FAQ’s

Survival Swim (Guppies) is the right choice because it teaches your child critical life-saving skills from an early age. This program focuses on the Swim-Float-Swim technique, which helps young children learn how to float, breathe, and stay calm in the water in case of an emergency. These skills can save their lives if they were to accidentally fall into water.

By starting early with Survival Swim, your child gains confidence in the water and develops the foundational skills they need to remain safe, no matter the water depth. Our highly trained instructors ensure that each child learns at their own pace, while providing a supportive and focused environment to ensure their success. In just a matter of weeks, your child will be equipped with the essential survival skills that last a lifetime.

Manta Swim Academy is a family-owned business with a heartfelt mission: to preserve the lives of as many young children as possible through water safety education. We focus on gentle, effective techniques to teach Swim skills necessary for children to respond to water incidents with confidence and calm.

Our expertise extends to all children, including those with special needs or those who have experienced a previous water-related incident. We understand that every child has unique needs, and we dedicate extra time and attention to ensuring each student receives the support they need to succeed.

At Manta Swim Academy, our greatest accomplishment is seeing your child thrive and master the life-saving skills that will keep them safe in the water for years to come. Your child’s success is our top priority.

At Manta Swim Academy, we teach swimmers of all ages—yes, even adults! We offer a FREE class for babies under 6 months old, giving them a head start on water safety. Our unique pathway to success guides your child from being hesitant about getting their face wet to gliding through the water like a Manta Ray. Along the way, they’ll master every stroke, and by the time they reach the Manta level, they’ll be ready to try out for any competitive swim team.

And don't worry, we’ve got adults covered too! Whether you're learning the basics or looking to perfect your technique, we provide personalized lessons to help swimmers of all ages and skill levels become confident in the water. Our mission is simple: to help everyone feel comfortable and capable in the pool.

At Manta Swim Academy, we believe consistency is key to success! Our Little Guppies (infants and young children learning Survival Swim), attend class four times a week for 15-minute lessons. These short, focused sessions help your child build essential skills while reinforcing water safety.

For all other levels, students will have 30-minute lessons twice a week. This schedule allows for steady progress while ensuring each swimmer receives the attention they need.

At the Manta level, where swimmers focus on endurance and preparation for racing, the lessons become more intensive, requiring a higher commitment to build strength and technique for competitive swimming.

No matter the level, we’re committed to providing the right balance of instruction and practice to help your child succeed!

Because that's what works. With infants and toddlers any longer and it would be counterproductive. I know it is hard to wrap your head around packing your child up to drive for such a short lesson. Trust me when I say, your little one will be exhausted. Survival Swim lessons are fun but hard work, and these babies only need 15-minutes at a time to obtain success. Repetition and consistency are the keys to learning.

Guppies lessons are designed to be one-on-one sessions, providing personalized instruction tailored to your child’s specific needs. At this early stage, we focus on developing essential Survival Swim skills and building water confidence, which requires more individualized attention. This focused approach ensures that your child gets the time and care necessary to succeed in these foundational lessons.

Once your child completes the Guppies level and masters the basic survival skills, they will be ready to swim with friends in group settings, and the cost of lessons will decrease as they transition to more structured, group-based classes. We aim to make the process as efficient and supportive as possible, ensuring your child progresses at their own pace while receiving the best possible care.

Price is a valid concern. Unlike some other swim schools, Manta Swim Academy seems pricey on the front end but the lifesaving skills your student will achieve in the matter of weeks not months or years, are priceless.

Every child is different. You will be amazed at the strides your child makes during their sessions. Each lesson will be different, and we will work to accomplish different skills so no lesson will look the same and no child will have a set date of skill mastery. They will, however, learn to swim and be successful if you trust our instructors and allow them to work with your child.

All children 3 and under are required to wear a disposable swim diaper. Toddlers and infants are required to wear a reusable swim diaper over the disposable swim diaper. You are encouraged to have your child wear a swimsuit over the top of their swim diapers. I know it seems like overkill, but accidents happen, and we want to do everything to avoid shutting the pool down.

Starting something new, especially with a new instructor, can feel a bit scary for children. At Manta Swim Academy, our instructors are dedicated to building trust and creating a comfortable environment for your child. It’s very common for children to fuss during the first few lessons, and while every child reacts differently, the fussing usually fades after a few days. We take a gentle approach to teaching Survival Swim skills, but it’s important to remember that this is hard work. We’d rather have your child cry from the effort of learning than for a parent to face the heartbreaking consequence of not having the necessary survival skills in a water emergency.

When learning to go underwater, we teach children to keep their mouths closed, but sometimes they may accidentally drink water while learning to roll onto their back. This can result in wetter diapers for infants or more frequent trips to the restroom for older children. If your child doesn’t normally wet the bed but has an accident after an evening lesson, it’s likely because they got water in their mouth. This is just part of the learning process, and they’re not doing anything wrong.

It’s also normal for children to spit up during or after a lesson, especially if they’ve ingested a little water. This may lead to a belly full of water, causing some spit-up or loud burps.

Rest assured, we prioritize your child's safety above all else and will never do anything that puts them at risk.

As you continue to support your child throughout their lessons, you’ll see amazing progress! Praising even the smallest achievements goes a long way in encouraging their growth and success in the water. You’re a vital part of their journey, and we’re here to guide them every step of the way.

NO, NO, NO. PLEASE Do Not feed your babies prior to their lesson. This usually ends up causing a mess. I know it may be hard to hold off, but we will all be glad you did.

Try not to feed infants and toddlers 2 hours prior to their swim lesson.

Yes, you are welcome to swim with your child between lessons! We encourage you to spend time in the pool together, but we ask that you let your instructor know in advance so we can provide guidance on activities to work on that will complement your child’s lessons without hindering their progress.

However, we kindly ask that you refrain from using puddle jumpers or other flotation devices during your pool time. These devices can interfere with the lessons by causing your child to swim vertically rather than horizontally, which is what we focus on teaching. They can also give your child a false sense of confidence, leading them to believe they don’t need to learn proper swimming techniques. Our mission is to help your child develop real confidence backed by the skills they are learning in class.

Once your child has completed the Guppy phase, they’ll be ready to move on to the Sea Horse lessons. During this phase there is an option for Sea Horse - Parent Assisted lessons, where you’ll have the opportunity to get into the water with them and continue supporting their aquatic journey. We look forward to working with you and your child as they grow in confidence and water safety!

Once your child completes the Guppies phase, they will continue on their pathway to success by advancing to the Sea Horse level. At this stage, your child will build upon the essential survival swim skills they’ve learned, gradually swimming further distances and improving their abilities in the water.

For younger Sea Horses, there’s a special opportunity to join a Parent-Assisted Sea Horse class. In these sessions, parents can get in the water with their children and learn how to engage in fun, safe activities that reinforce the skills they’ve learned. This hands-on experience helps maintain the progress your child has made, ensuring they continue to build confidence and strength in the water without unintentionally undoing their hard work.

We’re excited to guide your child through the next steps of their aquatic journey, providing continued support and helping them thrive in a safe and fun environment!

Encourage! Encourage! Encourage! Cheer for your child while watching them learn. Seeing their loved ones cheer them on, gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride. Even when they are fussing or say they don't want to attend, cheering them on and offering words of encouragement can and will help them get over any fear they may be experiencing. You know your child better than we do and a huge part of their success is you. Be their biggest cheerleader and watch them succeed.

No, we do not recommend using puddle jumpers or life vests during swimming lessons. At Manta Swim Academy, we believe that puddle jumpers are dangerous as they can interfere with the natural swimming positions your child is learning, ultimately placing them in what we refer to as the "drowning position." Life vests, on the other hand, are designed for use on boats or vessels, not in the pool. For safety and effectiveness, we encourage children to learn to swim without relying on floatation devices so they can build the necessary skills to float, swim, and stay safe in the water independently.