Transitions
Our Transition lessons support children moving from parent-assisted to independent learning in the water. With two tailored streams, we support both cautious and confident swimmers, ensuring each child is nurtured and progressed at their own pace.
Two pathways. One goal: confident, capable little swimmers.
Our Transition program is for children aged 3–5 years who are ready to take their next steps towards independent swimming. Unlike Inklets, parents and carers do not enter the water, but stay right beside the pool to provide reassurance and support when needed.
Blue Swimmer Crab is our default starting point for children in this age group who have never had swimming lessons. It is ideal for cautious or nervous swimmers who may be new to being away from their parent and may not yet be ready to submerge.
Tommy Ruff is for our more experienced little superfish — confident swimmers who already love the water and naturally spend more time underneath it than above it! Here, we build on that confidence with a stronger focus on survival skills, independence and developing a healthy respect for the water — always taught positively, kindly and without force.
Blue Swimmer Crab
3 - 5 Years
(Cautious Pathway)
Blue Swimmer Crab is our gentle transition class for children aged 3–4 years who are new to swimming, feel a little cautious in the water, or have not previously completed a baby and toddler swim program. With a maximum of just three swimmers, this level provides plenty of reassurance, individual attention, and time for each child to build confidence at their own pace.
No previous swimming experience is required. Swimmers simply need to be comfortable participating in a small group lesson without a parent in the water. Children who are not yet toilet trained are welcome and should wear an approved swim nappy.
This level is built around play-based learning, using songs, games, imagination and positive experiences to help children develop trust and enjoyment in the water. There is no pressure to rush skills — instead, we focus on creating confident little swimmers who feel safe, successful and excited to come to lessons each week.
Throughout the level, children learn to confidently put their face in the water, blow bubbles, propel themselves with flotation aids, practise safe entries and exits, and develop back floating skills. Along the way, they also begin learning important water safety routines and how to follow instructor directions in a structured lesson environment.
Blue Swimmer Crab creates strong foundations for future swimming success and provides a calm, nurturing pathway into our independent Learn to Swim program.
Max 3 Students
30 Minute Class
$27 per class
Tommy Ruff
3 - 5 Years
(Confident Explorers Pathway)
Tommy Ruff is designed for confident swimmers aged 3–5 years who already love the water and enjoy going underwater. Many children entering this level have progressed through our Inklets program or another infant swimming pathway, although swimmers with equivalent skills are equally welcome.
Children joining Tommy Ruff should already be comfortable submerging independently and participating in structured lessons without a parent in the water. Children who are not yet toilet trained are welcome and should wear an approved swim nappy.
While lessons remain fun and engaging, Tommy Ruff introduces a stronger emphasis on water safety, independence and early swimming technique. Play-based activities are still used to keep learning enjoyable, but swimmers are challenged with more purposeful skill development and increased expectations around listening, turn-taking and following instructions.
Children work towards important lifesaving foundations including jumping in and returning to the wall, rolling onto their back to float, retrieving objects from depth, and beginning to coordinate breathing while swimming. Body position, propulsion and stamina are further developed to prepare swimmers for higher levels within our Learn to Swim program.
Tommy Ruff is ideal for adventurous little swimmers who are ready to turn their confidence into capability, building the skills and safety awareness needed for lifelong enjoyment of the water.
Max 3 Students
30 Minute Class
$27 per class
Our approach to flotation
Please note: We do not typically use personal flotation devices during lessons. We believe children benefit from learning how their own body buoyancy works from the beginning, while traditional arm bands and backpack-style flotation devices can encourage a vertical body position in the water, which is not conducive to effective swimming or survival skills. Where additional support is genuinely required, we exclusively use Orca Trainer systems, introduced and progressed through a staged approach under the supervision of specially trained instructors. The system remains in use for as long as it is needed, with each child’s progression individually assessed.
Not quite sure which level is right for your squid?
Our handy level finder tool will assist in finding the correct class without the stress!
