Dive In! Where To Take Swimming Lessons in NYC

For a New Pool That's Always 90 Degrees: Goldfish Swim School

There's a new pool in town, and it's in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn. Goldfish Swim School's brand new, state-of-the-art pool will open on March 10. If your kid gets chilly in the water, never fear: this pool is kept at 90-degrees to ensure shiver-free swim lessons. (And parents can stay comfortable in the climate-controlled viewing area.) Weekly swim lessons are 30-minutes long and offered year-round with a low 4:1 maximum student-to-teacher-ratio to ensure that your child receives the most patience, supervision and guidance. Small group lessons are $140 month and are booked perpetually; you are auto-charged at the beginning of each month so you don't need to continually re-enrolling for sessions. Head to Goldfish's Swim Assessment to get a recommendation on what class your child should take, and signup using the handy Parent Portal. In addition to swimming lessons offered year round, Goldfish Swim School hold Family Swim, and they will also host your child's birthday party. 

Goldfish Swim School 
620 Degraw
Gowanus
929-470-7946 
Online: goldfishswimschool.com 

For a Lot of Flexibility: Penguin City Swim

Penguin City Swim is one of the most relaxed businesses in this roundup, thanks to year-round rolling admission with monthly billing. If you’ve missed the sign-up deadline at a larger swim center, it’s worth getting in touch with Penguin City Swim. Owner Gordon Miles founded swim school Take Me To The Water, and then left to start Penguin City Swim to offer more specialized classes for both kids and adult. You'll find Penguin City Swim in four locations across the Upper East Side of Manhattan where classes are offered Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at various times. Private, semi-private, small group lessons are available, with 30-minute private lessons starting at $81 and small groups (1:4 ratio, starting at $55.)  Penguin City Swim also has a  30-minute Water Babies/Aqua Tots class for $45. Unlike fancy “destination pools,” Penguin City Swim uses apartment complex pools—you can find descriptions of each on the company's site— and the flexibility factor is high: you can start and stop lessons at any time. The only catch: Maximum flexibility means fluctuating enrollment numbers, so Miles will only enroll students seven days in advance (to make sure he has space and an appropriate spot.

Four Upper East Side locations
212-717-2000 or 917-909-7946
Online: penguincityswim.com

For a Cool Pool & Community: Marlene Meyerson JCC

The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan is a bit of an urban oasis. The gorgeous 14-story complex is equipped with an amazing pool of varying depths that's heated and clean as a whistle. The goal of the JCC's aquatic program is to create confident, safe, strong swimmers, which it does with an extensive range of skill-tiered group classes and private lessons for children from six months to 14 years old. There's also an adaptive aquatics program that offers special needs group learn-to-swim classes, private lessons, and water-based therapy options. The JCC is known for creating a feeling of community, so perhaps it’s no surprise that its swim lessons take place over six-month semesters, which allows swimmers to really get to know not only their teacher, but also their fellow swim students.

For a Preschool Slant to Lessons: Imagine Swimming

Imagine Swimming is at a lot of pools around town, and they just opened a new flagship location on the Upper West Side at 752 West End between 96th and 97th. The new facility at the Paris building is custom built with busy families in mind, with a 90-degree pool, stroller parking, multifunctional private changing facilities and a comfortable lounge and viewing areas. Classes are personalized and rooted in play, with no more than four students per instructor. Each class is organized by age an ability. In addition to classes for infants, toddlers, children and adults, Imagine offers special programming during school breaks, holidays, and the summer months as well as an array of competitive swim teams, water polo and synchronized swimming. Imagine Swimming has rolling admissions so you can start at any time. 

For a Location Likely Near You: YMCA

More native New Yorkers have learned to swim at the Y than anywhere else. Convenience probably has a lot to do with it: With 24 locations spread throughout all five boroughs, it’s easy to find a nearby pool. Registration is open now, and lessons run for six to eight weeks and are organized according to skill and age, with students as young as six months and as old as 18. (Parent and baby classes happen here, too.) The potential downside to the Y?: Class size. At 10 to 12 kids, the classes are definitely are larger than many of the more expensive swim school offerings, but the price is very competitive. However, you can take private lessons at your local Y; inquire with your branch's aquatics director for info on pricing and availability. 

For an Old Standby: Asphalt Green

For Free Lessons: New York City Department of Parks & Recreation

You may already know that the oversees several free public pools located throughout the five boroughs. But did you know that it offers free, weekly, eight-week session group swimming lessons for children ages six through 17? Yep, it’s true. Surprise: Only a certain number of spots are available at each pool, and competition for these is fierce. The only way to secure a place in one of these free classes is through an online lottery. Classes are year round, but spring classes start March 21. For more information, go here.

Tip: These are large “general ed” style group swim lessons for children ages 6 through 17. If your child has special needs, doesn’t do well with crowds, or you prefer they learn with children near their own age, these lessons aren’t for you.

Locations throughout the five boroughs
718-760-6969
Online: nycgovparks.org/programs/aquatics