H2O Survival Skills Program
Thank you for your interest in the Afloat Swim School’s H20 Survival Skills program.
At Afloat Swim, we provide a distinctive swimming education approach, focusing on essential survival skills rather than just water familiarization for young children. Given that one in ten drownings in Australia involves children under four, it’s critical for them to learn how to swim and float independently.
Our program provides effective aquatic survival training for non-verbal infants and young children aged 6 months to 6 years. The skills taught form a protective layer against drowning, offering vital moments that could prevent further tragedy.
All lessons at Afloat Swim School are conducted with one instructor per student.
For infants aged 6 months to walking age, our program includes:
- Breath control.
- Rolling over to a floating posture from any position.
- Maintaining a floating and breathing posture until help arrives.
- These skills are taught while fully clothed, including winter clothing, a diaper, and shoes.
For children from walking age (around 12 months) and beyond, our program covers:
- Continued emphasis on breath control.
- Opening eyes underwater for safety awareness.
- Reaching for and turning towards safety.
- Basic swimming to reach the side.
- Combining swimming and floating.
- Maintaining a floating and breathing posture even in challenging situations.
Once a child completes our Survival program, they simulate an accidental fall into water while fully clothed, allowing them to apply their skills in a realistic setting.
We do not charge for missed lessons due to illness, and the program is typically completed over 6-8 weeks (average 40 lessons).
The fee for our program is $170/week for 5 private lessons per child, payable weekly. To secure your booking, we require a $100 registration fee. This fee is non-refundable and will confirm your child’s enrollment in our program.
We invite you to witness the incredible results of our program by attending lessons or viewing our videos.
To enrol, please visit the Enrol Now page on our website.
After completing the program, we recommend:
- Regular swimming sessions with parents help build confidence, supported by ongoing feedback and communication with our staff
- Our Beginner Aquatic Stroke Development Lessons for further improve skills.
- Refresher Lessons for children needing additional practice.
- Advanced Aquatic Stroke Development for more advanced children.
For further details, please refer to our terms and conditions.
Thank you for considering Afloat Swim School for your child’s aquatic education.
Level 1: Red
- Breath control
- Movement in the water
- Safe Exit / Monkey to Stairs
Level 2: Orange
- Swim to the Edge / Bar
- Safe Entry
Level 3: Yellow
- Floating
Level 4: Green
- Rolling Front to Back
Level 5: Blue
- Rolling Back to Front
Level 6: Violet
- All combined, with a swim rest and Swim
Level 7: Pink
- Test Complete Full Winter Cloths
Beginner Aquatic Development
The Afloat Swim Beginner Aquatic Development programs offer each student the ideal foundation for their swimming and water safety journey. After completing our H2O Survival Program, children can advance to our weekly Aquatic Development Programs.
These lessons are designed to bridge the gap between survival skills and stroke development. the Beginner Aquatic Development sessions are 15 minutes long, held weekly, and delivered one-on-one throughout the Victorian school terms.
In these lessons, your child will further enhance their H2O Survival skills to ensure these vital abilities are retained and reinforced.
Aquatic Development lessons will also cover:
- The basics of the three competitive strokes, freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke
- Kicking techniques with and without aids
- Breath control
- Diving for submerged objects
- Activities to build fun and confidence
In our Beginner Aquatic Development programs, we cater to all levels from graduates of our H2O Survival program to beginners aged 6+years. Below is a chart outlining the stages and levels we focus on during different phases of your child’s development.
Level 1: Starfish
- Rocket arms with flutter kicking with and without kickboard
- Safe entry and exit
- Picking up sinkies assisted
- Swim 4 m with rolling over breathing
- Monkey to stairs
- Swim around instructor assisted
Level 2: Otter
- Basic breaststroke arms
- Basic freestyle arms
- Basic backstroke kicking with kickboard
Level 3: Guppy
- Basic backstroke arms
- Basic Breaststroke Kick no kickboard
- Pick up sinkies by swimming around instructor unassisted
- Safe Exit from Wall
- Freestyle combine arms and kicking with floating (4m swim)
Level 4: Betta
- Backstroke Arms and Kicking
- Breaststroke Frog Kick with kickboard
- Freestyle kicks and stretched arms (catch and pull)
Level 5: Turtle
- Preparing for unilateral breathing
- Kicking on the side with kickboard
- Reaching backstroke arms and kicking streamline
- Survival backstroke
Advanced Aquatic Development
The Afloat Swim Advanced Aquatic Development programs offer each student the ideal foundation for their swimming and water safety journey. After completing our Beginner Aquatic Development Program, children can advance to our weekly Advanced Aquatic Development Programs.
These lessons are designed to more technical and focus on refining the skills and stroke development. We have two types of Advanced Aquatic Development sessions they can be either 15 minutes or 30 minutes long, held weekly, and delivered one-on-one throughout the Victorian school terms.
In these lessons, your child will further enhance their H2O Survival skills to ensure these vital abilities are retained and reinforced while refining their stroke technique.
Advanced Aquatic Development lessons will also cover:
- The four competitive strokes and survival backstroke
- Refined kicking techniques with and without aids
- Breath control with unilateral and bilateral breathing
- Diving for submerged objects
- Activities to build fun and confidence
In our Advanced Aquatic Development programs, we cater to all levels from beginners to advanced. Below is a chart outlining the stages and levels we focus on during different phases of your child’s development.
Level 6: Sea Horse
- Unilateral Breathing with Freestyle Arms
- Swim 10 m unassisted
- Backstroke arms pointing to the sky
- Breaststroke advanced kick with feet
- Breaststroke Glide
- Breathing with Breaststroke arms
Level 7: Angel Fish
- Sinkies Unassisted 1m
- Breaststroke advanced arms catch pull and recovery arms
- Freestyle catch sweeping arms
- Butterfly Kick
- Rocket arms with unilateral breath
Level 8: Seal
- Bilateral Breathing Freestyle Arms
- Kneel Diving
- Backstroke arms reaching glide
- Breaststroke bubbles and breathing in recovery position
- One arm butterfly
- Sinkies 1.5m
Level 9: Dolphin
- Tumble Turn
- Breaststroke bubbles and breathing in recovery position
- Butterfly arms
Level 10: Orca
- Butterfly arms breathing and legs
Level: Adult
We will work with Adult to gain the desired skills
We will tailor a program individualised for your skills
Adult Swim Program
For the best experience, please contact us to tailor a program suited to your skills and goals. We teach adults at all levels, from beginners who have never put their face in the water to those wanting to improve a specific stroke or build confidence.
Let us know your objectives, and we will help you build on your current strengths in a friendly and quiet environment.