Orca Swim School 8440 55th Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98118

"When I was a child I had some traumatic experiences where I nearly drowned. I would get into water whether a lake or a pool, or even the ocean but only in the shallows. I had to challenge that fear as I bought jet skis. After going through the instructions, classes and eventually actual pool, I am happy to tell you that I am now swimming in the deep end of the pool and diving! I intend to continue my training with Orca Swim school because this is the first time I have been utterly comfortable in trusting in order to challenge my fear. There is many options to help whether you are a complete novice to a semi experienced swimmer. In addition I met people who like me had issues similarly that I bonded with. This made me so much more comfortable to push myself beyond my mental boundary and challenge myself. I think for whoever does this it will be a fun and challenging experience that will make you proud of yourselves"

"One of the best experience I had learning something. The style of teaching and learning is something I will take beyond just learning how to swim. The swimming lessons, aren't just, here are some movements now copy and swim. It's more focused on being calm in, and having neutral feelings about water. The rest come naturally after you learn how to be calm. Definitely recommend it to everyone! Jac and Becky were the best teachers ever! Tysm."

"Completed the Foundations 1. Chris is an amazing instructor. I really enjoyed the focus on the mental part of swimming. The CON is the bathroom is built in outdoors shed with no sink to wash your hands. They just have hand sanitizer. This is gross & should be fixed. Overall great school to become a swimmer & love the water."

"Prior to this swim school, I have had lessons at other places too like 24 hour fitness. However, I have to say Orca technique is the best. What’s different - Swim is 80% mental, 20% physical. The talking sessions help you talk out your fears, prepare you for your swim, teach you your mental water boundaries. I worked with Margaret and she is so kind, receptive and an amazing coach! She would say - if a step is too much for you to do, I can break it down. She made was understand mental boundaries with water. I took a group class with 2 other students. The purpose I came to this course was to be comfortable in deep water, I knew front crawl already. And on last day, I was jumping in deep water. So, that was achieved! If you are beginner in swimming, I highly recommended this place. I wish I knew about this sooner. In earlier places that I was instructed, instructor would rarely come to pool. Here we spent 2 hours with instructor in pool and 1 hour for our talking sessions. This is well WORTH the price! Only thing I didn’t appreciate was I was really forced to invest in Foundations course and never told that Foundation don’t cover kicking no front crawl etc, which I found on last day with my instructor. Foundations 1 is about building confidence in water and doing paddles with arms so you swim, Foundations 2 is about kicking, then there are separate classes for Front Crawl. .Since I already knew swimming, that information would have been helpful to make right decision to choose private instructor Vs group sessions. In conclusion, if you are a beginner, look no further, invest here. They understand adult fears and have techniques to help you. And last, loved the swim journal - it’s one of a kind."

"Fantastic school. If you are hoping to be comfortable in water, you will not regret signing up for these lessons. Every instructor we have had or come into contact with has been great!! After just two weekends of lessons (aka the beginner class at Orca Swim School) I felt free to be in the pool and play underwater games with my girls (who took lessons at a young age and were naturally comfortable in the water). The deep end class was awesome and I am now comfortable in deep water (I'd be further along if I spent more time in deep water after the class) but I have no anxiety about the depth of a pool, falling off a boat or jumping off of a diving board. The joy I experience being in the water now (vs. the anxiety and discomfort I had before) is absolutely priceless. I can't recommend this program enough!!"