Winter 2025
Looking for a specific class? Check out the lists below.
Priority resident registration: Online Wednesday November 6 (6am) through Tuesday November 12
Non-resident and walk in registration: Beginning Wednesday November 13 6am). Registration continues throughout the season.
Weekday Afternoon
Session 1 MWF - TBA
Session 2 MWF - TBA
Session 3 MWF - TBA
Session 4 MWF - TBA
Saturdays
Saturdays TBA
Sundays
Sunday TBA
Refund/Transfer Request Form Click Here
Santa Monica Registration Form Click Here
Youth Scholarship Application Click Here
City of Santa Monica new adopted Credit Card Few Update and E-Check Option
Learn To Swim Class List
Not sure which class to dive-in to? Visit SMSC for a swim assessment 9:00am-5:00 pm. No appointment necessary.
Can’t make a swim assessment? Check out our list below to find your best fit.
PARENT & ME (AGES 6 MONTHS-3 YEARS)
This class is designed for parent-child interaction and focuses on acquainting a child with the water through play and song. Emphasis is placed on teaching parents techniques to stimulate the development of their child's fundamental swimming skills such as blowing bubbles, front & back glides, front & back kick, arm movement and floating. INFANTS MUST WEAR SWIM DIAPERS UNDER THEIR SUITS.
PRESCHOOL AQUATICS 1 & 2: SEA HORSE (AGES 2-5 YEARS)
This is a combination of Preschool Aquatics Level 1 & 2. These levels create a transition between our Parent & Me and Learn To Swim Levels. Children must be able to enter the water on their own. In this level, children develop safe practices and water confidence in and around the water. Students will work on bubble blowing, floating, kicking, arm actions and learn to perform skills independently when ready, such as retrieving submerged objects, gliding and swimming for 2-3 body lengths.
After completing this course, students are eligible to enroll in Preschool Aquatics 3:Sea Dragon or Level 2:Guppy, depending on age.
PRESCHOOL AQUATICS 3: SEA DRAGON (AGES 2-5 YEARS)
Before entering this level, children must be able to complete skills learned in Preschool Aquatics 2: Sea Horse independently, including front and back glides and swimming for 2-3 body lengths. In this level, children will build on the skills learned in Sea Horse with more emphasis on independence and coordination needed to further develop their water competency.
After completing this course, students are eligible to enroll in Level 3:Minnow.
Level 1: Polliwog (Ages 4+)
This is the first level in our Learn To Swim program. Instructors focus on building students' comfort and independence in the water. Skills taught include bubble blowing, retrieving submerged objects, front & back glides, front & back kicks and front & back floats. All skills are practiced with the support of an instructor.
Level 2: Guppy (Ages 5+)
Before entering this level, children must feel comfortable submerging their face underwater as well as floating on their stomach and back with the help on an instructor. Students will learn to perform skill independently such as float and recover to a standing position, glides, front & back arm motion, front & back flutter kick and an introduction to rhythmic breathing.
Level 3: Minnow (Ages 5+)
To enter this level, participants must be capable of independently floating and swimming 5 body lengths on front & back with arm & leg coordination. Instructors will mainly focus on front crawl with side breathing and elementary backstroke, dolphin kick & scissor kick. Skills introduced include diving in deep water and treading water.
Level 4: Fish (Ages 5+)
Children must be able to swim a minimum of 15 yards of the pool with coordinated front crawl and elementary backstroke before entering this level. Skills taught include refining front crawl stroke with side breathing and elementary backstroke, learn back crawl stroke, breast stroke, side stroke and butterfly. Skills introduced are open turns and head first entries.
Level 5: Barracuda (Ages 5+)
This class is held entirely in deep water. Participants must be able to efficiently complete 25 yards of both front crawl and elementary backstroke without stopping. Students will refine breaststroke, butterfly and sidestroke. Skills introduced include shallow angle dive, surface dives and flip turns.
Level 6: Tiger Shark (Ages 5+)
To enter this level, students must be able to complete 50 yards of front crawl and elementary backstroke and 25 yards of back crawl, breaststroke and butterfly. This level aims to develop good fitness habits and increase endurance, power and efficiency for the 4 competitive strokes. Children will learn to use a pace clock and calculate heart rate. Upon completion students will be ready for competitive swimming and specialty classes.
ADULT BEGINNER: LEARNING THE BASICS (AGES 14+)
Learning the basics is designed to help participants gain basic aquatic skills and swimming strokes, including the front crawl, breastroke and elementary backstroke. Participants learn skills and concepts needed to stay safe around the water, in addition to those needed to help themselves or others in aquatic emergency. Participants looking to refine specific stroke techniques maybe better suited for the Adult Intermediate: Learning and Refining Swim Strokes.
ADULT INTERMEDIATE: LEARINING AND REFINING SWIM STROKES (AGES 14+)
Learning and Refining Swim Strokes is designed to help participants improve their foundational skills and swimming strokes to gain an overall level of comfort in the water, to be able to enjoy the water more safely with or to open the door to training for other aquatic opportunities. Participants looking to build endurance and work on fine tuning swimming techniques maybe better suited for the Adult Fitness Conditioning class.
Youth Protection Policies
The City of Santa Monica is committed to providing youth with the highest quality services available and creating an environment for youth that is safe, nurturing, empowering, and promotes growth and success. Ensuring children are safe from abuse and able to learn, grow and thrive is the highest priority of the City. We are dedicated to creating programs that protect children and committed to providing our families and community with information to keep kids safe everywhere. To learn more about the City’s policies, procedures, and resources for protecting youth, please visit our website at: santamonica.gov/topic-explainers/child-abuse-prevention