
Requirements: Completed Dolphins OR evaluated and placed in this level
Students will continue working on freestyle with bilateral breathing, backstroke, and breaststroke, while building endurance. Swimmers will work towards being able to swim a full lap of freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke.
Hammerheads
Requirements: Completed Swordfish OR evaluated and placed in this level
Considered a pre-team level, Hammerheads classes have 6 swimmers per instructor and swim for 45 minutes. They will build on their current skills, while developing new, more advanced ones. Stroke technique and building endurance are the primary goals in this class. Students are expected to be able to swim longer distances and must be proficient in all strokes.
Older Beginner Levels
Crabs
Ages: 4 years old and up, new swimmer, very fearful, does not like the water
This class is for children who are very fearful about swimming and are not comfortable in the water. It will focus on helping students conquer their fears and become comfortable in water. Once students have overcome their initial fears (through organized and purposeful play), they will work on becoming more comfortable in the water, working on the Three B’s (breath control, balance, & buoyancy).
Seals
Ages: 4 ½ years old and up, hesitant, but willing to try putting face in the water
This class continues to work on the Three B’s and helps students become more comfortable in the water. They also begin learning basic stroke technique, including front and back floats, kicking with their faces in the water, an introduction to side breathing, and backstroke. Depending on their age and abilities upon completing this class, swimmers will be placed into the proper level (typically Otters or Octopus).
Adults & Young Adults
Ages: 16 years and older
We offer classes for adults and young adults (16 years old and up) who do not know how to swim. These classes teach basic stroke skills, water acclimation, and safety skills. They work on some stroke development, but technique is not a major focus.
Special Abilities
We offer classes for individuals with unique learning needs, including those with Autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, learning difficulties, etc. Contact us directly to register.