Aquanat is a swim school in Perth, Western Australia, offering a unique approach to aquatic education and therapy. With a focus on creating a joyful and natural swimming experience, Aquanat caters to all ages, from newborns to adults, and those with special needs. Their small group sizes, individualised attention, and emphasis on playfulness set them apart from traditional swim schools, making swimming an enjoyable activity for everyone involved.

The private aquatic centre in Alfred Cove stands out as a one-of-a-kind facility in Perth, offering cosy, comfortable, and beautifully designed spaces that feel spa-like, luxurious, and unique. The heated indoor hydrotherapy pool is maintained at a soothing 34°C – 35°C year-round, while the changing rooms are equipped with heaters and warm showers, ensuring a comfortable experience for families with young babies. With low traffic, dedicated maintenance, and natural ventilation, the centre is designed to foster a relaxing and calming atmosphere with crystal-clear, healthy pool water.

One of the major advantages of Aquanat is its customised teaching approach. Unlike traditional swim schools with rigid lesson plans, Aquanat adapts its methods to suit the individual needs of each student. This flexibility allows for a more personal learning experience, which is particularly beneficial for those with physical, mental, or emotional challenges. Additionally, the use of warm, indoor hydrotherapy pools ensures a comfortable and relaxed environment, promoting both learning and well-being.

Another pro is Aquanat’s focus on creating a positive and supportive atmosphere. Their philosophy of using playfulness and imagination as teaching tools helps to engage students, especially younger ones, making the learning process more enjoyable. The exclusive, small-group sessions also ensure that each student receives the attention they need to progress at their own pace. The pools are well-maintained, with crystal clear water, which adds to the overall pleasant experience.

The boutique and highly sought after nature of Aquanat’s quality services may mean that availability can be limited with some classes having a waitlist and the by-appointment-only system could be less convenient for those who prefer booking online. At the same time, the personal touch of Aquanat’s customer service helps customers feel well cared for, ensuring you are placed in the most suitable class setting possible to suit your needs.

In conclusion, Aquanat offers a unique and highly personalised swimming experience that caters to a wide range of needs. Their emphasis on individual attention, combined with a warm and supportive environment, makes them an excellent choice for anyone looking to learn to swim in a more relaxed and enjoyable setting.

Beatty Park Swim School is located in the Beatty Park Leisure Centre. This prime location makes it convenient for parents who may want to attend their own fitness classes while their child is at swim school.

We like the school’s variety of classes. They have several programmes for children and adults and a class called Angelfish that’s specially made for people with special needs.

Their swim programmes run from January to December, allowing new learners to build a habit of consistency. Furthermore, their pools are heated so you don’t have to worry about missing lessons during winter.

Most parents we interviewed were happy with the quality of service provided by the instructors. Parents are allowed to watch the lessons, especially if it’s their kid’s first time.

They mentioned that the instructors were patient with their children and explained well. Some parents were also impressed at how the instructors were able to put their kids at ease when they had initial fears about getting in the water.

Despite being open all year round, however, some classes have limited availability. One example is the parent and baby class, with some parents telling us that there was a waitlist for several months.

Thus, if you’re an expecting parent, it may be best to enquire as early as your third trimester. This ensures that you will have an available slot when your baby is old enough for the lessons.

Some also complained of sudden cancellations of lessons. While this can be inconvenient, the swim school did cite valid reasons, such as pool maintenance and cleaning.

The one thing we appreciate most about Waterwise Swim School is their qualifications. They’re endorsed by Austswim and the Royal Lifesaving Society, with one of their instructors being an infant aquatic survival specialist.

That said, they’re most known for their newborn and survival swim classes. The former is for infants aged six weeks to six months, whereas the latter is for children aged three years and above.

Their survival swim classes are for drowning prevention, and this is a basic principle they teach in all of their classes.

We also like their selection of adult classes. They have classes for adults with zero background in swimming and for those who want to brush up on their skills.

Additionally, they have specialty classes for those who need to meet requirements for the Navy, BOSIET, or HUET. These classes, however, cost more than their regular ones.

We haven’t heard issues regarding availability, although it’s still advisable to call ahead. Alternatively, you can create a profile on their online platform.

When you do have a set schedule, it’s best to come early or let them know if you can’t make it. This has led to some conflicts with parents, who reported that their children weren’t entertained because they arrived late.

Waterwise Swim School gave these parents a free makeup class. However, if you do arrive late, there’s a chance you or your child can’t join the ongoing lesson, as it may disrupt others.

The Biggest Little Swim School has swim programmes highly tailored toward children. They teach newborn infants up until school-age children. 

While they also have adult classes, we can only recommend this for adults who want to learn basic swimming. It isn’t for those who want to start swimming competitively or need special skills.

We appreciate how they teach water safety for all of their classes, which we believe is a must. They also have around 11 instructors, and availability isn’t usually a problem.

Our gripe with this is that some instructors still lack the proper credentials. While we’ve mostly heard glowing remarks from parents with no complaints on safety, this is still important to note.

However, their director Barb, is a Royal Lifesaving Community Trainer, with decades of experience under her belt. Senior instructors have more experience as well, so you may want to choose them for your classes.

As previously said, safety hasn’t been a concern here—not with the instructors or facilities. Parents were quick to note that the pools were always heated and that the changing rooms were always clean.

Regardless of which instructor their children had, the parents we interviewed were glad about the services they received. They mentioned that the instructors knew how to handle the children effectively and adjusted the class to make it fun.

State Swim has multiple locations around the country, with ten in Western Australia alone. However, we chose their Canning Vale location for its reputation among parents.

If availability and quick scheduling are what you seek, this is where you should go. You can easily book through their website or by phone call without much waiting time.

We like their variety of classes, with programmes for infants, toddlers, children, and adults. It’s common for swim schools to focus on children, but State Swim has multiple adult programs.

You can enrol as a beginner in swimming or if you want to brush up on your strokes. However, they have other classes such as lap swimming, swim fitness, and aqua aerobics.

Each class has its own curriculum, which we find to be beneficial for kids. For example, toddlers can receive merit awards for pushing off the wall and swimming two metres to their instructor.

Once a student has met the required tasks in a class, they can graduate to the next stage. This is great to encourage motivation among children.

Most of the parents we interviewed were glad about their children’s progress. However, one parent remarked that their child still had trouble despite weeks of training.

Since each child is different, we can’t entirely fault the instructors for this.

One important thing we have to note is their rates, which tend to be more expensive. Monthly rates start at around $90, while the per-session rate averages at $20.

As their name suggests, Oceanic Waterbabies specialises in teaching infants how to swim. Children usually stay enrolled until they graduate at around ages 5 to 7.

Since they focus on babies, they make sure that all their instructors have the proper training. Each instructor is Austswim-qualified and knows how to properly conduct CPR.

Some of the instructors have been through the same program with their own children. This gives parents extra confidence that their instructors know how to handle children.

We appreciate how much they prioritise the children’s safety. Each child is given chlorine-resistant swimwear and all the necessary equipment like floaters or swim boards.

Oceanic Waterbabies has terms around the year, and availability is dependent upon that. Each term runs for ten to eleven weeks with weekly 30-minute sessions.

Their prices are on the higher side, with the ten-week term costing $295 and the eleven-week term at $324.50. New enrollees will also have to pay a joining fee of $50.

However, we do think that they’re worth the price tag, especially considering the credibility of their instructors. Furthermore, class sizes are usually small, allowing the instructor to focus on each student present.

Parents are required to accompany their children in their classes up until they reach graduation age. Thus, if you don’t know how to swim and want to learn, other options on this list will be a better option.