Swim Basics

Whether a Beginner or Intermediate, Swim Basics is designed to take you to the next level of swim technique.

At Dallas Aquatic Masters our goal is to get you swimming in a safe and fun environment.  Our teaching philosophy is that you need to learn to be comfortable in the water and then learn to swim. You might think that if you're not comfortable in water or deep water now, learning the freestyle will make you comfortable and safe, but any attempts to learn freestyle without being comfortable will take "forever," be frustrating, and will eventually produce a freestyle that's stiff, lacks coordination and ease, and is prone to injury.

How long does it take for the average adult to learn to swim?
The average adult with no fear of the water will take approximately 20 hours of swimming lessons before he/she can comfortably and confidently swim 25 yards freestyle. Adults who are afraid of the water or deep water will take longer. The key is always being in control and going at your own pace.

Read what other are saying about the Beginning Swimming course:
“ Driving home from our last class I had tears in my eyes. Fear of water was gone. My tears were not tears of sadness for the loss of fear. My tears were for what I had accomplished, what I had experienced, and the journey I had successfully navigated. I seemed to be in some magical place, buzzing with new found abilities and perspectives. Some part of the experience was just beyond the grasp of my mental capacities. I gave up trying to understand. I let my spirit and body enjoy the vibrations of the mystery.

Later that afternoon, my wife and I went to a party at an acquaintance's house to celebrate the graduation from high school of their two daughters. I had never been in their back yard. As I walked out to the backyard, I saw their pool. In the past I would have approached a pool and checked for steps, ladders, where the shallow part ends and the dreaded deep begins, and the location of ladders. I would also have experienced a certain amount of tenseness as I approached the pool and thought about it.

This time my first thought was, "It's too small." Can you imagine? It's too small! I stood and looked calmly at the pool and thought, "Sorry, but you're not big enough for me to enjoy.""

- Tim from Arlington

Registration: Register online

Not sure what class you should be in? Take the Swimming Quiz to find out.

Beginning Swimming I Class

The goal of this class is to attain complete confidence and comfort swimming for as long as you wish. Going at your own pace, you can reach full freedom in the shallow and deep water. You will no longer be overly concerned if someone bumps into you, you run out of air or you become tired. Classes are taught by licensed TSI Instructors.

Three class options for the Beginner level:

Introductory Swim Class - a 3 hour class that meets on the weekends.  Sample what it means to be truly comfortable in the water. Begin the journey of swimming safely and comfortably, with confidence and ease.  We guarantee that you will have more confidence and comfort in your swimming ability or your money back!
Cost - $75.00

Beginning Swimming I Class - 8  one and half hour sessions - a total of 12 hours of instruction.  Class size limited to 4 students per instructor.
Cost - $269.00

Beginning Swimming I Weekend Class - 4 three hour classes - a total of 12 hours of instruction on a 4-day weekend. One hour is spent in the classroom and two hours in the warm water 90 degree pool. Class size limited to 4 students per instructor.  
Cost: $269.00

What You Will Learn in Beginning Swimming I:

• to be at ease and calm in water: always be comfortable
• to be in control in the water
• To prevent panic
• To put your face in water HAPPILY
• To float in water on front and back and to "unfloat" (stand up)
• To move from here to there in the water
• To turn around
• To jump in
• To let the deep water hold you up
• To prevent sinking or to feel fine if you sink, because you're in control
• To get air
• To jump into the deep if you're ready

Beginning Swimming II Class

This next step class is a continuation of the Beginning Swimming I Class. The purpose of Beginning Swimming II is to bring you the rest of the way to freedom in deep water. Everyone goes as his/her own pace.  

Pre-requisite - Beginning Swimming I Class.
Cost: $269

Freestyle Class

Once you're comfortable and feel safe in deep water, then you will be able to learn freestyle, be safe, and enjoy it. The Freestyle class teaches the sequence of steps needed to put together a whole freestyle: balance, streamlining, kick, propulsion, and breathing at your own pace. Learn turns, drills, lap swimming etiquette, how to read a pace clock and ways to make lap swimming fun.

Pre-requisite - Beginning Swimming Classes II or know you're safe in deep water. Safe in deep water means you can rest comfortably in the deep end of the pool for as long as you want.
Cost: $160

Intermediate Class

The Intermediate class builds on the confidence you learned in the previous classes. Boost your freestyle, learn other strokes, explore new training techniques and build endurance!  Learn to swim 100 yard freestyle repeats without stopping. Handle short-rest swim sets. Learn advanced freestyle stroke techniques to prepare to participate in masters swimming, open water, and triathlon events.  

Pre-requisite - Freestyle Class or be able to swim 50 yards comfortably without stopping. 
Cost: $160

Not sure what class you should be in? Take the Swimming Quiz to find out.

All classes are held monthly year round.
You may Register online or call the office at 214.219.2300.
Please see Pools for directions and map to pools.

Meet your Swim Basics Coaches

Jim Montgomery

Liana McStravick

John Thorburn

Patti Monzingo