If you're interested in learning how to swim or have a child that would like to learn, you may be thinking about whether or not it's worth it, how you should do it, and how much time and money you'll need to do it.

In this guide to private swimming lessons, we're looking at the reasons to swim, when you should start, the pros and cons of learning with a private swimming instructor, and what other options you have.

Let's dive straight in...

The best Swimming tutors available
Kyi kyi win
5
5 (21 reviews)
Kyi kyi win
$77
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Michelle
5
5 (8 reviews)
Michelle
$70
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Bonnie
5
5 (22 reviews)
Bonnie
$100
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Irene
5
5 (52 reviews)
Irene
$95
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Amirali
5
5 (8 reviews)
Amirali
$80
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Laure
5
5 (19 reviews)
Laure
$102
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Arvind
5
5 (14 reviews)
Arvind
$70
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Benett
5
5 (6 reviews)
Benett
$60
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Kyi kyi win
5
5 (21 reviews)
Kyi kyi win
$77
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Michelle
5
5 (8 reviews)
Michelle
$70
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Bonnie
5
5 (22 reviews)
Bonnie
$100
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Irene
5
5 (52 reviews)
Irene
$95
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Amirali
5
5 (8 reviews)
Amirali
$80
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Laure
5
5 (19 reviews)
Laure
$102
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Arvind
5
5 (14 reviews)
Arvind
$70
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Benett
5
5 (6 reviews)
Benett
$60
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Let's go

Why You Should Learn to Swim

Before you choose how you should learn to swim, you'll need to think about whether or not it's worth it. There are plenty of reasons you should learn to swim, but here are just a few of the most important.

See how you can check out some of the best swimming lessons in Australia here.

People floating in the sea
By learning to swim, there are plenty of other activities you'll be able to do. | Photo by Trend on Unsplash

For one, learning to swim can save lives. Hopefully, you'll never be in a situation where you need to swim to save your life, but swimming skills can make the difference between life and death.

For those who can't swim, any body of water can be inherently risky, even if it's shallow enough to stand up in. After all, those who can swim are acclimatised to water and comfortable in it.

Swimming can also open up a whole world of watersports and water-related hobbies. Once you become a confident swimmer, you can enjoy things like surfing, water polo, and even fishing.

Learning to swim is good for your health and is arguably one of the best types of exercise you can do because it uses your whole body and is low-impact, making it an excellent option regardless of your age and fitness level.

What Is the Best Age to Start Swimming Lessons?

Generally, the sooner you learn to swim, the better because you'll have more time to enjoy swimming.

That said, there is a lower limit to when you can start learning how to swim. Any infant under the age of six months won't really be able to learn how to swim, but by that age, they can always start getting acquainted with being in the water.

Between the ages of 1 and 4, they can start learning how to swim properly and become proficient swimmers by then. With many swim schools catering to this age range.

For those beyond the age of 4, the best time to start swimming lessons is now. It's never too late to learn how to swim and once you've learned how to do it, you'll be happy that you did!

How Many Swimming Lessons Does it Take to Swim?

Every learner will be different so don't place too much importance on how quickly you or your child learn to swim. However, to help you understand the cost, it can be important to know roughly how many sessions you may have to end up paying for, especially if you're opting for private swimming lessons.

Here is where you can take exceptional swimming classes in Melbourne.

Children in a swimming lesson
No two people are alike so some will learn to swim quicker than others. | Photo by Malik Skydsgaard on Unsplash

Some estimates suggest that a swimmer will take 20 to 25 sessions to learn how to swim, but there are a few factors to consider.

For one, the level and overall fitness of the learner will be important. If starting from square one, you can expect the whole process to take a little longer, especially if they need to acclimatise to being in the water or are uncomfortable about being in or near water.

Regularity can also help in learning new skills and swimming is no exception. Regular lessons will be more effective than sporadic lessons (even if the overall time is the same). It's better to have regular sessions of 30 minutes to 1 hour than infrequently spending 2 or 3 hours in the pool!

The best Swimming tutors available
Kyi kyi win
5
5 (21 reviews)
Kyi kyi win
$77
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Michelle
5
5 (8 reviews)
Michelle
$70
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Bonnie
5
5 (22 reviews)
Bonnie
$100
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Irene
5
5 (52 reviews)
Irene
$95
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Amirali
5
5 (8 reviews)
Amirali
$80
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Laure
5
5 (19 reviews)
Laure
$102
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Arvind
5
5 (14 reviews)
Arvind
$70
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Benett
5
5 (6 reviews)
Benett
$60
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Kyi kyi win
5
5 (21 reviews)
Kyi kyi win
$77
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Michelle
5
5 (8 reviews)
Michelle
$70
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Bonnie
5
5 (22 reviews)
Bonnie
$100
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Irene
5
5 (52 reviews)
Irene
$95
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Amirali
5
5 (8 reviews)
Amirali
$80
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Laure
5
5 (19 reviews)
Laure
$102
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Arvind
5
5 (14 reviews)
Arvind
$70
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Benett
5
5 (6 reviews)
Benett
$60
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Let's go

How Long Does it Take Adults to Learn How to Swim?

As children, our minds are like sponges and we tend to learn more quickly. However, there's not too much difference when it comes to adults learning to swim and children learning to swim.

The main hurdle to get over for adults is acclimatising themselves to the water, especially if they've spent their entire lives avoiding water or aren't particularly confident about being in the water. It can take adults a little longer to get acquainted with the water than children, but once they're comfortable in the water, it shouldn't take them much longer to learn to swim than the typical child.

While children may have better memories for learning new skills, adults tend to have better comprehension and will understand instructions, feedback, and advice more quickly than kids. They can understand more advanced concepts than children, which can make them better students for learning more complex techniques and skills.

With private swimming lessons, the instructor can adapt their approach to the age of the student, ensuring they get the most out of every minute they spend together.

Can You Learn to Swim in 30 Days?

A lot of people don't want to spend too long learning how to swim, especially if summer is approaching or they're planning a trip somewhere and want to make the most of the pool, a lake, or even the ocean.

Do you know you take the best swimming classes in Sydney here?

Woman lane swimming
While you can certainly learn to swim within 30 days, you mightn't become the strongest swimmer during that time. | Photo by Arisa Chattasa on Unsplash

You can learn to swim within 30 days if you practise regularly and take regular lessons. Whether or not you'll be ready to swim in a lake or the ocean will depend on your proficiency, but comfortably swimming in a swimming pool should be achievable within a month.

The Pros and Cons of Private Swimming Lessons

There are a few ways to learn how to swim, but one of the most effective ways to learn is through private swimming lessons with a coach or instructor, but it's not the only way. If you're considering learning to swim through private swimming lessons, here are the pros and cons.

The biggest advantage of private swimming lessons is that the sessions are one-on-one between the learner and can be tailored to them. This means that every minute spent with a private swimming instructor is spent focusing on the student, their learning objectives, and their form or technique.

This also means that private swimming lessons can be adapted to how the student likes to learn, their personality, their level, their age, etc. The lessons will be for them and ensure that they learn effectively.

The logistics of private swimming lessons are also another huge benefit. You can schedule private swimming lessons at times that work for you whereas group sessions will likely be at the same time each week and if you can't make that time, you'll need to look for another option.
Some private swimming instructors will work at a particular pool, but others can always travel to your local pool or wherever you'd like to learn how to swim.

Naturally, all of these pros come with some cons and the biggest disadvantage of private swimming lessons is the cost as you'll be paying for one person's time and expertise.

How Much Do Private Swimming Lessons Cost?

Before you panic about the cost of private swimming lessons, don't forget that there are plenty of private swimming instructors out there meaning there are options for all levels and budgets.

Person diving into a swimming pool
If you need to learn very specific techniques or have lofty goals, it's better to have your own instructor or coach to work with even though this will come at a cost. | Photo by Malik Skydsgaard on Unsplash

While private instructors will naturally charge more money for one-on-one sessions over group sessions, there are options. There are a few factors that influence the price including location, experience, level, age, etc.

Generally, the average cost of private swimming lessons is close to $40, but this can go all the way beyond $100 per hour.

In most major cities, however, you'll have a lot of instructors to choose from so you can always shop around.

The Alternatives to Private Swimming Lessons

If the cost is putting you off or you'd just like to keep your options open, you can always hire a private swimming instructor for small groups. If you know anyone else who also needs to learn how to swim, you could split the cost of the private instructor's time and pay less per person per hour.

This would mean that the lesson wouldn't be tailored just to you, but it is a nice compromise between participating in a group swimming lesson and a costly one-on-one session.

You can also learn to swim through swimming schools or take advantage of free swimming lessons through government initiatives and programs. It should be noted that free swimming lessons are more common for children, but there are sometimes cheap or free lessons for adults and retirees.

The last option for learning how to swim is to teach yourself. However, due to the risks inherent in being in the water, this certainly isn't recommended. It's much safer and wiser to just look for the lessons that you can afford! There are plenty out there so you're bound to find something.

Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!

5.00 (1 rating(s))
Loading...

Joseph

Joseph is a French and Spanish to English translator, copywriter, and all-round language enthusiast.