General FAQs
Why should my child take swimming lessons year-round?
We believe that swim lessons should be offered year-round as we want to ensure every child is water safe, keeping physically active and improving their swimming skills. Consistency is key and if there are large gaps in between lessons, we tend to notice that children regress more.
How frequently should I book swim lessons for my children?
Most students will progress at a faster rate with a higher number of swim lessons weekly. Ideally at least 1 lesson per week, and we strongly recommend intensives during school breaks or when possible.
What is the right age for my child to start swimming lessons?
We have 3 main aims for swimming lessons: ensuring that your little one gets to know the instructor, that they learn our routine, and that they learn to love the water. With those 3 goals we notice that they progress quicker with Sky Blue Aquatics. There is no right or wrong answer for when babies/children should start lessons - it is solely dependent on you. There are lots of positive benefits that come from lessons: overall physical, cognitive and personal development, a knowledge of water safety and creating positive memories of water from a young age. We encourage all parents (especially with access to pools) to introduce their little ones to formal swimming lessons from a young age - we take babies from 3 months old.
How long will it take for my child to learn how to swim?
It is important to understand that each child is different when learning to swim. Your instructor will have a better idea about how many lessons it may take for your child to achieve a certain goal. We encourage that you do not focus on a fixed goal of ‘being able to swim’ but actually encourage and acknowledge the small achievements your child will make each lesson!
My child was progressing well but has hit a plateau. What should I do?
Most children do plateau in swimming, this occurs when their ability exceeds their comprehension. However this does not mean they are not learning, they observe and process... and when we reintroduce the task at a later stage - it clicks immediately. If you feel like your child is plateauing, do inform your instructor so we can work together.
Booking FAQs
How do I register for lessons?
You can click one of our ‘enquire’ buttons to register your interest, alternatively you can give us a call or drop us an email!
Can I book a trial swim lesson?
All of our lessons are trials, we do not require you to pay or book in advance. We want you to be completely satisfied, so communication after your first lesson is essential. We also recommend that you try at least 2-3 lessons to acclimate to the teacher and routine. If for some reason you do not feel like the lesson is the right fit for your child, please contact the office and we will come up with some alternative options.
What is your cancellation policy?
24 hour notice is required for all cancellations. Cancellations of less than 24 hours will be charged in full. Due to the busy schedules of our instructors, “make-up lessons” at a different time cannot not be offered. Should you or your child become ill within the 24 hour notice period, please contact your instructor ASAP so they can reschedule their day. Since the instructors are mobile, if a lesson is accidentally forgotten, the instructor will wait 15 minutes at your location and try to contact you, then proceed to their next lesson. This will result in full charge. Lastly, it is much appreciated when advanced notice is provided of family holidays so your instructor can try to fill the time-slot while you’re away. We would also like a 2 week notice if you are wanting to cancel lessons permanently, this allows us to have ample time to fill the slot.
Are there any holiday dates where there is no swimming lessons?
Each instructor will vary on their holiday dates, however we take most bank holidays off. Please confirm with your instructor.
How do I pay for lessons?
A monthly statement will be sent via email on or before the 5th of each month, the balance is due upon receipt. We do accept cash and checks, but prefer online bank transfers through Butterfield Bank. Sky Blue Aquatics is listed in the “payee” drop down menu as, “Sky Blue Limited T/A Sky Blue Aquatics”. Please email if you make a transfer so we can confirm and register the payment. Please make checks payable to “Sky Blue Aquatics”. You may give cash or checks to your instructor at the lesson. If you do not bank with Butterfield but wish to do an online transfer, please contact the office.
Please try to make one payment each month, not at every lesson if possible. All payments that are more than 30 days late (past the statement date) will incur a CI$25.00 late fee every 30 days until the invoice is settled.
What if my child doesn’t click with our swim instructor?
We want to ensure that each child has the best chance to learn to swim and to create a bond with their instructor. If for whatever reason you feel like your instructor is not the one for you, please contact the office and we will be more than happy to try to resolve the problem. While each instructor is qualified and has experience, we are aware they all have different personalities and teaching styles so can try to offer you a different instructor that may be more suited to your needs.
Lesson FAQs
What if I have kids of different ages and levels?
As we are a mobile swim school, we are able to customise our lessons to fit your needs. Our instructors are highly experienced in adapting lessons for children of different levels.
Are your instructors qualified to teach swimming lessons?
We have an extensive process for hiring elite staff, all of our instructors have chosen swim teaching as their career and not just as a part time job. We require a minimum of 5 years experience, as well as an internationally recognised swim teacher certification.
How long are the swimming lessons?
Our standard lesson is 30 minutes long however we are able to split or extend the timing, and pro-rate the cost to fit your needs.
Baby / Toddler FAQs
What age can my baby begin swimming lessons?
We advise that you consult with your pediatrician before enrolling if your baby is under 6 months old. We take babies from 3 months old, however feel free to call us if you're not sure when to start lessons for your little one!
Does it have to be a parent in the water with the swimmer?
For parent and baby group lessons, a caregiver is required to be in the water. Whether it's a parent, grandparent, auntie, uncle or nanny, ideally it will be the same person constantly as they will be learning a lot too. We highly advise caregivers to be confident swimmers as we want to create a positive environment in the pool.
What are the benefits of baby swimming?
We encourage development through the five areas of development: physical, cognitive, emotional and social, language, and sensory and motor skills. Please see our baby/toddler service page for more information.
When should I feed my baby/child?
An ideal time to feed your baby is an hour before lessons begin to allow them to digest. We would rather work around your little ones feeding and nap times, so please let us know if they change and we need to alter the time.
What should my baby wear?
We require your little one to wear a swim diaper as well as an outer layer. This double layer of protection will minimise the risk of a “code brown” in the pool and will ensure that you and everyone else in the class has a positive, productive lesson. Due to the intense sun, UV protective swim shirts are highly recommended. For the cooler months we are more than happy to point you in the direction of baby/toddler wetsuits if needed.
When will I know when my child is ready to go out of 'parent and me' classes?
Your instructor will be the best person to let you know when the time is right to change the class style. Our goal at Sky Blue Aquatics is to get the caregiver out of the water as soon as possible as children tend to learn quicker on their own. We are looking to see your little one participating by themselves, being able to complete certain tasks independently, as well as being able to listen well. The next step is for private or semi-privates, if you feel like your child is ready to do so, please contact the office or let your instructor know.