Atlantis would like to hear from you! Have a question that’s not on this list? Rather speak to someone than read our prose? Just contact us directly.
Atlantis Programs has been providing swimming lessons to kids in the Vancouver area since 1986. We have well-developed programs for kids aged 6 months and up that helps their progression in this essential skill.
Our classes are limited to a maximum number of students, so everyone receives ample instructor attention. This, combined with our flexible approach, small, warm pool and reasonable rates make Atlantis Swimming Lessons ideal for teaching children to swim.
Please see the levels table to be fairly accurate in assessing your child’s level. However, feel free at any time to revise this level, if you and the instructor think it is required.
Regardless, we always evaluate the kids abilities on the first day of class and try to re-assign the groups until we find suitable classes for everyone. We will not leave a child in a group that is not challenging enough or too difficult for them.
As you know, every child is unique. Some children take to the water very quickly, others take a little longer. Most are able to move through the levels at a consistent rate, although there are exceptions.
For instance, we know that Swim Kids 4 & 7 are particularly tough levels to pass. These are the one’s where front crawl and breast stroke, respectively, need to be perfected. In addition, your child needs to have a chance to practice all the newly introduced skills and build up their stamina.
As with any new skill, learning to swim is a progressive process. If you’ve mastered most of the skills in one level, a split level class can offer an introduction for you to begin working on skills for the next level, while finishing off any techniques that you haven’t quite completed.
In addition, to be able to offer split-level classes means more options to suit your schedule or to potentially get both or all of your children in the same time-slot.
Like many other pools, We used to offer half-hour lessons during regular school seasons. Then in the summer, we switched it up to offer one hour lessons.
What we found is that with the full hour, kids have a chance to settle down more and focus on the lesson. With two transitions, (getting in to and getting out of the pool) within 25 minutes of each other, we believe that the lesson wasn’t as effective. We hope you agree.
The big difference between the PreSchool classes and the Swim Kids classes is age rather than ability.
Your 3-5 year old may love the water and be capable of many of the techniques for the Swim Kids levels. Having said that, younger kids just don’t have the same muscle development or stamina as kids who are older. For that reason, they are ready to move to the Red Cross Swim Kids program when they are six.
We highly recommend that your child attend all the classes, if possible. The reason for this is that we operate classes on a constant evaluation basis. This means that there is no test day, per se, instead our instructors continually monitor the learning progressions during class.
Having said that, we understand that things come up that may interfere with your plans. During the set, you can schedule up to one make-up for any class you had to miss if there is any available. Private students who require make-ups do so in regular group classes. To schedule a make-up class, please call our pool office at 604-315-3498.
In a word, yes! Great improvements can be made with concentrated 1:1 time with an instructor. Private or semi-private lessons can really benefit individuals who started swimming at an older age, siblings or friends who are at a similar skill level, or kids with special needs.
Privates are offered for those registering for a set of complete lessons (5 or 6 depending on the day), or on a one-off or drop-in basis after registration has been completed. Please call us to ask for current available times.
Unfortunately, we no longer offer Birthday parties. As availability for regular classes started to become quite scarce, we elected to allott that the Saturday and Sunday afternoon timeslots for regular classes.
We honour all special requests to the best of our ability. Just put a note in the special requests section of the registration form. If your child wants to go with a friend and they’re in the same level, time and day of the week, then it should be no trouble.
We’ve handled all sorts of different special requests, go ahead and ask us if you can have a specific instructor, a class for special needs kids, or whatever you want and, while not guaranteed, we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Your child’s health and safety is of paramount importance to us. Please let us know if you or your child have any medical concerns at all. Small or large, significant or possibly irrelevant, we want to know. It’s always best to have more knowledge of each individuals history.
PLEASE NOTE, due to the number of people with allergies, Atlantis maintains a nut-free environment. We apologize for any inconvenience but are sure you understand that the snack you pack for your child should not contain any nuts.
Swim Club was designed as a non-competitive introduction to the strokes and skills of racing. It was a place where kids SK7 and above could learn the starts, turns and drills that professional competitive swimmers use.
Not all kids are interested in racing, however, so while Swim Club does teach them techniques they may not yet have encountered in regular lessons, it also gives them a place where they can practice all of their swimming skills, build up their stamina and do a lot of lengths! It is an ideal club to swim with if your youngster is looking at pursuing Bronze Medallion or Bronze Cross.