Frequently asked Questions
Below are some of our parents most asked questions and concerns. Do contact us if you need some more information.
How long will it take for my child to become an accomplished swimmer
A child's progress differs per lesson and may not be constant. Please be patient! Learning to swim takes time and lots of confidence as it is not the easiest of skills to acquire. It may take various lessons to establish the breathing techniques which is one of the more difficult skills. It is common for children to make no progress at all for a period of time. The key is to be patient and allow your child to develop at his or her own pace. It will not be due to lack of trying by the teachers and they understand it as part of their learning process. Parents should encourage their children and not to convey anxiety over this. They all learn to swim! Your support and positive attitude will go a long way to aid them in their learning.
Will my child be safe around water once he/she can swim?
Tragic accidents can occur despite being able to swim! All aspects of water safety should be introduced to children from a young age. This will encourage them to enjoy the pleasures which water can bring, but with sufficient knowledge to ensure their safety. Please remember, children should never be left unattended around water!.
What if my child wears glasses or contact lenses?
Glasses need to be remove (when possible) before entering the pool. This is to avoid possible damage to the glasses. Not wearing glasses during lessons, should not have a huge impact on the child's learning ability. The instructor will at all times be in the water with the child, supporting him/her and guiding him/her along the way. Contact lenses may be used along with goggles.
Will my hair be damaged by the chlorinated water?
We highly recommend that our swimmers wear a swimming cap which will prevent har from absorbig chemically treated water. In addition, we further recommend that you shampoo and condition your child's hair after a swimming lesson as hair can become dry and brittle from prolonged exposure to pool water.
How can I prevent my eyes from blurring and burning if opened under water?
You can protect your eyes from the irritating effects of chlorinated water by the use of goggles or a mask. This will also restore normal vision while under water. Based on the normal standard of 24/24, vision under water is 20/400 without the aid of goggles or a mask. Most states consider persons with a 20/200 vision to be legally blind. chlorinated water.
What is 'swimmers ear' and how must it be treated?
Swimmers ear is a very painful inflammation of the outer ear channel and can occur If water remains in the ear channel for many hours. The condition may become conductive for the growth of bacteria. However, this is not a common occurrence. Learners shoud ensure after swimming lessons that no water is left in the ear channel. “SWIM SEAL” is a possible solution that is available at most pharmacies as a non-prescription remedy if you find that your ears do not readily drain after a swimming lesson. Another cause for water not clearing properly, may be the build up of wax in the outer ear channel.
What is submersion?
Submersion is the actu of going under water and is considred a 'basic' skill, meaning that other skills are dependent upon it. Submersion can be introduces as early as six months. .
Why/when do you use floaties/float belts?
In an emergency, children need to know how to handle themselves without any aids. Floating devices are only introduces as part of our lessons once the child is at a stage where the floating device serves as an aid to teach a specific skill. It is important that chldren gains confidence in their own abilities and not in the device and subsequently depend on the aid to swim.
Do you teach competitive swim strokes?
Yes. Most of our instructors have been competitive swimmers at some level and introduces these strokes once the child has progressed through the various introductury phases of learning to swim.
Do you teach adults?
Yes we do although based on sufficient demand. Although it takes a bit longer accompanied by patience, determination and courage to learn the basic skills of learning to swim as an adult, it is well worth the effort! These classes would however, have to be arranged with the particular instructor and are presented on a demand basis
Is it important to learn how to roll over?
We teach children to roll over from tummy to back as soon as possible. This is the safest position to learn to be in as you can breathe on your back. Any individual who has grasped this technique has a higher chance of survival should he/she accidentally fall into water. Note: Never leave your child unattended around water. Supervision if extremely important, even if the child can swim. No child is “drown-proof”.
Can a two or three year old really learn to swim?
A two or three year old can learn to get a breath, roll on their back, and use their arms under water. Most children's swmming style will usually not look like free styles or back strokes unless receiving regular training. [Most children at 3 and a half swim free style, backstroke and elementary back because they continued in instruction combined with allot of play time in the pool with family.
How long are the lessons/sessions?
Our lessons are 30 min long with a choice of one or two lessons per week. The lessons are running with the school year and the swim school will be closed during school holidays and on public holidays.