Swim Lessons

Swim Lessons are available for anyone ages 6 months to adult. Prices vary per session.  We also offer private and semi private lessons. Contact aquatics@bellinghamathleticclub.com or Cordata Front Desk at (360) 676-1800 for prices or to sign up.

Because of the increased interest in swim lessons here at BAC, we are updating and streamlining our curriculum! Beginning in February, we will be combining Clownfish I & II and Dolphin I & II as well as updating all levels to focus on important survival and endurance skills in addition to the technique based learning that our program has already accomplished. Our goal is to provide a well-rounded aquatic education for all students, so please take a look at our levels below!

If your student is currently enrolled in our program, please place them according to their previous level. We will be assessing and adjusting on the first day of lessons, but if you would prefer to have an independent assessment, please contact Brittany at aquatics@bellinghamathleticclub.com to set up a placement test.

Note: These are the required skills to pass each level, not entrance skills.

Angelfish: Ages 6mo-3 years

• This is a Parent-Child aquatics class, focused on water adjustment and enjoyment!
• You will learn how to hold your child in the water, practice survival skills and play games aimed at providing a positive first experience in the pool

Beluga; 3 years +

• For students who have never had lessons before
• Focus on head & face submersion, bubbles through mouth & nose 5 seconds
• Introduction to crawl stroke, front and back floats, & elementary backstroke (w/assistance)
• Introduction to jumps & water safety

Clownfish: For those who have passed Beluga

• Focus on transitioning from swimming with assistance to unassisted skills – by the end of the level they will be swimming 15-20 feet on their own
• Effective crawl stroke and kicks
• Front and back glide
• Front & back floats w/ recovery (10-15 seconds)
• Introduction to dolphin kick

Dolphin: For those who have passed Clownfish

• Focus on increased distance and endurance – They will be swimming full lengths on a regular basis
• Development of freestyle (crawl stroke) technique & side breathing
• Introduction to backstroke
• Effective glide w/kick – on stomach, back, and dolphin
• Introduction to treading water
• Introduction to side stroke

Flounder: For those who have passed Dolphin

• Distance: They will be swimming 3-5 lengths on a regular basis
• Refine freestyle and backstroke
• Introduction to breaststroke
• Underwater glide w/ dolphin kick
• Tread water (40-60 seconds)

Jellyfish: For those who have passed Flounder

• Distance: 6-8 lengths
• Refine freestyle, backstroke & breaststroke
• Introduction to butterfly
• Introduction to flip turns
• Side stroke
• Introduction to yardage & competitive swimming skills

Manatee: For those who have passed Jellyfish

• Distance: 12 lengths
• Refine freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly
• 100 yards freestyle w/flip turns
• Introduction to backstroke flipturns
• Introduction to IM order
• Competitive swimming skills including time clock, starts, turns, & finishes

Swim Team: For those who have passed Manatee (tryouts available)

• Refine all 4 strokes
• Competitive swimming skills
• Introduction to race starts, turns & finishes
• Refine flipturns & streamlines
• Drills to develop technique, endurance and speed
• The goal of our swim team is to transition students into swimming as a competitive sport. This is a learning based program intended to prep students for swimming in high school or a similar club team.