Anna Ferrini
I don't know why I've gotten so many recommendations about this swim school [for my child] over recent years, honestly! I found it to be adequate but not particularly impressive or more affordable than other options. Yeah, they have small classes -- but that means a child gets maybe 7-10 of the 30 allotted minutes if there are two or three other kids in the class. Otherwise they're just sitting there clinging to the wall and splashing water (= what I've observed in recent months and of more than one class group several different days, but we don't overhear instruction from the gallery). Not to mention: there doesn't seem to be much feedback for the parents EVER unless you press for it or they're deciding to level your child up. I'm so sorry (heavy sarcasm implied) that I'd like to get some feedback when we're paying monthly & about 40 bucks per lesson. How is feedback not built into their allegedly amazing swim school philosophy? I don't particularly care if the staff doesn't know offhand how much their apparel on display costs or they're standing around texting or flirting. That's a little annoying, sure. Bottom line and more importantly, I don't see what's so special about this school. I honestly do not have cause to recommend it over Tom's Dive & Swim or even Big Blue for that matter, and might've been especially let down after all the glowing reviews. I am pleased that my son seemed more ready & motivated during his recent classes at Waterloo to make some progress. He enjoys the water and understands that avoiding drowning is important(!!). And, I'm grateful they are responsive to communication and have a system for making up the occasional class if informed in advance that a child will be out. ~Jan 9, 2026, edited 1/13/26.
