learn to swim program
For Adults
Our Founder and Director, Kari Baynes, took up swimming in 2010 to reduce stress and improve her fitness, learning freestyle at 48.
Recognizing a gap in adult swim programs, Kari created a supportive space where adults can learn, thrive, and build confidence in the water. Thus, our Adult Learn to Swim Program was born, being one of the boutique swim schools in Sydney.
OUR LEVELS
Our classes are small and tailored, with a maximum of 4-5 swimmers per class, depending on the level.
They run for 45 minutes, allowing enough time for a thorough understanding of the skills imparted within the class. You will learn foundational to intermediate swimming skills and progress through the following levels below.
Absolute Beginner
This Class is designed for absolute beginners with zero swimming experience. You will learn:
Water safety and confidence; essential safety awareness to feel calm and secure.
Submersion and breathing; mastering controlled breath-holding and putting your face underwater.
Basic buoyancy; how to float comfortably on your front and back.
Propulsion; practicing fundamental kicking and arm movements to navigate the water.
Swimming & Treading Basics
This class is designed for swimmers looking to transition from basic stroke knowledge to full freestyle confidence.
This Class is For Swimmers Who:
Can swim other strokes (like breaststroke) but have minimal to no freestyle experience.
Can swim short distances (0-10m) of freestyle but struggle with side breathing or proper kicking.
Need practice treading water and building confidence in deep water.
What You’ll Learn:
Rhythmic side-breathing mechanics and flutter kick efficiency.
Introduction to continuous freestyle technique.
Deep-water familiarization and treading water basics.
What You Need to Progress to LVL 3:
Swim 25m Freestyle with reasonable technique
Tread water for 30 seconds
Stroke Foundations
This class is designed for swimmers with basic freestyle ability looking to refine technique and build endurance.
This Class is For Swimmers Who:
Have basic freestyle ability but need to refine core technique.
Want to improve breathing efficiency, propulsion, and body position.
Are looking to build continuous endurance from 25m to 50m.
Are ready to learn the fundamentals of backstroke.
What You’ll Learn:
Proper freestyle body alignment and side-breathing mechanics.
Core backstroke technique and arm action.
Stamina building to double your continuous swimming distance.
What You Need to Progress to LVL 4:
Swim 50m Freestyle
Swim 25m Backstroke
Tread water for 60 seconds
Stroke Development
This class is designed for swimmers who can swim 50m+ of freestyle and are looking for advanced technique correction and stroke expansion.
This Class is For Swimmers Who:
Can comfortably swim at least 50m of continuous freestyle.
Are actively seeking technique correction to improve swimming efficiency.
Want to expand their skills to include backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly.
Are preparing for structured, technique-based endurance training.
What You’ll Learn:
Advanced freestyle stroke refinement to conserve energy and increase speed.
Smooth, efficient backstroke mechanics.
Core fundamentals and timing for breaststroke and butterfly.
Proper diving techniques for clean pool entries.
Endurance building to push your continuous distance from 50m to 100m.
Graduation Requirements (to reach SwimFit):
Swim 100m continuous Freestyle
Demonstrate working exposure across all form strokes (Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly)
Enrol for the upcoming term
Our next Learn to Swim term will be commencing on November 18th at Prince Alfred Park Pool.
Follow the easy steps below to get started!
Step 1: Answer the questionnaire
NOTE: If you have already filled out the form in Facebook / Instagram, you don’t need to do it here again.
Step 2: Download and register in the DSS app
Get the DSS app on your phone, please visit any of the following links:
Register and login.
Get the free class credit under
BUY > LEARN TO SWIM > ⭐ Free Assessment Class – Learn to Swim.Once you have a class credit, you are now able to book into the free assessment class.
Step 3: Attend your free Assessment Class
Before the term starts, each swimmer will be assessed in person by our Head Coach and Director, Kari. We have two levels of classes; Beginners and Advanced swimmers.
Beginner Assessment Class
Saturdays, 12:15pm (Starts on Oct 17) Andrew Boy Charlton Pool, The Domain
Advanced Assessment Class
Wednesdays, 6:00pm Andrew Boy Charlton Pool, The Domain
In the DSS app, you can schedule your Free Assessment Class on the date of your choice. Saturdays for Beginners, and Wednesdays for Advanced.
You can book yourself in the app by following these steps:
BOOK > Select the date > Select Free Assessment Class
Step 4: Get Your Recommended Level
Before the term starts, each swimmer will be assessed in person by our Head Coach and Director, Kari. We have two levels of classes; Beginners and Advanced swimmers.
LVL 1 Absolute Beginner
LVL 2 Swimming & Treading Basics
LVL 3
Stroke Foundations
LVL 4
Stroke Development
After the assessment class, you will receive an email with your ideal starting point. During the 12-Week Program, you will progress through the different levels at your own pace, and we promote you to the next tier as you hit the milestones set for each level.
Step 5: Pay the enrolment fee
To finalise your enrolment and secure your spot, you need to pay the registration fee of $172. This covers partial payment of the course, and your first week of the class. You’ll then pay off the remainder of the classes in easy instalments of $28 per week, until you finish the 12 weeks.
Regularly priced at $540, we have discounted the 12-Week Learn to Swim classes down to $480, our Early Bird rate, with an affordable subscription!
Step 6: Start your swimming journey!
Our term will be commencing on November 18 at Prince Alfred Park Pool.
We run classes for all levels twice a week on Wednesday evenings (5pm onwards) and Saturday afternoons (12:15pm onwards).
The complete schedule will be posted soon.
