Aquatics

SAFE SWIMMING SAVES LIVES – AND IT’S FUN TOO! 

Through swim lessons the YMCA of the Cayman Islands provides a safe and fun environment for beginner to advanced swimmers. Our progressive swim lesson programme ensures an efficient and fulfilling lesson, maximising the learning potential in every session. Participants can progress through six stages of classes as they learn to swim, work to refine strokes, and advance their water skills.

LEARN TO SWIM DETAILS

Who: Child, Youth & Adults ages 4 and above

What: 1-Week Swim Intensives (4/5 consecutive lessons, 30-45mins in length)

Where: Lions Pool, Camana Bay Sports Complex and various locations island-wide

When: Summer & Holiday Breaks

Registration: online via the YStore (click “YSTORE” button below to see an up-to-date listing of all Y programmes and services)!

Contact: 916-8587 / aquatics@ymcacayman.ky

KEY STAGES

Stage 1 Water Acclimation

Skills Practiced

• Bob to submerge in water
• Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help
• Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
• Roll from back to front and front to back with help
• Jump, push, turn, grab with help
• Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
• Exit the water

Participants develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

Stage 2 Water Movement

Qualifications

Participants must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills as follows:

• Go underwater and comfortably open eyes without goggles
• Float on front and back with minimal assistance
• Jump into the pool, submerge, and return to the wall with assistance
• This class is for participants who are not able to do a front and back float on their own.

Participants focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water, while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into water.

Stage 3 Water Stamina

Qualifications

Participants must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills as follows:

• Float on front and back unassisted
• Push off the wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted
• Swim, float, swim 15 feet unassisted
• Jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted
• This class is for kids who are not able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back.

Participants learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action.

Stage 4 Stroke Introduction

Qualifications

Participants must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills as follows:

• Submerge and retrieve an object in chest-deep water
• Swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath
• Swim, float, swim 15 yards
• Jump in and tread water for 30 seconds
• Swim to wall and exit
• This class is for kids who are not able to swim 15 yards of front and back crawl.Dive from a sitting position

Having mastered the fundamentals, participants learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.

Stage 5 Stroke Development 

Qualifications

Participants must be able to demonstrate all Stage 4 skills as follows:

• Front crawl and back crawl 25 yards
• Swim breaststroke kick and dolphin kick 15 yards
• Tread water using multiple kicks for 1 minute
• This class is for kids who are not able to swim the front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool.

Participants work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive swimming strokes.

Stage 6 Stroke Mechanics

Qualifications

Participants must be able to demonstrate all Stage 5 skills as follows:

• Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
• Swim back crawl with stroke rotation for 25 yards
• Swim butterfly with over arm recovery
• Swim breaststroke for 25 yards achieving stroke rhythm
• Dive from kneeling position
• This class is for kids who are not able to swim the front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool and back.

Participants refine stroke technique on the major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.