Learn to swim

Our under 3 programme is all about your tamariki being comfortable in the water, and working with a teacher. You (or another caregiver) need to be in the pool with your child until they are 3 years old.

Waterbabies

The children are working towards completing the first stage of a self rescue

• understanding of cues
• comfortable using equipment
• comfortable with over & under
• correct holds
• comfortable with activities in class
• safe entries and exits
• comfortable to be held by instructor.

Tiny Tots

Children are working towards the second level of self rescue:

• assisted float on back
• paddle arms and legs on front
• assisted kicking on back
• swim to and from bar
• assisted roll front to back
• assisted falling in and rolling onto back.

Super Tots

This level is working on the third stage of a self rescue:

• floating on back unaided
• rolling front to back
• swimming to and from bar
• swimming to bar climbing out of pool
• fall into pool rolling onto back
• fall into pool wearing clothes.

Super Tots Advanced

This level is working on the last stage of a self rescue:

• jumping into the pool rolling onto back
• kicking on back unaided
• rolling on back calling for help
• floating on back in clothes
• fall into pool in clothes, swim to bar  and climb out of pool.

Jellyfish

This is the first level in our preschool programme, and is our first class where a parent doesn't need to be in the water with the child:

• increasing water confidence
• working on full submersion
• introducing the children to a pool lesson structure.

Starfish

Increasing the children's water confidence and skill-set in the water:

• floating with a noodle and no instructor assistance
• basic level front and back kicking.

Seahorse

Children learn the correct kicking technique:

• unassisted front and back float
• correct kicking technique over 5 metres.

Little Orca

Children learn their freestyle and backstroke arms:

• combining their kicking with their arm strokes
• getting the correct timing with their arms.

Octopus

• perfecting their freestyle and backstroke arms
• introduction to breaststroke kick
• introduction to butterfly kick.

Little Dasher

We'll improve on their freestyle and backstroke swimming and extend as far as they can go until they can be transferred into our school-age programme:

• full breaststroke
• understanding of the butterfly leg kick

Spotty

This is the level for beginners over 5 years. If your child hasn't done a class before, or has only done the first level in preschool (Jellyfish), then they will start here:

• learn how to be safe in the pool environment, water confidence
• how to submerge
• float unassisted on their front and back
• introduction to unassisted front and back kicking.

Herrings

If your child has done our preschool programme and moved out of the first class (Jellyfish), then they will start at this level:

• children learn freestyle and backstroke arms
• they work on achieving the correct timing with their arms
• and combining their kicking with their arms.

Kahawai

This level is an extension of freestyle and backstroke timing:

• perfecting freestyle and backstroke arm actions
• introduction to breaststroke kick
• kick for 10 metres on their front and back.

Eels

This level is where they start learning the breathing position in freestyle:

• swim 10 metres of freestyle with correct breathing technique
• swim 10 metres of backstroke with correct timing
• swim 10 metres of breaststroke kick with correct technique
• introduction to butterfly kick.

Sharks

Extending their freestyle breathing technique to 15 metres:

• swim 15 metres of freestyle with correct timing
• swim 15 metres of backstroke with correct timing
• introduction to full breaststroke
• extension of the butterfly kick.

Manta Rays

This is the first level where we are swimming 25 metres:

• swim 25 metres of freestyle with correct technique
• swim 25 metres of backstroke with correct timing and technique
• swim 15 metres of breaststroke with correct timing 
• introduction to the butterfly stroke
• introduction to freestyle and backstroke tumble turns.

Orcas

Swimmers are building fitness to swim more than 25 metres without needing to stop:

• swim 50 metres of freestyle with the ability to breathe to both sides
• swim 50 metres of backstroke with a more advanced technique
• swim 25 metres of breaststroke with the correct timing and technique
• swim 10 metres of butterfly with the correct timing and technique
• extending the swimmer's knowledge of tumble turns and starts.

Marlins

First step in our "high end" programme:

• 45 minute lessons
• being able to do freestyle, backstroke and  breaststroke to a high standard
• extending their distance on their butterfly
• distances for each stroke starts at 100m learning all turns and starts for all strokes.
• an introduction to diving.

Whales

Increasing the distance your child can swim:

• being able to do all four strokes to a high standard
• introduced into a "squad" setting where they will learn how to use a pace clock and self-time effectively
• this class will introduce race diving.

Dashers

Top level in our learn to swim programme, this class is run with a squad format:.

• swimmers can perform all four strokes to high standards
• how to complete a "squad set"
• swimmers are working towards achieving times close to national times.

Little Splashers is a drop-in play group at Arena Aquatic Centre. Come any time during the hour-long session, you don't need to book:

• build confidence in the water with your toddler
• run by Dash Swim School
• qualified instructors are in the water helping you with your toddler's water confidence through tips, tricks and group games
• this class is best suited to those aged 4 months to 5 years
• maximum ratio of two children to one adult
• costs $4.50 for the first child and $3.50 for the second.

Session times

Designed as a fitness regime for teenagers:

• build up your cardiovascular fitness
• great way of keeping fit for other sports, especially out of season 
• one hour lesson.

Adult beginner

• learn to be comfortable in the water before being introduced to swimming techniques
• technique improvement for the less able swimmer – correcting stroke and breathing skills to help you to swim efficiently and confidently
• classes set at individual's pace.

Adult advanced

• get the heart pumping and the fitness building in fun but structured sessions
• ideal for cross-training for triathlons, surf lifesaving, water polo or any water-based sport

Individual tailored programme

• smaller classes taught by fully qualified AUSTSWIM Access and Inclusion Teachers
• these classes are aimed at getting everyone involved in the water, no matter what their disability may be
• these classes run alongside the Dash programme and are tailored to each individual’s needs.

• private lessons are tailored to the individual
• goals are set and the lessons are based around achieving these no matter what they are.