(512) 452-DIVE (3483)
(877) SCUBA-01
(1-877-728-2201)
4403 Guadalupe Street
AUSTIN TEXAS 78751
Call if you don't see the product you are looking for!
512-452-DIVE
"Simply the lowest prices I've seen anywhere plus great service"
"On very short notice, the team at Royal Scuba made sure I had all the gear I needed for my trip to Hawaii. They were a real life saver"
"Great Shop! Personal Service at this shop is fantastic. The people here are friendly and helpful. Their pricing is very competitive- beating even the online discounters. The return policy is FAR better than some other shops in town. Nicco bent over backwards to make sure we got a specific item just in time for a trip to the Caribbean. Highly Recommended!"
(512) 452-DIVE (3483)
(877) SCUBA-01
(1-877-728-2201)
4403 Guadalupe Street
AUSTIN TEXAS 78751
| GET REGISTRATION / POLICY FORM HERE |
Our philosophy is: the sooner the better, but it's never too late. Six months is a great age. The majority of students who start at a very young age will master the water and be able to navigate pools on their own before they turn two. We have also found that children who begin lessons early are more advanced developmentally; they perform better academically and athletically because their brains have been exposed to more oxygen. An oxygen-nourished brain creates a stronger individual, mentally and physically. Ages 2, 3 and 4 are fine ages to start, although sometimes children at this age experience more anxieties and emotional obstacles. As a child grows and becomes a teenager or an adult, they will often find that it is more of a struggle to learn to swim because of the mental hurdles they must overcome. However, an open mind and commitment can often lead to great success.
Babies are born with a "swimmer's reflex." This reflex stays strong for the first 300 days of life. Basically, this means children involuntarily hold their breath when submerged in water. In addition, our instructors use a method of teaching in which repetitive motions and verbal cues are used so that students are expecting the submersion. It truly becomes natural and effortless for students, at any age, to learn to hold their breath and swim comfortably.
Progression varies according to several factors. Within a series of six-twelve swim lessons most children will learn to float comfortably with their eyes open. Some students will learn more skills, others will learn fewer, as progress varies from individual to individual. It is best to keep in mind that, like any athletic endeavor, swim lessons are a commitment if you want the skill to be truly engrained. Our goal is to help children and adults progress each and every lesson and make the most of their time in the pool with us. We want our students to leave our program with superb skills and a love of water.
Swimming is a skill in which the more time and proper exposure you can acquire, the better off the swimmer will be. If you want your child to swim safely, in a relaxed manner with adequate technique, several series of six (6) lessons should be expected. Most of our customers notice that after each lesson, their child progresses significantly and since they want such progression and mastery to continue, they proceed with multiple/back-to-back series. If fun and comfort in the water are your goals, fewer sessions will be needed.
Keep in mind that our instructors have a lot of experience with children (and adults) who do not like water on their faces. Ultimately, this is a major component in learning to swim that (we believe) must be overcome. How do we aid this process? Exposure, exposure, exposure; then exposure should be followed by gentle coaxing and a lot of praise. We also request the help of parents in encouraging children to get their faces wet during bath time. Handing a child a dry towel or reaching to wipe their wet face will only prolong and enforce their phobia. If you act like a wet face is no big deal, they will come to learn that a wet face is no big deal.
Absolutely! Two snug-fitting swim diapers are the best way to keep solid waste contained until the child can be removed from the pool. Understandably, this is for the health and safety of all involved. From experience, we have found that just because a child is potty-trained, that doesn't ensure that they will tell their instructor that they need to use the bathroom. If you don't feel comfortable calling them "diapers" in front of your child, call them "swim pants." We sell them on our premises or you can purchase them at various clothing and toy stores throughout Austin .
Full payment in person, or via phone with a credit card, reserves your spot. ($120 for six (6) Semi-Private lessons). Once you're on a schedule as a current customer, you must reserve the next series by paying on or before lesson #5. Paying in advance of each series allows us to schedule ahead. We have students on our waiting list and in order to meet the needs of current, new and returning customers, it is crucial that we know which of our students are continuing or ending their lessons. Ultimately, we want all students to continue their lessons indefinitely and to leave our program as strong, capable swimmers. However, in the case of an upcoming vacation or break, we appreciate customers communicating that information at least a week in advance.
2 lessons per week, 30 minutes each, each lesson shared with another student (most often) equals 30 minutes of swimming per week. Imagine how much time it takes a child to learn to crawl, walk, talk … and that's a skill they're practicing during every waking hour! Swimming 2 times per week (or more) is the best way to get maximum results, but at once per week in our semi-private classes still allows your child to receive 90 minutes of instruction over 6 weeks, which is highly effective, especially when compared to other programs.
As far in advance as possible since our waiting lists works from a first-come first-serve basis. In order to reserve an available time slot, please know that full payment in person or via phone with a credit card reserves your spot.($120 for six (6) Semi-Private lessons) .
As one can imagine, children and adults can have a true fear of the water. Do not allow your child's fear or your own fears of the water prevent you from enrolling him or her in Angelfish swim lessons. Success in swimming helps your child develop a confidence that will carry over into other areas of his or her life. We require an environment of mutual respect between the staff, swimmers and parents. We cherish the partnership that we have with parents. We want your child to know that his or her parents along with the Angelfish Swim staff love and care for him or her.
Swimming should be a necessity for your child, not a choice. It is the one sport that has the potential to one day save your child's life.
Please always remember that swim lessons are not "drown proofing". There should always be adult supervision when children are near water - even bathtubs. All "beginner" and even experienced swimmers have the potential to panic. Swim lessons are one important aspect of promoting water safety and learning competitive strokes for your children.
In most cases, swim lessons represent one of the first opportunities for structured lessons in a child's life. Swimming with a stranger who is asking them to test their abilities can often trigger fears. When and if apprehension, anxiety, reluctance, and crying should occur, our INSTRUCTORS are well-trained and well-equipped to help aid their concerns. We know that structured environments are often difficult for young children to accept, as they are known to continually attempt to test their boundaries and exert their independence. Ultimately, in the instance where a resistance to lessons represents itself in the form of crying and/or verbal refusal to comply with the lessons, we want to confirm that there is a positive: they will get over it!
Much like taking a reluctant child to the doctor's office or dropping them off at their first day of school, parents must set the tone when they know what is best for their child. Giving in and telling a toddler, “you don't have to swim if you don't want to” sets the stage for a child who is being given too much control. Most parents wouldn't tell their child, “ you don't have to let the doctor give you that immunization shot if you don't want to” or “you don't have to go to school (do your homework, read, etc.) if you don't want to.” The same approach works here.
So how do you, as a parent, handle a child who cries? Be firm, yet supportive. Let them know that you are proud of them, yet let them know that they need to stay in the pool and listen to their teacher. This experience tests parents. This is your time to focus on the positive and for you, as the parent, to instill confidence. Trust us: your child is fine, a little crying does not mean they hate swimming, they will not be traumatized by a few uncomfortable moments of anxiety.
Have Fun! - Your child's main mode of learning is play. Play teaches infants and toddlers that the water is fun!
Relax! - Do not compare children, every child is different and progresses at their own pace. Communicate what we are doing. Positive Phrasing: Instead of asking, "do you want to..." because the answer is inevitably NO, we recommend to use phrases such as "now we are going to do...". Allow your child to explore and be independent.
Like any athletic, musical, or educational endeavor, you will get out of it what you put into it. It takes several occasions combining near-perfect practice, repeated drills, and overall exposure to swimming before children learn to swim.
How long will it take for them to learn? That's a difficult question to answer. It depends on several factors:
• The student's prior experience with swimming.
• The level of apprehension and anxiety (stranger and separation anxieties).
• The level of comprehension (understanding the task and executing it).
• Too much exposure elsewhere (ie. picking up undesirable habits).
• Expectations – what does the parent/adult want the student to get from the experience? Fun? Comfort? Water safety? Preparation for swim team?
Swim lessons are a commitment. Before signing up, you should be aware of that. Children will not learn to swim overnight, especially given the fact that they will only be learning and efficiently practicing for approximately 1 hour per week. Some students learn more quickly than others, some retain their skills longer than others. If you are looking for a young child to be able to dive in, swim twenty feet, take a breath, float on their backs, etc. that will take time. Again, we do our best to maximize a student's potential at each lesson. Our instructors can give you a solid assessment and approximate determinations and timelines after working with your child.
Often times, students struggle to learn to swim as they increase in age. Four to seven year-old children may experience more anxiety because they will mentally process their situation more comprehensively, whereas a younger child may tend to be more “carefree”. This is yet another reason why starting classes at any early age is beneficial.
The descriptions below are vague outlines of how a child may progress through our program. Again, children learn at their own rate. Consistency with lessons is the best way to achieve the desired result.
INFANTS (6 months – 18 months): A parent is needed to assist the instruction while the infant learns to swim. In basic terms, the instructor uses a soft touch and repetitive motions when teaching. The goal is to have the infant floating on his/her belly, face in the water, eyes open, while working on breath-control and lung development. Gradually, the distance of the float increases and the instructor works on having the infant pick up toys underwater (which gives them a focal point, encourages them to hold their breath longer and provides them an opportunity to develop hand-eye coordination). Eventually, the baby will be able to perform an assisted dive, pick up toys off the floor of the pool, and work on using their arms to help propel them through the water.
TODDLERS (18 months – 3 years): Similar to infants, toddlers start off with floating, eyes open, picking up toys, and sit-diving. Once students are able to swim with their arms from one point to another and “dig” a sizeable distance (15-20 feet), they are taught how to look up for a breath so they can continue swimming a further distance. Finally, kicking and backstroke are introduced. Kicking is taught after a prone glide and digs are mastered because most young children merely “run” in the water and end up in a vertical position, which does not really qualify as swimming. Drills such as diving in and swimming back to the starting point are practiced regularly.
CHILD (3 years and up): Child classes are run quite similarly to toddler classes. The foundation is relaxed floating; using their arms, followed by breathing, kicking, and back-floats. Children will then learn the crawl stroke or freestyle, side-breathing, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. Our instructors focus heavily on teaching an efficient technique so that children will be ready to join a swim team, if that is the goal.
ADULT CLASSES: Adult classes follow the same steps as child classes. There's times when swim fins are used to help adults stabilize floating. The goals are relaxed, fluid, effortless swimming and overall comfort and enjoyment in an aquatic environment.
Learning to swim in a relaxed and effortless manner is the most beneficial and logical path to water safety. While our approach is similar to many programs that teach children “safety drills,” like rolling over onto their backs or kicking their legs to get to the nearest side of the pool, our methodology is quite different. We want all of our students, regardless of age, to feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy their aquatic experiences. We teach relaxation, first and foremost. A student who is relaxed will be buoyant, a student who is buoyant, will learn to swim. Ultimately, the goal is to teach students how to hold their breath, use their arms to get from point A to point B, take an effortless breath, and continue swimming. Stamina is critical. A frantic, choppy stroke is the antithesis of our program; we want our students to be relaxed. We encourage children to float with their faces in the water, eyes open, in a prone glide. Kicking will develop once arm-strokes and breathing are routine. Regardless of a student's age, we realize there is a fine line between forcing a student to do too much and encouraging them to maximize their potential. While we would never want to force them or cause fear, we find that trying more and more advanced steps at each lesson will nullify their anxiety and build their confidence. We pride ourselves on supreme technique with all of our instruction, as a mechanically-sound stroke is the most valuable tool in aquatic life-saving.
The statistics on infant and child drownings are staggering. Obviously, children are curious about their surroundings, including pools, Jacuzzis, lakes, etc., whether shallow or deep. This is especially true in sunny Central Texas , near the lake, and our water-sports prioritized agendas where most drownings occur. Children can start becoming accustomed to the water at a very young age. Gentle, repetitive motions in a warm water environment seem quite natural to infants and they can, in fact, learn the basics of swimming during the earliest stages of life. It is critical that the approach to teaching is gentle and fluid.
Many children and adults believe that they can swim; but do they swim well? Are they relaxed or panicked? Are they enjoying having their face in the water or are they rushing to wipe it dry as soon as possible? While many people “could survive in a pool or the ocean if necessary” they may not truly feel or look like swimmers. We believe very strongly that people should be “at one” with the water; they should be confident, fluid, and energy-efficient. Relaxation in water leads to a higher level of comfort and the ability to stay buoyant longer and alive indefinitely.
We instruct ages 6 months through adults.
Our pool has warm water, which creates a very relaxing, enjoyable teaching and learning atmosphere. A cold pool usually results in frigid, shivering students who, in turn, will not be relaxed when it's time to swim. A warm, relaxed environment lends itself to a comfortable and fluid swimmer.
All children under the age of 2 must have an adult in the pool with them. All children under the age of 4, even if they are potty trained, must wear two, snug-fitting, non-disposable swim diapers or swim pants.
Go to all your classes! Remember that each class builds upon the skills that are learned in
the previous class, so continuity is a key to your child learning all of the skills taught in the
class.
Communicate with your instructor! They have answers to almost all the questions you have.
But remember, they cannot help you unless you ask them. They are always willing to help
you!
Have your child communicate with the instructor as well.
Arrive at class 10-15 minutes early. This will ensure that the class will start on time, the
instructor will not have to go back over material already taught, and also that you and your
child will feel relaxed and not rushed. Arriving late will disrupt the class.
Observe your child's classes and practice the skills taught in class at home on off days. This
way, your child will be ready to learn new skills for the next class. Remember, what you put
into the class is what you will get out of it!
Be your child's biggest fan! Giving praise when they do something well encourages positive
reinforcement.
Try venturing to new pools. This enables your child to see other children swimming, and
helps to curb any fears they may have about swimming in strange places.
If your child starts to cry or get upset, it may be best to observe the class from a point out
of sight. It may be difficult at first, but they will soon adjust.
Once the session is complete, don't just stop! Enroll your child into the next session, so that they can continue the ongoing process of learning to swim.
If you plan to feed your child within an hour before class, remember to stick to the
B.R.A.T. Diet (bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast). No dairy or citrus products!
1. Physical Development - learning to swim at an early age not only increases their
physical development but also but their power of concentration & coordination.
2. Make new friends – Community Pools are a great place for kids to make friends and
develop social skills. Swimming is also a skill that they can have in common with other children.
3. Builds self esteem - Being able to do something well builds children's self-confidence & self esteem.
4. Summer time blues - a visit to the pool takes kids out of the house and relieves
summer boredom.
5. Heat relief - kids get cooled off from the hot Austin sun and Mom's stress gets melted
away.
6. Inexpensive - Swimming is an inexpensive, lifelong skill and enjoyable pastime for the whole family.
7. Safe place for fun - Swimming in a supervised area allows you to easily keep your eyes on your children.
8. Sleep aid - after swimming in the afternoons, kids eat better and sleep earlier and sounder.
9. Peace of mind - Knowing that your child is a strong swimmer gives you some peace of
mind when your child visits a friends house to swim.
10. New Adventures - now that they swim well, this opens the door to other water sports such as snorkeling, waterskiing, swim teams, and scuba diving. This strong foundation assures that they will do well.