Alan ‘Bo’ BorensteinSwimming is an incredibly fun and relatively easy sport to follow. It’s also one of the best ways to ensure improved health and increased fitness.
If you’re looking for something beneficial for your health and well-being, then swimming lessons might be the best choice.
With that said, keep reading as we list down some of the best companies for swimming lessons in Vancouver!
How Much Do Swimming Lessons Cost in Vancouver
Swimming is a great exercise, so if you want to take some lessons, you’ll need to determine your needs.
For example, some first-time swimmers prefer group swimming lessons because they learn more in a group, whereas other swimmers require one-on-one sessions to focus on specific skill sets.
Group swimming lessons are typically for 4 to 10 swimmers and cost no more than CAD 30 per student. Private swimming lessons, on the other hand, can cost up to CAD 100 per lesson.
In the table below, we list down some of the most common types of services and their average estimated cost:
In the table below, we list down some of the most common types of services and their average estimated cost:
1. Pedalheads
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Efficiency | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Years of Experience | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Techniques | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Rates | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Availability | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Client Capacity | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Instructors | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Pedalheads has established itself as a leader in children’s day camps and lessons since 1986, offering a range of programs from biking to swimming. Their swimming lessons, available in select locations across British Columbia and Ontario, are designed to build essential life skills in children aged 4 months and up. With a focus on creating confident and skilled swimmers, Pedalheads combines longer lesson times, small class sizes, and a specialized curriculum to foster success in the pool.
One of the main strengths of Pedalheads’ swimming lessons is their highly-trained instructors. These professionals receive specialized training and provide in-water instruction, allowing for direct demonstration and detailed feedback. This hands-on approach ensures that each child receives personalized attention, which is crucial for effective learning and improvement.
Another significant advantage is the program’s emphasis on small class sizes and longer lesson durations. With class times ranging from 25 to 85 minutes, children benefit from more practice time and individualized coaching. The use of specialized swim toys and tools further enhances the learning experience, making the process engaging and effective for young swimmers.
On the downside, Pedalheads’ swimming programs are currently only available in select locations, which might limit accessibility for some families. This could be a concern for those who do not live near their facilities or are unable to travel to the available locations for lessons.
In conclusion, Pedalheads offers a comprehensive and engaging swimming program that has proven to be effective in building children’s swimming skills and confidence. With highly trained instructors and a focus on small class sizes and longer lessons, it is a solid choice for families looking to enhance their children’s abilities in the water.
Pros
- Highly-trained instructors
- Small class sizes
- Longer lesson durations
- Specialized curriculum and tools
Cons
- Operating hours may depend as per booking
2. Propel
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Efficiency | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Years of Experience | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Techniques | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Rates | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Availability | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Client Capacity | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Instructors | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Established in 2015, Propel has provided accessible and flexible swimming lessons in Vancouver. This establishment has over 27 locations in Canada, and they’re open 24 hours a day!
We were immediately impressed by the fact that co-founders Kiel Olver and Amie Nguyen have worked as lifeguards. They’ve also taught swimming lessons for over ten years and this, we believe, makes their services more reliable and effective.
We think it’s great that they can provide swimming lessons for all ages. In our opinion, this makes them the ideal choice for families.
We also found it very convenient that they allow clients to create their own lesson schedules. Learners can also reschedule or cancel with no additional charge.
That said, we’re not big fans of their relatively higher rates. However, we did like that they have a convenient online booking system.
We believe this makes it easier for consumers to view their options and book an instructor immediately.
Furthermore, many of the customers we’ve spoken with have mentioned how kind and patient their instructors were and how convenient it was to be able to set various time slots.
On a whole, we felt that Propel deserved a spot on our list as they’re one of the best companies for swimming lessons in Vancouver.
Pros
- Over 27 locations in Canada
- Open 24 hours
- Wide selection of swimming lessons
- Flexible scheduling
- Numerous instructor options
- Convenient online booking system
Cons
- Relatively higher rates
- Longer waitlist
Customer Reviews
Kind and patient swimming instructors
“As an adult learner I’m finally learning how to swim with Propel instructor Thadene! She’s kind, patient and is a very skilled teacher. It’s very easy to use the Propel website to book or modify lessons and I’m very glad to have found this company.” -Cherlyn C.
Customized swimming lessons
“Swimming with Propel has been a great experience so far! I love the convenience of choosing from a variety of time slots any day of the week and not having a set number of classes, or registration day. Just as important, the instructor Haley is amazing! She crafts a completely customized lesson and is very patient and encouraging. Customer service is also very friendly. Strongly recommend Propel!.” -Anoo M.
3. Marina’s Swim School
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Efficiency | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Years of Experience | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Techniques | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Rates | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Availability | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Client Capacity | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Instructors | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Marina’s Swim School offers kid and adult swimming lessons in Vancouver. This company has over 30 trainers, allowing them to accommodate multiple clients and classes simultaneously.
Moreover, we were immediately impressed that some of their trainers were Canadian swimming champions and medalists in world championships. In our opinion, this allows them to teach various techniques tailored to each client.
What sets them apart is their Aquafit program. In our opinion, these classes are a great exercise option for all ages. This program consists of a low-impact aquatic fitness class that can last up to two hours.
In fact, this establishment encourages mothers and mothers-to-be to join as they have dedicated pre-and post-natal water classes.
Marina’s Swim School also has a parent and tot program where parents are present in the water to guide their children. We think all these factors make them suitable for families.
Unfortunately, they have a non-refundable deposit policy, so we recommend that you make sure you can commit first before placing a deposit.
Apart from this, the majority of customers we spoke with praised the effectiveness of their swimming lessons, which focus on building confidence and skill.
All in all, we think Marina’s Swim School is one of the best companies for swimming lessons as they provide top-notch swimming lessons for all ages.
Pros
- Aquafit classes available
- Offers pre-and post-natal water classes
- Has over 30 experienced trainers
- Special viewing deck for guardians
Cons
- Make-up classes have a $15 fee
- Deposits are non-refundable
Customer Reviews
Effective swimming lessons
“My daughter has been going here for the past 4 years. She has the confidence now to jump off cliffs into deep water with out life jackets and enjoys her beach vacations more. I have been with many instructors at this school over the years and I have nothing bad to say. They help the children excel and push their buttons when needed. Now with public pools opening up many left, but as a person who has learned to swim from public pools, I highly recommend staying with this school. At the age of 8 my girl will be joining their Life Guard Course and can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.” -Gurp J.
Skilled and kind
“It was my first swimming lesson today and my teacher David was soooooo kind and skilled. As soon as I started my lesson I was like I will never be able to swim but my instructor seemed very calm and kept trying different techniques. And in 15 minutes I changed my mind and was so comfortable with the water and just followed what ever David asked me to do. I am very thankful to my instructor for being so kind and patient. Will be there next week.” -Nageen K.
4. Grace’s Swimming Lessons
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Efficiency | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Years of Experience | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Techniques | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Rates | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Availability | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Client Capacity | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Instructors | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Grace is a lifeguard and a certified Water Safety and Lifesaving Instructor. She moved to Vancouver 13 years ago and founded her own business because she’s passionate about encouraging others to learn to swim.
What we liked best about Grace’s Swimming Lessons is that she can accommodate learning styles, which we think allows her to provide tailored lessons for all her students.
We also think it’s beneficial that she focuses on providing a private learning environment as we believe that it creates a safe and comfortable space for students to learn without distractions.
Now, we would like to mention that she can only accommodate a maximum of three students at a time. While we think this allows her to provide personalized lessons, we do think this limits her client capacity.
We only wish she could also teach large groups, as we believe this would’ve been a great addition to her services.
Even so, most of her past customers praised how comfortable she made them feel and how professional she was as she was able to teach a lot of techniques during a short period of time.
In sum, we recommend Grace’s Swimming Lessons as they’re one of the best companies in Vancouver where you can learn to swim.
Pros
- Certified Water Safety and Lifesaving Instructor
- Specializes in private learning lessons
- Provides 30-minute lessons
Cons
- Maximum of 3 students for private lessons
- Limited student capacity
Customer Reviews
Extremely comfortable to work with
“Grace is such a great swimming instructor. My 6 year old is having so much fun and learned a lot during a short period of time. He was hesitated at first when I told him I have signed up for swimming. But he gets extremely comfortable with water after just the first few lessons with her. We can see his improvements in such a short time frame. Grace is very patience and extremely good with kids. I would highly recommend her to anybody who wants to learn swimming!.” -Teresa W.
Patient and methodical
“Awesome swim instructor, very patient and methodical. She makes you feel comfortable to move at your own pace and gives helpful hints along the way. Thanks for helping me learn swimming!.” -Daniella M.
5. ISWIM
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Efficiency | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Years of Experience | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Techniques | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Rates | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Availability | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Client Capacity | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Instructors | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Vladimir Ushakov, the owner of ISWIM, has over 30 years of experience in professional water polo and competitive swimming, which we think makes him reliable.
We immediately found it impressive that this establishment has various approaches as we think this allows them to accommodate students of all skill levels.
ISWIM offers small group lessons and private lessons, and they can teach learners as young as age 4. They have three levels in their school which include bronze, silver, and gold.
ISWIM guarantees that customers will only need 8 lessons with them to be comfortable in deep water without assistance. This is outstanding in our opinion because clients can learn to swim in a short period of time.
However, we want to mention that their private lessons are bit pricey. In contrast, we find this reasonable as you’re allowed to bring a friend or a family member at no additional cost.
Moreover, many of the customers we’ve spoken to comment on how supportive their instructors are as they go the extra mile to build a comfortable and fun learning environment.
Overall, we highly recommend ISWIM as they’re one of the best companies for swimming lessons in Vancouver, as they provide an enjoyable learning atmosphere for their customers.
Pros
- Two office locations
- Various lesson approaches
- Offers small group lessons and private lessons
Cons
- Private lessons are relatively pricey
- Closed on weekends
Customer Reviews
Supportive instructors
“I am so grateful for this school, it is a blessing for my son. Huge Thank you to Vladimir and his team who are professional and dedicated and are always there to support children. My son is 10 y.o., started swimming with confidence in a month. We spent months in recreation centres taking swimming lessons and I never saw such a quick progress in such a short time frame. It is only possible when the structure is applied to lessons and trainers continuously support children as they want to see them developing and improving. I will recommend this school to everyone who is choosing health and ready to commit to every practice in class.” -Tamila L.
Responds promptly and accommodating
“I am very pleased with Vladimir and the ISWIM team. I like how they respond promptly to questions/inquiries. They are also accommodating and transparent. And most especially, they have coaches that would motivate and boost confidence; coaches that are patient and committed. I highly speak and recommend ISWIM!.” -Katherine T.
FAQs about Swimming Lessons in Vancouver
If you don’t know how to swim correctly, it’s better to take swimming lessons with one of these companies.
When learning swimming, knowing the correct swimming techniques is essential to prevent many injuries and unnecessary problems during the process.
If you’re looking for a place to practice your swimming skills, check out our article on Kitsilano Beach.
