Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Alva Swimming School

    4.7 (66 reviews)
    Closed 2:00 pm - 6:30 PM

    Services - Alva Swimming School

    Alva Swimming School Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Alva Swimming School

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Rita L.

    Little future swimmer! Thank you to teaching my babies to swim! Love all the coaches, they are amazing patient!!

    See all

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cathy Z.
    211
    136
    126

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of H Y.
    1
    271
    6

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ashley T.
    398
    23
    8

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ling S.
    50
    13
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tim W.
    3
    5
    12

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of CK F.
    1
    12
    5

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Alva C.

    Alva C.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rita L.
    59
    138
    500

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Will S.
    369
    131
    71

    9 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Michael Q.
    253
    62
    257

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Sam A.
    75
    44
    135

    4 years ago

    This place has a very poor communication and the instructor is not knowledgeable I would not recommend anyone taking them to this place

    Business owner information

    Photo of Alva C.

    Alva C.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Grace C.
    125
    75
    7

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Grace E.
    117
    43
    6

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lily Y.
    2
    40
    36

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nina Z.
    14
    11
    1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Darcy M.
    2
    206
    44

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Alva Swimming School Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Alva Swimming School

    Hello! Are you still accepting students? I'd like to sign up my 5 and 3 year olds for lessons. Thanks!

    Hi, As of right now, we are all booked. If you would like to be on our wait- list, please text us your name, student age and availability to do lessons. Thank you!

    Hi, I am interested in signing my 8 yr old and my 6 year old for class, what is a good way to contact you?

    Hi, Please text us at 626-538-7976. Hope to see you guys soon.

    Is the listed phone number still valid? I called few times from different times and nobody answered the phone. I also left voicemails. I am confused.

    Hi we are sorry for the late reply. Please contact us if you still interested in swimming lessons.

    Do you guys come to our pool for a private lesson? Or only at your facility

    Thank you for your interested in our swimming school. We don’t travel locations. You would need to come to our location. We use a residential pool in Arcadia. Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a good day!

    May I ask is this a heated pool?

    Yes, it's a heated pool.

    Whats the youngest that can take a class?

    Hi Jimmy! The student needs to be 18months or older to do private 1-1 swimming lesson.

    View All 12 Questions

    Review Highlights - Alva Swimming School

    In addition, coach Alva and Julian corrected my FreeStyle, and Breast Stroke form to be a lot more efficient.

    Mentioned in 18 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Swimming Lessons/Schools 5,743 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Waterworks Swim School Arcadia

    Waterworks Swim School Arcadia

    4.6
    (37 reviews)
    3.0 km

    We started swim classes in September of last year, but over the first several months there was…read moreminimal progress. Our child is particularly sensitive and anxious in the water, and likely needed a more tailored, confidence-based approach. We made an effort to encourage her to push through and stay consistent with the program. However, during that time her discomfort increased, and she became more resistant to participating in lessons--to the point where we were close to discontinuing classes altogether. We later had two or three makeup sessions with Stephanie, during which we observed clear and immediate improvement. After switching our regular schedule to a more suitable day for us and having Stephanie as the permanent instructor, the progress accelerated significantly. In less than a month, our child became noticeably more comfortable in the water. She no longer shows the same level of fear. This is not a reflection on the previous instructor's ability, but rather a difference in fit and teaching approach. The connection and method used by Stephanie have proven to be more effective for our child's needs. There was a recent comment from staff noting that our child does not meet Level 3 criteria. While we understand that evaluations follow established standards, our primary goal is water safety, confidence, and functional swimming ability. From that perspective, the progress made in the past month is substantial and meaningful, especially compared to the prior seven months, and it's largely thanks to Stephanie. Overall, we value the measurable improvement in our child's comfort and capability in the water.

    We're so grateful for Instructor Stephanie! She is so patient with my son and made every lesson…read morefun and encouraging. Even with just 1x/week lessons, she helped him gain confidence in the water and become water safe so quickly. Highly recommend Stephanie to any parent looking for a skilled, encouraging, and kind swim teacher!

    Photos
    Waterworks Swim School Arcadia
    Waterworks Swim School Arcadia
    Waterworks Swim School Arcadia

    See all

    Blake Swim School

    Blake Swim School

    4.0
    (110 reviews)
    2.7 km

    We started here in January and my girls have tried all the instructors at the Monrovia location,…read moreand I can say in confidence that the male instructors here on Thursdays are so amazing. You can pay extra to stick with one, but my girls love them all! The pool is indoors, warm, and the instructors are super patient. They know how to push the kids to improve, yet still be kind at the same time. We took a few classes at Waterworks before and they couldn't swim independently whatsoever. However, after just 3 classes here, my girls are swimming with such confidence! Biggest, biggest downside (for the 1 star down) is the admin side. The main girl in the front is so disorganized. We were told we could use one account for both kids (not true), and scheduling gets mixed up. Had to go back and forth to get even one make-up class because we were not informed to download their app. I had the biggest headache communicating with her by phone and text. Nevertheless, still highly recommend for beginners... just make sure to download their app and stay on top of your account!

    FIND A DIFFERENT SCHOOL…read more Honestly, I'm very disappointed with how Blake Swim School treats its families. Two weeks ago, we showed up for my child's swim lesson only to find out that our instructor, Sebastian, was on vacation. No one notified us ahead of time. We drove all the way from San Gabriel to Monrovia only to discover there was no lesson. That was a complete waste of our time and could have easily been avoided with a simple email, text, or phone call. What frustrated me even more was being told we were just supposed to wait until Sebastian returned from vacation. That shouldn't be the school's decision to make. Families should be given the option to reschedule with another instructor if their regular coach is unavailable. To make matters worse, when I requested to cancel my child's class, I was told they couldn't process such a simple request. The lack of communication and poor customer service is extremely disappointing. I understand that instructors take vacations, but keeping families informed and providing reasonable options is basic customer service. Unfortunately, that was not our experience.

    Photos
    Coaches
    Coaches
    Blake Swim School
    Blake Swim School

    See all

    Blake Swim School

    Blake Swim School

    4.3
    (58 reviews)
    9.3 km

    非常满意这家游泳馆!Blake校长非常专业很有耐心,会根据孩子的具体情况来调整教学方法,氛围也很轻松有趣,孩子每次上课都非常开心,进步也非常明显,环境非常整洁,工作人员服务态度也非常好,课程安排也很合…read more,值得推荐!! I'm very satisfied with this swimming pool! Principal Blake is very professional and patient. He will adjust the teaching method according to the specific situation of the child. The atmosphere is also very relaxed and interesting. The child is very happy in every class, and the progress is also very obvious. The environment is very clean, and the staff's service attitude is also very good. It is worth recommending!!

    We've been bringing our son, to Blake swim school for almost a year, and until now we had a good…read moreexperience. We were happy enough to refer several friends because we believed in the program. Unfortunately, our experience yesterday, Friday 7/31 completely changed my opinion. When we arrived for Blake's regular swim lesson yesterday, we were told that his time slot had been given to another child. No one called, emailed, or texted us to let us know. We showed up expecting his usual lesson only to find out that his spot was gone. When I asked why, I was told that my lesson package had expired. I had purchased a 20-lesson package, and I was never verbally informed that it expired after six months. The staff member simply said, "It's on the paperwork. You should have read it." I was never given that paper when I paired for that 20 lessons package. I'm not upset that the lessons expired, I understand businesses have policies. What upset me was that they took away my child's regular time slot without any notice or courtesy call. A simple phone call or email would have prevented us from wasting a trip and would have given us the opportunity to renew before losing our spot. The response I received made the situation even worse. I was told, "We're very busy. That's just how it works if you don't pay." After being a loyal customer for almost a year and referring multiple families, that level of customer service was incredibly disappointing. This experience made me feel like existing customers are no longer valued now that the school has grown. Policies are one thing, but treating customers with respect and communicating important changes should be a basic expectation. Sadly, because of how this situation was handled, I'll be taking my business elsewhere. I hope the school improves its communication and customer service so other families don't have the same experience. UPDATE: Thank you for taking the time to respond. I appreciate that the two expired lessons were restored. However, my concerns go beyond the lessons themselves. The app logged me out, my password no longer worked, and there was no option to reset it on my own. In the past, the previous staff member was always patient, helpful, and willing to assist with password issues. Unfortunately, my recent experience was completely different. The current staff member was rude and unprofessional. She demanded my phone and repeatedly raised her voice, saying three times that she wanted to see my password. She appeared frustrated by my questions instead of trying to help resolve the issue. I also still have concerns about the lesson expiration policy. I purchased a 20-lesson package, yet all 20 lessons expired after only six months. If the policy is that 10 lessons expire after six months, it doesn't make sense that a 20-lesson package would have the same six-month expiration period. I would appreciate a clear explanation of how that policy works. My goal in leaving this review is not simply to complain, but to encourage better customer service, clearer communication, and improvements to the app so other families don't have the same experience.

    Photos
    Blake swim school
    Blake swim school
    Blake Swim School
    Blake Swim School

    See all

    Waterworks Aquatics Pasadena

    Waterworks Aquatics Pasadena

    4.3
    (617 reviews)
    7.2 km

    This review is long overdue! I have been bringing my kiddo here for swim lessons for one year. He…read morestarted at 3 years old not particularly wanting to learn how to swim or even enjoying his time in the water but his coach Elysa was exceptionally kind, caring, nurturing & PATIENT & began to really get him comfortable in the water. After about 4 months of once a week semi-private lessons he began once or twice a week private lessons with the most wonderful coaches. Ashley Z. is so loving, upbeat & passionate about working with children, she really understands how to teach all types of learners & has also been so patient with my child's varying needs. We've also been able to recently swim with some other coaches that are remarkably able to determine exactly where he's at and push him just enough. Coaches Yudit, Nicholas & Avery, who we recently just met are all seriously rockstars! It's not just the swim coaches though, the entire facility feels like our home away from home. When we walk in the front desk tries their best to greet us & all families with warm hellos. The manager, Franklin (I hope I got his name correct) is quite possibly the kindest man you'll ever meet & truly feels like you could tell him anything & he'd try to help. The office manager, Vic (Victor) is also so kind, helpful & incredible, I could probably chat with him all day, he's got a heart of gold. We've also had wonderful help from CJ & Courtney at the front desk as well. The lead trainer to the coaches, Megan, is absolutely outstanding. She has been so positive & uplifting with my child she really deserves a special shoutout. She always takes the time to say hello & make a special connection with my kiddo & we feel so lucky to call her our friend. The main deck guard Lojo is AWESOME with the kids. He makes the free swim area safe while still allowing it to be the best part of our kids' day. He can somehow get the kids who are going a bit wild to get back in line a bit and behave safely, all with a big, friendly smile. He somehow even welcomes all the families to the pool as they walk in. Dahan (I don't know how to spell his name) is the kindest lifeguard ever but he's off to college soon; he'll be so missed, we're happy for him but sad to see him go! The center is inclusive & works really well with children that have special needs & are neurodivergent. Some facilities say they are inclusive but this place really is a gem in that arena & you feel how welcome you are as soon as you get started. It's magic for us & I hope we can continue to take lessons here throughout childhood. Thank you all for your commitment & dedication to teaching our children how to be safe in the water & make swimming fun! So grateful!

    Instructors are good until they're not. Had to ask the one instructor to stop tickling my kid in…read morethe water REPEATEDLY. Finally when it sunk in the third time, third lesson, he responded, "but that's how I get his attention..." From then on he would YELL at my 8 yr old son, lol. Secondly, they can cancel on you and make it into a makeup lesson when their own instructor cancels and then I'm blocked out from using that make up lesson unless I can use it right away. THEY are controlling this! And at $72/lesson....for 20 minutes. And now they are telling me Im losing three classes altogether unless I BUY more classes. These guys are not about the parents. Not about the kids. It's just a business. Ridiculous!

    Photos
    Waterworks Aquatics Pasadena
    Swimming pool with instructors and students
    Swimming pool with instructors and students
    Waterworks Aquatics Pasadena

    See all

    Swimphi Pasadena

    Swimphi Pasadena

    5.0
    (8 reviews)
    5.3 km

    I was looking for private adult swimming lessons and contacted Swimphi through the contact form on…read moretheir website. I got a call back within a day and was able to schedule lessons that same week, which I really appreciated! I love how they have all the information clearly laid out on the website so I know what to expect when I get there (even directions with pictures on how to get from parking lot to the pool, which was super neat)! I'm pretty much a beginner when it comes to swimming but my coach made sure I felt comfortable and safe in the water. My coach brought all the equipment needed for the lesson so it's super hassle-free. I was initially intimidated by the deeper end of the pool but my coach has always been very patient and encouraging and stayed right next to me the whole time to make sure I'm safe. I mentioned I was preparing for an upcoming trip since it will involve a lot of water activities and my coach really catered the lessons to my needs. I genuinely appreciate how patient my coach is, if I don't get a particular technique right away, we would try different variations and my coach would always remind me of the key points to remember. In the Pasadena location, it's an indoor pool that's heated and there are changing rooms available. Onsite parking in the lot is another plus! Highly recommend Swimphi to anyone looking for adult (or kids) swimming lessons in Pasadena!

    My kids have been attending swimming classes at this location for the past few months. We've had…read moresuch a great experience! Alex and Jade are amazing -- super patient, encouraging, and great with kids. They make lessons fun while still helping my kids build confidence and skills in the water. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Swimphi Adult Lessons
    Swimphi Adult Lessons
    Swimphi Triathlon Swimming
    Swimphi Triathlon Swimming
    Swimphi Pasadena Swimming Lessons

    See all

    Swimphi Pasadena Swimming Lessons
    Santa Anita Family YMCA

    Santa Anita Family YMCA

    3.2
    (77 reviews)
    3.8 km
    Budget friendly
    Not-for-profit

    The Y has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember - playing in their pools as a child,…read morethen getting my very first job ever at a local Y by my high school - worked as a lifeguard for the last 2 years of school - and as an adult trying to get fit again lol!! I've had memberships here off and on over the past 6 years - definitely my fave Y in the SGV!! Their pool is enormous!! I love to swim here - especially now with their new reservation system. They have 4 swim lanes available with room for 2 swimmers in each lane - and you make timed reservations via their app. Super easy to use and you can block out 30 minute increments as available in each lane with no limit to how long you want to swim. Upon check in, you'll receive a wristband with your times and lane numbers - so helpful in avoiding conflicts! This is far superior to their pre-pandemic process where lap swim was a free-for-all and insanely crowded - I couldn't ever get a lane which was one reason I stopped going. But that's all fixed now - I LOVE their new system! They also have a huge basketball gym, extensive weight room with nautilus machines and free weights, a ballroom/classroom, and a treadmill room that includes bikes, ellipticals and a stair master. They have weekly classes you can also sign up for - also very easy to do in their app. They don't have as many class offerings as they used to though - but I think they're all still trying to get things back up and running again from the pandemic. This location doesn't offer personal trainers yet - but I was told they will soon if there's enough interest. But your membership includes access to all the area YMCA locations and they offer PT services at the nearby Sierra Madre & South Pas locations. They have 3 locker rooms - one for men only, one for women only, and one for "families with small children". The one for families is limited to children under a certain age and nudity is forbidden. The other two include rules for children over a certain age (I think it was 12-13 but I can't remember) and nudity is allowed (showers and changing etc). The staff are all just awesome here - so helpful and friendly! Prices are very reasonable- especially compared to all the other gyms in the area - I've been shopping around for general gym services with a pool and personal trainer for several months now and the prices here beat all the others. They have tons of parking.

    Came to the SA YMCA for their winter basketball league for my kiddos…read more The league itself practices in Wilson Middle School in Pasadena. This YMCA is located in Monrovia. Weird name and location spread out. The league itself was decent. For our age group, we ref ourselves and they do not keep score. Jerseys cost $10. Decent starter league if you want your kids to try basketball.

    Photos
    Rise & Grind Yelpers!! Xoxoxo
    Rise & Grind Yelpers!! Xoxoxo
    Santa Anita Family YMCA
    Santa Anita Family YMCA

    See all

    Swim With Grace

    Swim With Grace

    5.0
    (7 reviews)
    10.3 km

    Grace is awesome!! She gave my 7 & 5 yr old private lessons summer of 2016. Prior to Grace, our…read moredaughters had years of lesson at Waterworks Irvine. We must have spent $1000+ but it did not work. 5yr old spent her lessons screaming and crying. It got very stressful and traumatic for ME! We also kept switching teachers at Waterworks...some were just not as good with kids. I've come to conclusion that places like Waterworks has a business model to keep you paying for lessons not necessarily getting your kids watersafe. Then we heard about Grace on the Irvine Mom Facebook board. I told her @ my 5 yr old. Immediately she CUSTOMIZED her teaching method and brought in toys. She is always smiling and calm with my daughters. And this is key with my 5 yr old who hated the pool. Grace also ask parents what the focus should be- swim safe or technique. Net net in just 2 months of private lessons- both girls love and ask to go to the pool. My 7 yr old can swim around by herself and my 5 yr old is no longer afraid. Plus Grace is super responsive with text & email, flexible with schedule changes. Other places are not. Only downside is I wish Grace had more Irvine hours. She splits her time her and San Gabriel Valley. I will definitely resume lessons with her the coming Spring.

    Fantastic swim teacher. She's patient and gives good feedback. A few lessons go a long way. I saw…read moreimprovement after just 1 lesson! Highly recommend. Book early - she gets booked up fast!

    Photos
    Happy swim kid students of Grace!
    Happy swim kid students of Grace!
    Swim With Grace
    Swim With Grace

    See all

    Alva Swimming School - swimminglessons - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...