Waterworks Aquatics Swim Schl

I wanted my son to take swimming lessons early on so he could have fun and be safe in the water. We started with the Parent & Me classes soon after he turned 1. He's now 2.5, and does semi-private lessons with the same instructor we started with (Vanessa). He loves it - the swimming, the instructor, the facility, etc. I love it all, too, and knowing that if he fell into water, he can keep his head above the water and swim to the side. That's the best part; the fun aspect is the icing on the cake! I've recommended Waterworks to all of my family and friends with little ones, and they've all had the same great experience. more

I love this place. I have had my girls going here for 2 years now, and they love it, and they have learned a lot. My younger daughter started at 3, and was signed up with David as her instructor. He was able to handle her perfectly, and we had really been worried about her shyness and communication disability. At first she cried, and didn't want to swim and reached for us, but he calmly told us to walk away and wait in the parent's room so she couldn't see us. We did, and within minutes he had her laughing and putting her face in the water. She adores him, and within a couple of lessons was doing a perfect back float. After only 9 months of one time a week lessons, she was swimming across the pool and even participating in the swim competitions. I researched a lot of facilities. I visited a few, and priced them all. This was by far the best facility I found, and their pricing structure, though it seems expensive, is actually very competitive and cheaper than some far inferior schools. The pools are warm, and in good condition, and the kids enjoy it. Plus, all the instructors are on the same page, using the same methods, and they know what they are doing. This is far better than the high school kids at a summer camp or something. This is structured, methodical teaching, made fun for the kids. It also has availability that works with working parents' schedules. I drive significantly out of my way to keep my kids in this program, because it is worth it. I have, and will continue, to recommend this school to all my friends. Pros: Great Instructors, nice warm pools Cons: sometimes too crowded more

My son started classes at Waterworks Aquatics when he was 7, less than 2 years ago. At that time he did not know how to swim and not very fond of water although he has taken swim lessons from a different school in the past . His first swim teacher Brad at Waterworks was very patient in teaching him each and every stroke and made him very comfortable with water. Once he left, he started stroke lessons and semi private lessons with David. David is a remarkable teacher full of energy and enthusiasm who can make a striking difference in a child's attitude and success in swimming! He adds fun to his teaching that works very well with young children. David also identified my son's strength and weaknesses right away and worked with him to bring the very best out of him. As a parent, I am proud that he has become very successful and able to compete with children of his age who has been swimming for years! We also love Waterworks' swim meets, very well organized and gives plenty of encouragement to the children!\r The staff at Waterworks are very friendly and accommodative. There is no doubt in my mind that Waterworks Aquatics is the best swim school in the Orange county area! David and Waterworks has made my son feel that swimming is more than a sport for an individual, It is the challenge of character, strength of spirit and hope for future to create many Michael Phelps!\r more

My son Connor is just over two years old and he has been attending Waterworks Aquatics for just over one year now. Connor now loves to swim and I owe it all to this wonderful swim school and his amazing instructor Andrea. Connor can swim independently about half the length of the pool and he knows to roll over on his back to float if he jumps into the pool (or falls in). The staff at this swim school are very helpful and the instructors are very knowledgeable& kind, yet firm which is what you need. Connor has learned so much from his instructor Andrea and he looks forward to coming to class each week. The facility is clean and the water is nice and warm -- always. Connor is in the parent & me advanced course and I will be transitioning him to a semi-private or private class as soon as he is 2.5 years old. He already swims so well and I just can't wait to see how well he will swim in another 6 months from now!! Pros: Excellent instructors Cons: Somewhat pricey more

Our family has been attending Waterworks Swim School once a week for almost five years. Our son Hayden started at the first course offered called Parents and Me Lessons when he was 4 months old. Since then he has advanced through the Advanced Parent and Me Lessons onto the semi-private lessons. By the Advanced Parent and Me lesson phase at around 2 Hayden had already mastered floating on his back and began to work on his swimming technique. We now feel very comfortable around water knowing Hayden has the ability to swim and float on his own and is aware of hazards surrounding a pool. Hailey our two year old daughter has advanced to the Intermediate Parent and Me Lessons floating well, but is still working on gaining her confidence in the water. She has been attending the Parent and Me Lessons since she was six months old and appreciates going swimming each week in the warm pool seeing her favorite instructor Courtney. As parents that have had pools since our childhood and lived within 10 minutes of the ocean our entire life we believe strongly in the skills taught through Waterworks in Irvine and their instructors. Having the utility of multiple pools that are always heated provides Hayden and Hailey the best of learning environments. Waterworks provides a great education while in a fun environment and always has our children?s best interest at heart. Cons: Only in Irvine more

My daughter is in competitive swim and we first learned about this place from our friends whom we met at another swim school. Both girls were enrolled in an Anaheim Hills swim school's swim team program and were entered in non-competitive swim meets at a Tustin swim school. When that Tustin school swim meet season ended, we were told about Waterworks as a place for our girls to continue swimming non-competitively during the winter months. \r \r In September 2009, my daughter entered her first swim competition at Waterworks. Unlike our experience at the two other swim schools, we were really impressed with the facility and with the speed that the swim competitions were held. A week after that non-competitive meet, my daughter had her first USSA meet at NOVA. While she did OK and placed OK as a 6 year old, I knew that she needed some extra work on her strokes to get her to the level that she wanted to be at. I ASKED HER, and it is always her choice, what level she wanted to be at. She said she was OK with her placement at the NOVA meet but really wanted to improve. \r \r I had a choice in the schools that I could send her to. I could send her back to the place where she learned, but that was out because the pool is too small and the instructors style did not match my daughter's competitive nature. The Tustin school was out too. As much as my daughter liked the swim meets held there, the pool was still too small. For her to get the edge and race on the same level as the girls that she is competing, it was important that she also learn in the same length pool that she works out in 3 -4 times/week at AAA. \r \r I spoke wtih Katie and I explained the situation to her. I frankly did not know what I needed and I needed something that had the most impact in 4 weeks because that was when her next meet was. She suggested a semi-private lesson with an instructor to really help her with her butterfly and breaststroke. We got Julian for the first set of lessons.\r \r Within 4 weeks, we saw a difference in her strokes and she had more confidence, placed a bit higher in her events and started to shave some time off. After a couple of months, Julian's schedule changed and we started with David. My daughter has really improved with David. Julian ironed out the rough spots and David is really working with her on strategy. I have disclosed to her coach that we are working with a private instructor on the weekends so messages get passed to David from her coach on things that she needs to work on. It has worked out excellently. If David is not available, we know that we can see Julian and Jess and still get the same excellent instruction.\r \r In the 6 months since the initial lesson, my daughter is now placing at the top of her age group and this came at a great time with JO MAX series of meets occurred this past winter. People see my daughter swim and the first question they always have is how old is she. The next is how long has she been swimming. I tell them the answers and they are shocked by both (6 years old, swimming for almost 5 years). And then the conversation about competitive swimming ensues. I do recommend Waterworks, hands down every time. Without the office staff who steered me in the right direction and the great instruction, my daughter would not be doing as well as she has been. So, in case I have not said it enough, thank you, thank you, thank you. Pros: Great instructors, nice staff, great facility, swim meets more

My son Mathieu (4 years old) is very shy and can be very picky with instructors ! When he started his swimming lesson with Todd, I could tell after 5 minutes that I was at the right place, with the right person. It's a pleasure to see Mathieu smiling, and enjoying his swimming lesson. He is making very good progress and ask for more lessons !! more

I would highly recommend Waterworks to any parent looking for a fundamental/advanced swim facility. We have taken swim lessons from other facilities in the area and found that Waterworks instructors are the most engaging with the children. Pros: Great Instructors more

My daughter Andrea has been attending Irvine Waterworks Swim School for the past 8 months. She has participated in group and individual lessons. We are very happy with her progress. The instructors at Waterworks are professional, disciplined, knowledgeable and self motivated to provide the best experience possible for the students. The attendance of Andrea?s instructor has been commendable. 8 months of twice weekly lessons she has only once not been present and this was capably dealt with well in advance of the lesson. Administrative staff is polite, competent and backed up with specialized / state or the art computer systems which makes the process more efficient for everyone. The facility is large, clean, modern, well planned and full of amenities over and above the 4 swimming pools. The jewel in the ?Waterworks Crown ? is their monthly swim meet. This meet accommodates swimmers from entry to expert level. It is planned, organized and executed superbly. All swimmers are awarded ribbons and trophies. Times and performance for all participants are tracked on the Waterworks website. This is an excellent and efficient way for parents and children to monitor performance and progress in the pool. Parents and children love it! Thank you Waterworks for providing Orange County with a great aquatics facility. Pros: Swim Meet more

The swim teachers are great here. They are great with kids from infant and up. Patient, kind, encouraging. Their are 4 big swim pools they use. Swim competitions are also offered. The office staff is also very friendly and knowledgeable. more

.We have been attending Waterworks Aquatics for the past 2 1/2 years to get our 3 year old water safe. The front office staff and instructors are fantastic. You walk in and they say hi immediately -- it is a nice switch from other places! \r \r We decided to move from the parent and me classes to semiprivate. After the semiprivate - we moved to a private lesson. My son was having some fears in the water so, Jon, the owner got involved when he saw that our son wasn't progressing as quickly as he should be. In the three lessons we have had with Jon, our son can float on his back and roll from his back to his belly and back to his back. Jon believes that he will have our son swimming the entire length of the pool by summer! \r \r I love the fact that the owner of the swim school personally got involved to make sure that my son can swim! \r \r Thank you to the entire Waterworks team.\r Pros: Best Swim Instructors and Staff Cons: Crazy busy on swim meet days more