Shark Swim Lessons

My young/​beginning swimmers (2 sons & a daughter) love Dave. He makes the lessons fun and caters to their abilities while making it challenging. They can’t wait for swim class each week. We were with Dave last summer and were anxious for this spring season to begin. My kids have really progressed and gained confidence with Dave’s instruction. Thanks, Shark Swim!

Dave has truly changed my life. I wanted to learn how to swim mainly so I can have fun with my kids in the pool (both are on their way to being good swimmers). I didn’t want to just sit on the side of the pool any longer. It turns out that learning how to swim is one of the best things I have done for myself. I seldom (as in never) exercise but I can see myself using swimming as exercise for the rest of my life. Now I love doing laps and really enjoy swimming. I really couldn’t have gotten where I am if it weren’t for Dave. Unlike my kids who have no fear of water so learning how to swim is easier for them, I was terrified of the water. I couldn’t even put my face in the water without having a mini panic attack. Learning how to swim as an adult is definitely a huge challenge because all the ingrained fears I had. Dave was so patient and is such a great teacher. I was able to get across the pool by the third lesson! I never considered myself truly swimming until I could do the proper freestyle and I was able to do that in a few months with Dave’s help. Each lesson, I showed up really excited to learn and left feeling like I really got better. I still have a way to go and Dave has given my the confidence to continue practicing to become a better swimmer. After 3 short months I went from not being able to put my face in the water to consistently swimming 20 – 30 laps each week. I would highly recommend him to anyone who wants to learn how to swim! — Diane Y. (Steve’s wife)

We tried other swim lesdons for our daughter and the instructors could not get her to stop clinging to them or the wall. In her fisrt one on one lesson with Sharks she was over that fear! Her instructor has great teachiing techniques for breaking down the components of each stroke style, so that kids can really understand and perfect thier swimming.
Our daughter now swims so well i would not be surprised if she began swimming competitive! We even started lessons for our son, who is quickly improving as well. They have great fun and lean quickly in a very safe environment. It every thing we could want for our kids!

I had a traumatizing experience when I was 4 during my swim lesson that caused me to fear water for over 20 years. Not just any water, deep pools mainly (Oceans, I do ok). The fear in pools was much greater because the wall would give me flashbacks to that moment of when I was a child, so I avoided pools and being in it.
Until I met my husband who would attempt to help me get over the fear, I was able to do the doggy paddle and such but I still couldn’t pull myself to be underwater, staring at the pool walls without freaking out. Last year, I took a group swim lesson and it wasn’t too helpful since there were too many adults and again, I didn’t put my head under the water to stare at that pool wall.
I finally convinced myself to email Dave and set up a time for semi-​private swim lessons. First lesson was just me and him and I was nervous, uncomfortable, scared, and didn’t want to put my head under water. Though I was able to glide across the short end of the pool (about 10 feet across) with my face under water. It was more than I expected to do.
Second class, I shared the class with another girl about the same age. By the end of class, we were both able to swim on our backs, float, glide and swim facing down (head completely submerged under water) across the pool without any help from noodles, boards, or anything. We also learned how to swim kicking our feet with one arm up and the other arm on a football, on our backs across the hot tub (the pool got too cold for me).
Third class, shared the class with the same girl. We swam across the pool with our face down and then turn to our backs and back to facing down again.
It’s been great so far, I have 7 more classes to go but I already feel much more confident in the pool than I ever did before. I’ll update once I finish my classes.
My only issue and this isn’t Dave’s fault or anything is that both times, there’s this guy that would come out and swim laps, but he’d also stop just to watch. Then join us in the hot tub and stare the entire time. Very skeevy and it upsets me but I do understand that this is a public pool and it’s meant to be shared. I just wish he didn’t stare so hard, his eyeballs might pop out.

I couldn’t thank Dave enough that every time I get into the pool I always think about him on how he made an impact in my life. This summer was the first time I was able to enjoy bodies of water and to top it off, I LOST WEIGHT! lol it’s a magical thing that happens when you start being active and do the things you like .like «swimming» My summer was composed of BEACHed around and POOLed around.
I did a beach tour and San Diego Community Pool tour in progress. SNORKELING will be next.
Pacific Beach
Allied gardens pool
Aquatica
Bahia Point Resort
Carlsbad Tamarack Beach
Coronado Beach
Del Mar City South Beach
Del Mar North Beach
Dive Pool
Fletcher Cove Beach
Gwen’s Pool
Imperial Beach
La Jolla Shores
Mission Bay Beach
Moonlight State Beach
Ned Baumer Pool
Oceanside Beach
Point Loma Tide Pool

I have to leave a feedback specially because Dave have change my life.
As a child I almost die drowned in the ocean, causing me a HUGE fobia for big amounts of water around me.
My parents tried several private and public swim lessons after my accident that ended just making my fobia even WORST. They gave up after all my panic attacks every time I was close to a pool.
As an adult I always stayed away from pools, beach even big Jacuzzis because of my fear to the water.
I recently decided to bare my fears and do something about it, but just the idea of me in the water caused me anxiety!
I did LOTS of research for ADULT swimming lessons, and I really FOCUS in someone that could understand my situation and my FEARS without judging me or laugh at me. (Too embarrassing already just to be an adult)
DAVE is an EXCELLENT, PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDABLE instructor.
In my 1^st class I was dead scare, shaking, over breathing in the pool getting all dizzy and crazy. DAVE was so NICE AND CALM that with his explanations make me feel VERY COMFORTABLE and little by little comfortable in the water. His teaching techiques are unbelievable amazing! I cant believe that with all his visuals in water (tools), and his explanations of how your body can float by its own just having the right position have make me see water in another way.
In my 2^nd class I was swimming in my back by myself with no tools or any help !!! 25 yards! !
I know im still half way there but very confident that by the end of my sessions I will be swimming confortably all the ways bymyself.
By the way, the lessons are really private, nobody is there just watching you making you feel uncomfortable, and the pool is heated!

Fantastic swim teacher. Top-​notch instruction delivered clearly and with a terrific sense of fun. Dave knows how to motivate children of all ages, and is easy to work with (for both kids and the parents). He helped my son pass the junior guards test on his first try. Don’t hesitate to sign up. I’m planning to get another 5 lesson pack so Dave can work his magic with both of my kids.

So many of my friends tried hard for 2yrs to make me swim. Every time I use to drown & ask for help. Finally they gave up and asked me to get trained from Mr. Phelps coach like person. :D I like to swim but was really disappointed. Someone at my work referred Dave.
This guy is a perfect trainer. I can swim now, so you’ll do. I never had fear of water & was very excited to swim. Dave has techniques to teach for everyone & very easy to understand. His timings are also very flexible.
Everyone can teach, but pointing your mistakes and making you learn from them can be possible only from real trainers. Dave is a real trainer.
Be a shark but not a puppy. :D

It is so hard to learn swimming as an adult! Yes, me n my hubby are one of the few folks who never learnt swimming while growing up :(Was skeptical joining a swim class for various reasons like fear of water, embarrasment: P But it all changed once i went to shark swim lessons with Dave! Dave is very professional and he has great patience and good teaching skills! Dave was referred to me by a few co-​workers of mine, who dint learn swimming during childhood either: D
I’m glad we are learning to swim with Dave. within 5 classes already I’ve developed confidence being in the water! I know it is still long way to go, but Dave makes it fun learning activity for us. Thanks Dave for your perseverance with us and helping me learn something that I’ve always dreaded for!
I’ve seen him teaching very young kids and they seem to have fun too with him :-) His rates are reasonable and i recommend sharing the lessons/​sessions with a friend to make it both fun and less price as well!