Aspiring swimmers can learn to swim and progress basic water skills at the Camana Bay Aquatic Club (CBAC) Swim School, launching January 2013. Classes for children, adults and caregivers will take place at the Camana Bay Pool and term will run from Monday 7 January to Sunday 3 March. Registration is now open.

Swimming is an essential skill for people living in the Cayman Islands. Ensuring your child learns to swim at an early age not only provides a number of health and social benefits – but could also one day save a life.

The philosophy behind the new programme from the Islands’ top competitive swim club is to provide an environment where the enjoyment and practice of water-based skills leads to happy, confident and competent swimmers.

“The great thing about swimming is that people of any age or ability can take part,” explains CBAC Swim Instructor Caleb Miller. “We teach swimming in a way that provides young swimmers with the grounding they need to progress successively into the world of competitive swimming at an early age. The start they make at the CBAC Swim School will provide them with that opportunity if they wish.” Miller joined the Camana Bay Aquatic Club in September this year with 11 years of coaching and teaching experience, ranging from learn-to-swim to national-level swimming. Miller began teaching swimming at 15 years-old at his local YMCA and has a level 3 ASCA certification.

The Swim School pre-launched in October with 25 swimmers and great results. “Lessons are centred on developing strong foundation skills today, to create successful swimmers tomorrow,” says Miller. “The student-instructor ratio of each class is designed to give beginner swimmers the positive reinforcement they need to get swimming off to a good start.”

“We also offer adult beginner and intermediate lessons, and caregiver classes for adults working with children around water,” Miller adds. This series covers water safety and rescue skills, while increasing swimming ability and comfort levels in the water.

The small group classes are broken down in to eight levels to ensure appropriate placement of each child for their water experience and age. Each level represents a certain set of skills that a swimmer must complete before moving up to the next level. Youth classes run throughout the week, while adult and caregiver classes take place on Saturday mornings.

GRUNTS For littlest fish ages 6 to 36 months with little or no water experience. Infants and toddlers will acclimate to an aquatic environment and begin to lay a foundation for swimming skills using songs and games. Parent or caregiver participation is required for this class.

FLOUNDERS Designed for preschoolers ages 30 months to 5 years. This is a beginner level lesson that focuses on teaching swimmers to float on their backs unaided and basic crawl stroke with faces in the water.

SQUIRRELS Designed for preschoolers ages 30 months to 5 years. This is an advance beginner level lesson that focuses on teaching swimmers to kick on their backs unaided and front crawl with arms recovering over the water. Swimmers in this level may progress directly to snappers.

JACKS Designed for school age children ages 5 and over. This is a beginner level lesson that focuses on teaching swimmers to kick on their backs unaided and front crawl with faces in and arms recovering over the water.

SNAPPERS Designed for children 5 years-old and over, this advanced beginner level focuses on teaching swimmers freestyle breathing techniques and backstroke.

BARRACUDAS An intermediate level that focuses on freestyle bilateral breathing, backstroke with hip rotation and rhythmic breaststroke for swimmers aged 5 years-old and over.

WAHOOS An intermediate level for swimmers aged 6 years-old and over that masters freestyle and back stroke technique, as well as rhythmic breaststroke and dolphin kick.

MARLINS Swimmers aged 6 years-old and over will learn skills that they need for participation on a swim team in this advanced level class.

“I’m excited to see how far the Club has come in two short years,” says CBAC President, Jeffrey Wight.

“And looking forward to the launch of the next phase of the CBAC story as we continue to grow and develop.” Wight notes that the success of the Club – and growing interest in the sport – owes a good deal to the pool and sports facilities at Camana Bay.

At 25 metres, the Camana Bay Pool is the largest heated competition pool in the Cayman Islands. “Having access to the Camana Bay Pool helps advance the sport and provides more opportunities for swimming and youth,” he says. “We are pleased to be able to offer introductory level swimming to the local community interested in learning to swim, whether competitively or just for fun.”

For more information on the Camana Bay Aquatic Club Swim School and its programmes, visit

www.camanabayaquaticclub.com.

For the Swim School schedule and price list or to register, contact

[email protected] or call 345.326.7580.

For more information and to stay up to date with the latest happenings at the Camana Bay Aquatic Club, like Camana Bay Aquatic Club on Facebook