I brought my 4-year-old son to Aqua Buddies for swim lessons. At first, everything seemed fine…read more During his initial lesson, he worked with one instructor and learned basic skills like blowing bubbles, which was a positive start. However, as we continued, each lesson was with a different instructor, and that lack of consistency made my son increasingly uncomfortable. At his age, familiarity matters, and it became clear he wasn't settling in the way I had hoped. What ultimately led me to write this review, though, was not the instructors--it was the customer service. My interactions with the scheduler/representative regarding scheduling, missed days, and invoices were unpleasant and rigid. There was very little kindness or willingness to work with me, and the communication felt cutthroat rather than supportive. Because of this inflexibility, my son essentially missed out on continued lessons. Instead of working with me as a parent trying to navigate life with two young kids and a disabled husband, I felt pushed out over a missed appointment. In retrospect, I now see how much that experience negatively impacted my son's relationship with the water. I'm writing this while watching my son thrive at Water Wings, where he is happy, confident, and excited to learn. Seeing the difference has made me realize just how behind he became due to how things were handled at Aqua Buddies. Thankfully, there are other options in this city. I truly wish Aqua Buddies placed more emphasis on compassion, flexibility, and customer service--especially when working with young children and families who may need understanding, not rigidity.

We had a great experience with Aqua Buddies. I found them on…read moreYelp when I was looking for a swim instructor to come to my home to teach a toddler some basic swim skills. We had a lovely instructor that was kind and patient. Unfortunately, our little one did not take to the lessons and we had to call it quits. Aqua Buddies were very understanding and offered a refund for the lessons we did not use. Next year when our little one is older, we will be calling again to set up lessons.

Last year, my kids did 1:1 swim lessons at LAVC and a private swim instructor with no success (lots…read moreof crying, not water confident, and didn't learn much). This year, my 2 kids ages 7 and 5 started attending Water Wings (they both attend the same lesson together) and within 1 month, they are not only water confident but they are doing AHHHMAZING and have actually learned how to swim IN ONE MONTH! I have been SO impressed with the quality of swim instructors here. Our instructor, Jake, has been so great with my kids and makes it so fun for them! He even used a slide today with water toys and I just love seeing the excitement in my kids' faces as they're learning! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Jake, you're the best!

My son successfully completed Parent & Me 1 and was moved into Parent & Me 2. During his fourth…read moreParent & Me 2 class, which unfortunately fell during his usual nap time but was the only class that fit our schedule, he was having a tough day. Instead of showing patience, the instructor's demeanor felt impatient and unwelcoming. She later asked whether he had taken Parent & Me 2 before. When I said yes, she replied, "Interesting" and said he was "not showing 2 skills" and suggested he may have been moved up too early or had regressed. Every toddler has off days, especially when they're tired, and we ultimately left class early because I felt my son was being judged rather than supported. I also don't think the Parent & Me group classes are worth the cost. A significant portion of the 30 minute class is spent waiting while each child takes turns with the instructor. The remaining activities are parent-led, with instructions often called out from across the pool, which can be really difficult to hear. Personally, I think parents would be better off teaching their children these basic skills on their own or investing in smaller group / private lessons if it's within their budget. The facility also feels overcrowded, with multiple classes sharing a small pool and frequent waits for the showers and changing rooms. We canceled our membership after two months. The one bright spot was Kenverley, our Parent & Me 1 instructor. She was incredibly patient, kind, and encouraging, especially on days when my son had cried. She made us feel supported, and I truly appreciated the care she showed my son. Honestly, if it weren't for her, we probably would have canceled sooner. The difference in experience between Parent & Me 1 and Parent & Me 2 was striking.

Anna at Hall Swim Academy is an excellent teacher…read more Two years ago, my son (who was 7 at the time) was going to another swim school and was doing ok but advancing slowly. As part of that school's safety training, they threw him in the water wearing street clothes. He was doing ok for about 30 seconds but then panicked and started to sink so one of the teachers had to jump in and pull him out. (It was partially my fault since I mistakenly had him wear long pants that absorbed water). Anyhow, he freaked out and got very scared. We continued to go to that school for several more weeks but he stagnated with his training and the teacher became frustrated and tried to push him too hard so he had a melt down. Fast forward two years, I started taking him to the Hall Swim Academy west LA location about 2 months ago and he started trying again to learn how to swim with Anna. Anna is extremely kind and patient with kids. She demonstrates what she wants him to do and corrects mistakes in his floating and swim strokes and has him repeat as necessary. She is able to recognize how much to push and when to give him more space and repeats instructions as necessary. He loves going to swim class with Anna and is motivated to learn so he can swim with his friends at summer camp. Yesterday, he had two major breakthroughs. He spent most of the class in the pool without wearing goggles which he previously refused to do. Then, on his own, he decided he wanted to try the swim test. So, he put on street clothes over his swim suit, jumped in the water, floated on his back for 20 seconds and then easily swam to the side of the pool and climbed out on his own. He was so proud of himself for overcoming his fear and is now looking forward to his next class with Anna. I am very grateful to Anna for her kindness, professionalism, excellent teaching skills and being such a good motivator. Thank you!!

Barbara and her team, in our case, Coach Anna, have been great teachers. The personal approach and…read morecare they take with the kids is wonderful. We've been with them for almost 2.5 years and our kiddo, who's now 7, went from zero swimming ability, to swimming across the pool, in both directions, in multiple styles! Our kiddo is always excited to go to his lessons, and his confidence in the pool, and our comfort as parents with him in the water, is a direct result of everything he's taken from his lessons here. Highly recommend!

I have just began my membership journey with the Y in May but have been blown away by all the…read morecommunity oriented resources and kids classes for my kiddos. I've thankfully been able to get back to working out with the help of the kids classes and their child care center. My kids have grown to love the staff, it's been truly welcoming in that regard. I would also like to shoutout Jazmine at the front desk. She was able to talk me into signing up for a membership and swim lessons for my two boys. I was honestly all over the place when I came into their gym, hadn't done much research. But after a quick tour and conversation with Jazmine turned things around. Make sure to work with her if you ever get logged out of your account. I've embarrassingly enough have needed to change my password thrice. But yes overall 5 stars, I'm glad to have such a nice establishment in my area. The gym itself is nice, good equipment and cold. The other customers seem to understand gym etiquette. The last service I will recommend is their free food program. As a single mother of two I will gladly accept assistance. Again thankfully to the conversation with Jasmin, she was able to sign me up.

My three children have attended YMCA sleepaway camp for the past three years, and until this year,…read morewe had always had a positive experience. This week, my daughter developed pink eye. Around 10:00 a.m., the camp contacted me, took her to Big Bear Urgent Care, and kept me informed throughout the medical visit. She was diagnosed with bacterial conjunctivitis and prescribed antibiotic eye drops. I appreciated the prompt medical attention and communication. Later that afternoon, I was informed that I needed to drive to camp to pick her up. As a Public Health Nurse, I understand the importance of infection control and protecting other campers. What deeply upset me was not the decision to send her home--it was how she says she was treated while waiting for me. When I arrived at 7 pm after a three-hour drive, my daughter was in tears. She told me she had been isolated since the night before in a single cabin room by herself, with the door kept closed. (So that was approximately 23 hours? An 11 yrs old girl isolated for, well minus 3 hrs for urgent care lets say, 20 hours?) She said she wasn't allowed or offered to participate in even solo activities and had very little interaction with anyone. When she went to the restroom, she overheard staff whispered to other staff, "Be careful, she might touch everything, just spray the bathroom." She also stated that her meals were taken into her single cabin room, placed far away from her, so the Camp Director who brought it in wouldn't be too close to her (even though its bacterial infection and spread through direct contact- it was NOT an airborne or droplet precautions), making her feel like people were afraid to come near her. She told me she felt like she was "in prison." Whether every detail happened exactly as she perceived it or not, that was her experience, and no child should leave camp feeling frightened, ashamed, or treated like they are less than a person because they became ill. I fully support reasonable precautions for contagious illnesses. However, children also deserve COMPASSION, REASSURANCE, and human KINDNESS while waiting for their parents to arrive. Especially from the Camp Director. We have loved YMCA sleepaway camp for years, which makes this experience especially disappointing. I hope the camp reviews how children in medical isolation are cared for and trains staff to balance infection control with empathy. Unfortunately, after this experience, our family will not be returning.

I learned how to truly swim during my very first session with Yusuf. For context, I took swimming…read morelessons as a child, but I never developed the confidence or skills needed to swim safely and efficiently. After just two sessions, I am still blown away by the progress I've made. I also have very long, thick locs and was concerned about how swimming lessons would affect my hair. Yusuf recommended a swim cap, and to my surprise, my hair has been completely dry after every lesson. I honestly didn't think that was possible! His prices are very reasonable and affordable--truly a worthwhile investment in myself. Scheduling is easy and flexible, and Yusuf is patient and supportive during each lesson. I'm so glad I found this in the Valley and highly recommend Yusuf to anyone looking to build real skills and confidence in the water.

Noah is an excellent swim coach, providing demonstrations and adjustments as needed. He is…read moreresponsive and suggested several pools we could meet at. Outside of the in person lessons, he's provided detail swim plans to practice technique. 10/10 would recommend HQ Swim Lessons!

We signed our 2-year-old up for Swim Day with Jay, half expecting the usual toddler-in-water chaos:…read moretears, clinging, a lot of "maybe next week." Instead we got a kid who now sprints toward the pool yelling "SWIM! SWIM!" before we've even parked. What sets Jay and the team apart is the energy. Every splash gets celebrated, every tiny kick gets a cheer, and somehow all that enthusiasm is wrapped in real patience. And the progression has genuinely surprised us. In a handful of weeks, she's gone from a death grip on my neck, to blowing bubbles, kicking, immersing her head underwater, holding onto the pool noodle, and climbing out of the pool on her own. They break big skills into little wins a two-year-old can actually feel proud of, and it shows. The best part isn't even the swimming, though. It's that she's fallen head over heels in love with the water. Bath time, puddles, the ocean, she's fearless now, and I credit the confidence this class built. If you've got a little one and you're on the fence, go with Jay's stellar swim teachers who are kind, energetic, and clearly love what they do.

My son absolutely LOVES his swim classes at Coach Jay's! Beyond the excellent instruction, the…read morefacility is incredibly family-friendly. There's always plenty of parking, easy-to-access dressing rooms, a waiting area with toys, and a beautiful pool that's kept at the perfect temperature. As a parent, I especially appreciate that the pool is well shaded. My son is 3 years old and had no prior swim experience. After just one month of lessons, we went swimming over the weekend and I was amazed by his progress. He was confidently climbing in and out of the pool, treading water, blowing bubbles, and even jumping into the pool on his own. A month ago, he wouldn't even put a toe in the water! I truly can't say enough good things about Coach Jay's. The progress, confidence, and excitement my son has gained have been incredible to see. Worth every penny!

I am forever grateful for the wonderful years that I spent at swimming tiger. Swimming tiger…read moreinstilled the spirit of learning while having fun. I recommend the swimming tiger class as a way to develop youth in a positive manner. As a nurse, I was impressed with the results and professionalism.

We've had such an amazing experience with Stew! My 6 year old daughter went from being shy and…read morenervous around the water to absolutely loving swim lessons and it's all thanks to his patience, kindness, and skill. He has a wonderful way of making each lesson fun while still building strong swimming skills. My daughter looks forward to every session and is so proud to show me what she's learned. Stew is always encouraging and explains things in a way kids can understand. It's clear he truly cares about his students' progress and confidence, not just about teaching strokes. If you're looking for a swim instructor who is professional, caring, and genuinely amazing with kids, I cannot recommend Swimming Tiger enough!

Was looking for a swim school for my toddler and noticed that this one was shockingly close to…read morehome, so we decided to give it a shot last summer. So glad that we found Donald, who teaches out of a residential pool in a sprawling backyard. He is a wonderful combination of patient, communicative, playful, and firm -- the man REALLY knows how to work with kids. My child has gotten so much more comfortable in the water since starting lessons at Aquafit, despite being super stubborn and beginning most lessons with tears for the first few months. At the end of each class I ask her if she had fun and she always says yes. Thank you Donald!

We have been going to Aquafit Swim school for going on now…read morefor 3 years. Donald is so patient and understanding with our son. We trust him 1000% and so proud of how our son has improved as a safe swimmer!