Learn to Swim & Private/Semi-Private Lessons
Registration for the Summer programing is currently open.
Fall 2025 registration opens August 7 at 9:00am.
Below are the group ratios for our swim classes. Click on the programs listed below to learn more about each level.
| Level | Max class size (per Instructor) |
| Parent & Tot 1-3 | 10 |
| Preschool 1 – 5 | 5 |
| Swimmer 1 – 2 | 5 |
| Swimmer 3 | 6 |
| Swimmer 4-6 | 8 |
| Canadian Swim Patrol (Rookie, Ranger, Star) | 10 |
| Fitness Swimmer
Power Swim |
10 |
Swim For Life® Program Conversion Chart
*Parking in lot P5 is included in your registration. Details on how to validate parking can be found in your registration receipt.
Conversion Chart
Use this chart to determine the most appropriate Swim for Life/Canadian Swim Patrol program for young swimmer
| If your child… | City of Ottawa |
Carleton Aquatics Lifesaving Society Swim For Life® equivalent |
| Is 4 to 12 months old and ready to learn to enjoy the water with parent… | Little Dippers | Parent & Tot 1 |
| Is 12 to 24 months old and ready to learn to enjoy the water with parent… | Little Splashers | Parent & Tot 2 |
| Is 2 to 3 years old and ready to learn to enjoy the water with a parent… | Little Jumpers | Parent & Tot 3 |
| Is 3 to 5 years and just starting out on his or her own…. | Turtle | Preschool 1 |
| Can get in and out and jump into chest-deep water assisted; float and glide on front and back; blow bubbles and get face wet… | Frog | Preschool 2 |
| Is 5+ years and just starting out on his or her own and can get in and out and jump into chest-deep water assisted; float and glide on front and back; blow bubbles and get face wet… | Yellow 1 | Swimmer 1 |
| Can jump into chest-deep water; submerge and exhale underwater; float on front and back assisted for 3 sec… | Loon | Preschool 3 |
| Is 5+ years and can jump into chest-deep water; submerge and exhale underwater; float on front and back assisted for 3 sec… | Swimmer 1 | |
| Can jump into deep water wearing a lifejacket; recover objects from the bottom; hold breath underwater; float, glide and kick on front and back… | Otter | Preschool 4 |
| Is 5+ years and can jump into deep water wearing a lifejacket; recover objects from the bottom; hold breath underwater; float, glide and kick on front and back… | Swimmer 1 | |
| Can do solo jumps into deep water; swim front crawl 5 m wearing a lifejacket and flutter kick on front, back and side… | Beaver | Preschool 5 |
| Is 5+ years and can do solo jumps into deep water; swim front crawl 5 m wearing a lifejacket and flutter kick on front, back and side… | Coral 2 | Swimmer 2 |
| Is 5 to 12 years and just starting out… | Yellow 1 | Swimmer 1 |
| Can jump into chest-deep water by themselves and into deep-water wearing a lifejacket; open eyes, hold breath, and exhale underwater; float, kick and glide on front and back… | Coral 2 | Swimmer 2 |
| Can jump into deep water and do a sideways entry wearing a lifejacket; support self at the surface for 15 sec.; do whip kick in vertical position; and swim 10 m on front and back… | Red 3 | Swimmer 3 |
| Can tread for 30 sec.; do kneeling dives and front somersaults; 10 m whip kick on back; and swim 15 m front crawl and back crawl… | Magenta 4
Purple 5 |
Swimmer 4 |
| Can complete the Canadian Swim to Survive Standard: Roll – Tread (1 min.) – Swim (50 m); dive; swim underwater; 15 m whip kick on front; breaststroke arms with breathing; and swim front and back crawl 25 m… | Navy 6 | Swimmer 5 |
| Can do shallow dives and cannonballs; eggbeater and scissor kick; swim 50 m front and back crawl; breaststroke for 25 m; sprint 25 m; interval training 4 x 50 m… | Aqua 7 | Swimmer 6 |
| Can do stride entries and compact jumps; legs- only surface support for 45 sec.; sprint 25 m breaststroke; swim 100 m of front crawl and back crawl and 300 m workout… | Seafoam 8 | Rookie Patrol |
| Preferred successful completion – Rookie Patrol | Green 9 | Ranger Patrol |
| Preferred successful completion – Ranger Patrol | Lime 10 | Star Patrol |
| Preferred successful completion – Star Patrol | Bronze Star |