Swim Lessons in
Portland

Aquatic Sports offers group, private, and adult swim lessons in a warm indoor pool in Portland, Oregon. We are a family-owned business that has been part of the Portland water community since 1966, and our experienced swim instructors teach swimmers of every age and ability, from toddlers taking their first floats to adults learning for the first time and older kids refining their strokes. Whether you want your child to be safer around water or you are finally ready to learn yourself, this page covers everything you need to know to get started, including lesson types, pricing, schedules, and how to book a free trial.

Swim lessons for every age and level

Swim lessons for every age and level

We teach children and adults, beginners and improvers. Young children start by getting comfortable in the water and learning early safety habits, school-age kids build the fundamentals and progress toward real strokes, and adults learn at a patient, supportive pace with no judgment about starting later in life. Because our pool is indoors and heated, lessons run year round, so Portland families do not have to wait for summer to keep making progress. Below are the three ways to learn with us.

Private swim lessons in Portland

Private swim lessons in Portland

Private lessons give the swimmer one-on-one time with an instructor, which is the fastest way to build confidence or work on a specific skill. This format suits a nervous beginner who needs extra reassurance, a swimmer stuck on one technique, or anyone who wants focused attention and quicker progress.

  • Price: $85 per class
  • Schedule: Tuesday through Friday, 4:00 to 4:30 p.m.
  • Great for: beginners, anxious swimmers, technique refinement, and adults
Group swim lessons in Portland

Group swim lessons in Portland

Group lessons pair a small number of swimmers with one instructor and focus on foundational skills such as floating, kicking, controlled breathing, and safe behavior around the pool. They are our most budget-friendly option, and many kids enjoy learning alongside others at a similar level.

  • Price: $60 per class, or $400 for a bundle of 10 classes, which saves you $200 
  • Schedule: Tuesday through Friday, 4:00 to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
  • What to bring: goggles, a swim cap, and swim diapers for any child who is not yet potty trained

SWIM COACHES

Aquatic Sports Swim Coaches | SW Portland, Oregon

SHELBY POWELSON

My name is Shelby Powelson, and I manage Aquatic Sports, a small, family-owned and operated swim training and scuba business in SW Portland. Our family has served the community since 1966, when my grandfather opened one of the first dive shops in the state of Oregon. While our roots are in scuba training, Aquatic Sports is now in its fourth year of offering swim training, and I am proud of the program we have built. We train our instructors to teach safe, effective swimming techniques to students from 6 months old through adulthood, using the Swim Schools International (SSI) curriculum.

Helping children overcome their fear of the water and become confident, capable, and safe swimmers is my highest priority for the program. Our instructors bring fun, positive energy to every lesson while maintaining SSI's safety requirements and training protocols. Children who learn to swim and feel safe and confident around the water are more likely to develop a lifelong love and appreciation for it. My hope is that as they become stronger swimmers, they also grow curious about the underwater world and eager to explore everything that lies beneath the surface.

SHELBY POWELSON

RICK ALLEN

Coach Rick Allen grew up swimming in the rivers and lakes of rural Michigan. A natural waterman, his favorite pastimes are scuba diving, paddle boarding, and exploring the seashore, and he is as at home on an alpine lake as in a backyard pool. He looks forward to sharing his love of all things aquatic while coaching swim skills, promoting water safety, and instilling a healthy sense of adventure.

RICK ALLEN

GRACE HECKES

Hi, my name is Grace Heckes. I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) on the coast of Oregon and Washington. I have always been passionate about swimming and water safety, and growing up on the ocean in a port town made it essential. My goal is to help make the water a fun and safe place to be for people of any age.

GRACE HECKES

SEE CLASSES LIVE

Adult swim lessons in Portland

It is never too late to learn to swim. Plenty of adults in Portland never had the chance as children, and our instructors provide patient, supportive one-on-one instruction that makes the water far less intimidating. Adult lessons follow the private format and move at your pace, whether you want basic water safety or you are building toward confident lap swimming. Adults should bring basic snorkel gear for their lessons.

Free swim trial

New swimmers can start with a free swim trial. It is a no-pressure way to meet your instructor, see our warm indoor pool, and decide whether the fit is right before you enroll. To book a trial, call us at (503) 245-4991 or email talktous@aquaticsports.com and we will help you find a time.

Why choose Aquatic Sports for swim lessons?

Aquatic Sports has been a trusted name on the water in Portland since 1966, and swim instruction is a natural part of a family-owned business built around helping people feel safe and confident in the water. A few things set our lessons apart:

  • Warm indoor pool: comfortable water and year-round lessons, no matter the Portland weather
  • Experienced instructors: professionals who know how to work with nervous first-timers as well as swimmers chasing a new skill
  • Options for every swimmer: group, private, and adult lessons so you can match the format to the person
  • A low-pressure start: a free trial before you commit
  • Deep roots: a multi-generational, family-owned business that has served Portland for decades

When should my child start swim lessons?

Most children are ready to begin swim lessons around age 1, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, though readiness depends on the individual child's comfort and development. Parent-and-child classes suit ages 1 to 4 and focus on water comfort and early safety, most children are ready for formal lessons around age 4, and many learn coordinated strokes like the front crawl by ages 5 to 6. If you are weighing the timing for your own child, our parent's guide to swim lessons in Portland walks through the stages in more detail (link this anchor to the blog post once it is published). When in doubt, your pediatrician can help you decide.

Why swim lessons matter

Swim lessons are one of the most effective ways to keep a child safe. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 in the United States, and a widely cited study found that formal swim lessons were associated with an 88 percent reduction in drowning risk for that age group. Lessons are one layer of protection rather than a guarantee, so they work best alongside close supervision, barriers around home pools, and life jackets in open water. Building water competence early gives your child a skill and a safeguard that lasts a lifetime.

How to prepare for your first lesson

A little preparation helps the first lesson go smoothly. For children, bring well-fitting goggles, a swim cap for longer hair, and swim diapers for anyone not yet potty trained, plus a towel and warm clothes to change into afterward. Adults should bring basic snorkel gear. A light snack beforehand and arriving a few minutes early give everyone time to settle in without feeling rushed. First-day nerves are normal, and our instructors expect them and start slowly.

Location and hours

Aquatic Sports is located at 10803 SW Barbur Blvd, Portland, OR 97219. Group lessons run Tuesday through Friday from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., and private lessons run Tuesday through Friday from 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. To ask a question, check current availability, or book your free trial, call (503) 245-4991 or email talktous@aquaticsports.com.

Ready to get started?

The easiest first step is a free swim trial. Reach out by phone at (503) 245-4991 or email talktous@aquaticsports.com, tell us a little about the swimmer, and we will help you choose the right format and time. We look forward to helping you or your child learn to swim with confidence.

Frequently asked questions about swim lessons in Portland

We teach swimmers of all ages, from young children through adults. Guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests many children can begin around age 1 in a parent-and-child setting, with formal lessons typically starting around age 4. Readiness varies by child, so reach out and we will help you find the right starting point.

Group lessons at Aquatic Sports are 60 dollars per class, or 400 dollars for a bundle of 10 classes, which saves 200 dollars. Private lessons are 85 dollars per class. New swimmers can also start with a free trial.

Yes. Private lessons are 85 dollars per class and run Tuesday through Friday from 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. They offer one-on-one instruction, which is ideal for nervous beginners, swimmers working on a specific skill, and adults.

Absolutely. Adult swim lessons are a supportive, one-on-one way to learn at your own pace, and it is never too late to become a confident swimmer. Adults should bring basic snorkel gear.

Yes. Lessons take place in a warm indoor pool, so Portland families can keep learning through the fall and winter instead of pausing until summer. Year-round lessons help swimmers hold onto and build their skills.

For children, bring goggles, a swim cap for longer hair, and swim diapers for anyone not yet potty trained, along with a towel and warm clothes for afterward. Adults should bring basic snorkel gear.

Yes. New swimmers can schedule a free swim trial to meet the instructor and see the pool before enrolling. Call (503) 245-4991 or email talktous@aquaticsports.com to book.

Aquatic Sports is at 10803 SW Barbur Blvd, Portland, OR 97219. You can reach us at (503) 245-4991 or talktous@aquaticsports.com.

Call (503) 245-4991 or email talktous@aquaticsports.com to ask about availability and reserve a spot. Starting with a free trial is the easiest way to begin.