This review is long overdue! I have been bringing my kiddo here for swim lessons for one year. He started 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! read more

Instructors are good until they're not. Had to ask the one instructor to stop tickling my kid in the 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! read more

I have been taking my baby for parent and me sessions and I love the service overall! It is so easy to enroll in courses online, tons of parking, and instructors are super nice! read more

Waterworks Aquatics Pasadena - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Pasadena, California

I signed up on the website and registered myself as a swimmer. Sign up process was easy and I was able to pay online. There is no discount code for 1st time visit. They do offer discount if you want to purchase a package of classes to save. I noticed they have a few locations near me, but only Pasadena location offers water aerobics class according to the website. I wish they have lockers here, but they don't. So you have to leave your stuff on the chair and it seems to be the norm here. I made sure to arrive early before class. I found parking easily in the back for free. I walked in and there was no staff in the front where they sell food, drinks and merchandise. I walked toward the pool and I was welcomed by the manager Franklin. He was friendly and made me feel welcomed. My instructor for water aerobics was Kimberly. This is my first time doing water aerobics and didn't really know what to expect. I hung out by the pool and saw women gathering near the instructor so I asked the instructor to confirm and went into the pool. There were 5 of us plus the instructor. We warmed up in the pool for about 10 mins. The water temperature is warm. During our session it felt like an easy class, low intensity and the people in my class were friendly and we chat while we exercise. It was when I got out of the pool, the swimsuit felt heavy and my body was sore. I was hungry by then. Although they do not have lockers, they do have changing rooms, shower rooms, stations to blow dry your hair, and a machine to dry your swimsuit. I would love to come back for lap swimming and water aerobics again. The issue is the schedule. Currently they only offer water aerobics on weekdays at 11am - 12pm. It is difficult if you're working at the office. I would love to see evening sessions or even on the weekend. read more

Waterworks Aquatics Pasadena - Attention to details, welcoming new swimmers! Love this! - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I decided to switch my son's swim instructor because he had become a little too comfortable with his previous instructor and needed a fresh challenge. Austen is an outstanding swim instructor. He strikes the perfect balance between being firm and encouraging, which has helped build both my son's swimming skills and confidence. My son had been struggling with a particular skill, and Austen took the time to break it down and provide strategies that really worked. His patience, kindness, and clear guidance have made a noticeable difference, and we've seen great progress in just 2 lessons. Austen challenges my son to step outside his comfort zone while making him feel supported and capable. That combination has helped my son become more confident, resilient, and excited to keep improving. We're so grateful for Austen's dedication and thoughtful coaching style. read more

Hello Today I want to say thank you my son Hovsep's instructor Alexa who's works with him already 5 months and he made a great progress and love work with her. She so awesome, so kind, and so knowledgeable. And he was so upset when heard she is not in Waterworks anymore. I would like to see her working with my son and make a more positive vibes and progress. If it possible I would like to see her again and my son too. read more

My son is on the spectrum and has been coming here for about 2 months. At first I didn't have a set instructor so his 2nd swim class was a bit traumatizing since the instructor didn't ask questions & was harsh on him so I ended the session within a few minutes. Now he is with Antionette and she is great them. They are working on water safety and the basics but she goes at a good paste where he feels comfortable but challenges him. I would definitely recommend this location, just finding the right instructor for your little one. read more

We have been going consistently for a year now for our 2 kids (6, 2). Both of our kids have had their lessons with Nicholas for most of that time now. He has been extremely patient with our son who was very nervous around water. He knows when to push them and when to pull back so that the experience remains a positive one. We are so grateful for all the hard work he does in creating a great environment for both of our kids to learn how to swim. Would recommend him to everyone looking for a wonderful instructor! read more

Absolutely love this place Swimming Instructor Ms. Ashley Z. Is without a doubt the best! She has helped my special needs child in every aspect and adapts to her needs. Ms. Ashley Z is kind, understanding and very nurturing. Hats off to her and the work she does! My daughter has made so much progress not just in swimming but in her behaviors thanks to Ms. Ashley Z's devotion and dedication. Thank you, Ms. Ashley Z read more

Our kiddo learned had to swim and it depends on who you get. We had coach Bart and he was great! This review is really for their party event experience which was AWESOME!!!! For the money you pay for 2.5 hours of swim, this experience is worth it given all the assistance the lifeguards and party host (Hey Zoey!) provided, this was a truly stress free experience for the parents. The staff is so helpful and kept asking if they could support our set up and tear down. You just show up with the food and guests, and the staff does the rest! We hosted here for two years in a row and right after, the kid had so much fun that he immediately requested to come back again. Pricing is all upfront and Nancy the coordinator who will help you when booking is so helpful and conscientious. From beginning to end, great experience for parents and kid! read more

My two daughters started swim lessons with Dexter with very little experience and a lot of nervousness around the water. Since working with her, their confidence has grown tremendously.. not only in the pool, but outside of it as well! Dexter has such a gentle, patient, and encouraging teaching style that immediately made my girls feel safe and comfortable. What once felt intimidating to them has become something they genuinely look forward to each week. Their skills have improved so much, but even more importantly, their love for swimming has blossomed! We are incredibly grateful for the positive impact Dexter has had on both of our daughters. She has created a supportive environment where they feel confident, capable, and excited to learn. I highly recommend Dexter to any parent looking for a kind, knowledgeable, and wonderful swim instructor! read more

It was time for my kids to learn how to swim and I decided to go with waterworks. We have had the same instructor (Dominic) for a while now. Dom was very patience and really took his time to teach our son how to swim. read more

Came for a birthday party and I enjoyed it. They have plenty of parking in the back. Once you arrive you will sign waivers for your child(ren). There are plenty of pool toys and lifeguards around. You bring your own food and music. I really liked how the lifeguards would periodically ask the mom/dad hosts if they needed anything. They play games which is nice. A plus? They have Dippin' Dots!! read more

I'm pretty sure our 7-month-old daughter is part-mermaid, and we have Waterworks Aquatics to thank for it! We started lessons when she was just 3 months old, and she's already zipping from beginner to intermediate. Standout instructors Nick and Laylani have the magic touch, making every lesson a fun and splashy success. If you want your little one to be a happy, confident water bug, this is the place to be! read more

Waterworks Aquatics Pasadena - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Dexter is an amazing instructor, a true miracle worker. She is patient, kind and makes the lesson fun. My daughter is on the spectrum and we have tried a few other swim schools over the last few years and they just didn't have the patience for her and she never learned to do anything. Now, Dexter has got my daughter floating and swimming underwater after only 5 lessons. I was holding back tears after our last lesson seeing my daughter floating on her own. read more

Elle Rohs is an exceptional swimming instructor who consistently demonstrates a strong understanding of the material. My daughter has been having lessons with her and I have noticed the consistent improvement. Her enthusiasm and dedication make her a joy to teach. Elle's progress has been remarkable, and she continues to exceed expectations. I highly recommend her! Alexa is an amazing swim instructor! Her patience and expertise have helped my daughter gain confidence in the water. She creates a supportive and fun learning environment, making each lesson enjoyable and productive. I highly recommend Alexa for anyone looking to improve their swimming skills. read more

We had a gift card given to us a long while ago for our daughter to use but never got around to setting it up. We finally began to use it this past July and thankfully the gift card was still valid huge plus.My daughter's first class was with Miss Sarah. My daughter absolutely loved the class with her and has been catching on with the lessons quick. We've been frequenting lessons with Sarah and my daughter has shown much improvement already (daughter is 5 years old). She is swimming confidently in the pool and understanding the importance of being safe which is the huge take away from the lessons. We currently started lessons up with Miss Leilani only due to Sarah's schedule being more limited for the time being but we will definitely still be taking classes with her if schedule permits. Leilani has been just as good with our daughter and we're confident that she is in good hands when taking lessons with Sarah and Leilani. They're both really good with kids from what we have been observing and their teaching methods have stuck to my daughter so well. We are impressed with her performance every time we are watching her lessons. Thank you Sarah and Leilani for being such good instructors ! We look forward to my daughter's progression with them both. Now on to the front desk staff. I had an issue with having to cancel classes and switch up time slots and getting some scheduling options being not available. Marcia handled those issues for us with ease and and was so accommodating with giving us the help we needed. We live in the valley and make the drive out to Pasadena for my daughter lessons. Thank you waterworks Pasadena for continuing to give us a pleasant experience and giving my daughter something to look forward to every week! read more

My baby started taking swim classes at Waterworks a few weeks ago, and I absolutely love that she can start at such an early age! At just 4 months old, she's already comfortable putting her head under water and she loved it right away. All the teachers are wonderful, so far we've had classes with Kasen, Nicholas, and Mia, and they've all been amazing. We love it! read more

I've had a great experience with both the front desk staff and our coach. As a new family to WW, Marcia at the front has been super helpful with answering questions, helping me schedule, and helping me get familiar with the online portal- not to mention she is an extremely pleasant lady. Val, our Coach is AMAZING! She is knowledgeable and patient. My 5 year old typically does lessons after school, so at times she is tired and distracted easily. Val is great at redirecting during these times. with Val's coaching, my daughter went from level 0 to 5 in ~ 4 months. Overall, we have had a great experience at WW due to our interactions with Val and Marcia. read more

We started lessons about a year ago and we have had the same amazing instructor Antionette throughout our time at waterworks. She has taught my son how to swim entirely and as a mom, this is a huge relief to be able to have your child around water and not worry about him not being able to swim. 10/10 recommend!! read more

Waterworks Aquatics Pasadena - Swim lessons - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Pasadena, California

Happy with the entire team at WaterWorks. Poncho is very soothing and comforting with my six year old. We have also had a great experience with substitute teachers. The facility is always clean and the website is fairly easy to navigate for changing schedules. read more

We love Poncho who taught our 2 year old to be comfortable in the water and float extremely quickly! My older daughter has been with Lois for a long time as well and has made so much progress with her. We love the continuity with these great instructors - the kids light up when they see them. read more

1 star We've been loyal Waterworks customers for years--my daughter and granddaughter both learned to swim here, and we've always taken water safety seriously in our family. But what happened recently with an instructor named Dom was deeply concerning. My five-year-old, who is in level 4, was paired with Dom. He kept turning away from her while she was in the 7-ft deep end, repeatedly chatting with another female instructor instead of watching her. I was getting nervous--she's only five. I brought it up to the staff, and they told me they would handle it. Yet even after a supervisor came out to observe, he kept doing the same thing. I complained again and said I was ready to pull her from the pool. They said it would be addressed. Later, the lesson was cut short--only 18 minutes instead of 20--and then I got two follow-up calls from the Aquatics office with apologies and promises it wouldn't happen again. But then for the next session--they scheduled her with Dom again. Absolutely unacceptable. We love Adrienne--he's excellent--but he's rarely available. We've stayed with Waterworks for the scheduling flexibility, but this kind of negligence makes me question whether we should be going to Brookside instead. Water safety is non-negotiable. This experience shook my trust. read more

We've tried several swimming centers to save cost, but we always come back to Waterworks because of the amazing instructors and the flexibility they offer. All of the teachers here are wonderful, and we're truly grateful for each of them--especially Instructor Carlos. Carlos has an intense focus on proper technique, which has helped our kids tremendously. At first, we noticed that he was stricter than some other instructors, but after several lessons, our daughter's technique improved dramatically. She now swims more beautifully and faster, and the progress has been impressive to see. We were so impressed by Carlos's dedication and hard work that we switched our son to his class as well. Even though we know it may take longer to advance to the next level, we're confident he will build a strong, solid foundation in swimming. read more

We have been coming here with all three of our kids and all of our teachers have been excellent. My youngest is hard to teach and Stephanie is so patient with him and he is having such a great time learning from her! read more

Both of my kids started in Parent & Me, but we really started to see improvements when they started in semi-private classes with Teacher Leilani and Teacher Megan. We love them! Also, shoutout to Ms. Marcia at the front desk who always greets us by name with a smile and offers my kids a sticker from the sticker basket after class. Even though it's not the closest choice for us, it is the best swim school for us to remain consistent. Waterworks is so convenient because there are so many classes throughout the day. A big plus for me is that the water is always perfect temperature so no class time is wasted with kids not wanting to get in because the water is too cold! Thanks Waterworks for helping my kids be water-safe! read more

I would love to write these review, because after voicing my concerns, some one from their management team reach out to me and she was so helpful (Alicia) that I can only give it another shot. I want to start by saying that I am so grateful to the instructors that my son has Mr. Detleft, Miss. Judith and Miss. Val thank you so much for having empty, love,understanding and compassion to kids with special needs, and not just to them but to all the kiddos that you guys work with. I also want to thank the people in the front like the amazing CJ and Marcia. I want to thank them both for always making sure we are taken care of. Thank you all because of all of you I keep going to Waterworks Pasadena read more

5 stars We absolutely love this swim school! Our instructor Cody is patient, encouraging, and knows how to make learning fun for our kiddo. My child looks forward to every lesson and is becoming a confident little swimmer. The staff is friendly especially Marsha!, she is very helpful and kind every morning. The facility is clean, and the class sizes are just right for giving each child attention. We've seen so much progress and highly recommend this school to any parent looking for quality swim instruction. read more

I would really recommend waterworks for kids swimming lessons, especially after I tried the other swimming facilities. The best thing is that they have two pools , so even though one pool is closed due to accident, you can still have your lesson in the other one. read more

A Total Waste of Time and Money - Go Elsewhere for Real Results I took my son to WaterWorks for two years, spending thousands of dollars, and he still didn't learn how to swim. The experience was beyond frustrating, and their ridiculous policies made it even worse. One of the most infuriating things is their makeup class policy--you can't apply a makeup class to your regular recurring session. Why? I've already paid for it, so why should I have to go through the hassle of scheduling a separate appointment? It's an obvious money-making scheme that puts profit over actual progress. After two years of zero results, I finally realized what a scam this place is and switched to Swimphi in Pasadena. It's not as fancy, but in just three months, my 4-year-old learned to swim and even feels confident diving. That's the kind of progress every parent wants! Don't waste your money at WaterWorks. They are more focused on keeping you enrolled as long as possible rather than actually teaching your child to swim. Find a program that's genuinely committed to helping kids gain confidence and real swimming skills. read more

My two boys go to waterworks and love their instructor, Yudit! She is the sweetest, most patient, and loving instructor. She is so encouraging to our little ones, and she makes them feel comfortable and safe. My younger son is quite silly and playful and she still manages to get him to focus! Our older son is already swimming the whole length of the pool now! We feel that water safety is such a priority to us as parents, and waterworks has helped our boys so much. They enjoy the play time in the pool before and after their lesson. And it also really helps to have shower facilities that they can use! read more

I am agreeing with Aubrey's review. As a parent that has had my kids in private lessons here for years it is definitely a scam. Teachers cancel ALL the time and leave. My kids are not able to get a consistent routine ever. My oldest can still barely swim and he's been swimming here since he was 2. And now he is 6. Make-up classes are a constant due to teacher cancellations. And honestly, I wish I could get my money back so I can be done with them. I will be putting my kids in one of those intensive swim programs that teaches kids how to swim in 10 or less lessons. read more

My daughter has been coming here for a couple of months now, started her at 6 months old. The pricing is reasonable we pay monthly. We do the parent and me beginner class. I love how flexible the schedule is and how if we can't make it and cancel in a timely manner, we get a make-up class. The instructors have been wonderful and patient. Our favorite instructor is Nikki! she has the best personality and my daughter loves her positive attitude and encouragement. This swim school has brought so much joy to our lives. read more

We have been bringing our kiddos here for some time. Yudit and Val have been both super amazing in getting our kiddos very comfortable in the water. We are still taking classes with them and we will continue to do so in the future. Their teaching techniques have been super structured yet flexible to suit our kiddos. They always look forward to going to swim classes every weekend. read more

Our children have swam with waterworks for many years. It's great to have a an indoor pool. Facility is clean and staff are friendly. Instructor Dom has our three year old kicking, rolling and floating. She just swam the full length of the pool. Instructor DJ started teaching our 8 year old daughter at 8 months. She is now swimming laps at the Rose Bowl far beyond her peers. Swimming is a lifelong skill, healthy habit, sport, and recreation. read more

Waterworks Vs Rosebowl Aquatics: a comparison of Parent and Baby swim lessons: OK, I have to update my review based on the experience I had at Rose Bowl aquatics, which is the only other place for swim lessons in Pasadena. Although waterWorks isn't perfect and I got a wart on my foot from walking around there, this place is far superior to Rose Bowl for several reasons. 1. They have better customer service 2.They have much smaller group size classes of only 5 to 6 parent+ baby groups versus Rose Bowl, which has about 20 to 30 groups. The Rose Bowl parent and baby classes are so big that they have two "teachers" and they should each have a megaphone (but they don't) because you can't hear anything that they're saying. Yes, it's really nice that it's outside. But that also means your kid has to wear a hat and sunglasses, which means it makes dunking their head difficult. Rosebowl also doesn't encourage your child to go underwater. The lessons are longer at Rose Bowl, they're about twice the length of waterworks, 45 minutes instead of 25. And I do appreciate that a lot. But overall, I think the instructor, Val, at waterworks is much better and more hands-on and helps you prepare your child for the water, for swimming, for getting their head wet, etc. I just think the quality of the lesson at waterworks is so much better than Rose Bowl. I will never go to Rose Bowl again. I'm not sure I would return to waterworks either though. read more

My son has been taking swim lessons here and he's really enjoying it. Gabriel is his instructor and he is so positive and patient with him. I love that! read more

Waterworks Aquatics Pasadena - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Pasadena, California

I absolutely LOVE this Waterworks Aquatics. It is one of the if not the main one for them all. Definitely gets very busy on the weekends because it is amazing. If you can do during the week it is better. Less traffic. What I love about this place the most is two things. 1) The flexibility of hours and more importantly in our case 2) our instructor Gabriel. My son has been working with Gabriel for about 5 months and I have noticed the difference in each of those months. He is confident in swimming in a pool that is 7ft deep (gave me a panic at first since he is 6) and his skills just keep growing. Gabriel has so much patience and I am grateful as my son can be a wild card sometimes. But he has adapted to every situation so that my son can succeed! read more

Waterworks Aquatics Pasadena - Swimming pool with instructors and students - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Pasadena, California

They have a parking lot which is easy to find parking. We tried our little one in a parent and me class. We signed up online. Once we got there we checked in up front. Staff was very nice. Since it was our first time he gave us a tour of the facility. They have a kiosk with info of their teachers, a changing area with plenty of changing tables for the babies and blow dryers. They have 2 heated pools. Prior to class they allow 10min free play and another 10min after class. My child looked happy. Great spot for lessons and getting the little ones used to being in a pool. read more

Waterworks Aquatics Pasadena - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Our daughter has been in this swimming team since she was 3 yr old. Now she is 6. She had gone through different instructors. They are all have different techniques and styles in training. Right now she has instructor's named Yudit. My daughter loves her. Yudit is wonderful, patience, kind and funny, which makes my daughter is more enjoyable with her swimming and looking forward to every session. I total recommend Waterworks Pasadena for families out there. read more