Swimming Lessons in New Orleans

Finding swim lessons in New Orleans and getting your children water safe is extremely important because we are surrounded by water here. If you are moving to New Orleans, you will soon discover that many New Orleans homes have pools. Therefore, teaching your child how to swim is a top priority for their wellness and safety. The encouraging news is that there are many options for New Orleans swim lessons. From private swim instructors, to top caliber New Orleans swim teams, to group swim classes for infants in New Orleans … if you want your child to learn how to swim in New Orleans, we have you covered. Swim lessons on the Northshore and in suburbs of New Orleans like Metairie are listed for your convenience as well. 

New Orleans Swim Lessons

Where to take swim lessons in New Orleans?


The New Orleans Mom Featured Swim Lesson Partner: Little Fins Swim Academy

What sets the Little Fins Swim Academy program apart is the amount of freedom within our lesson plan. Our instructors get to know each student, and customize every lesson to meet the individual needs of their swimmers. There is something for everyone; caregivers with babies, fearful 5-year olds, to over-confident 2-year olds, and the list goes on.Best swim lessons in New Orleans

In our experience, the first 30 minutes of a lesson is the most productive, which is why every lesson is 30 minutes. In that time, we positively reinforce every moment of progress big or small, from the first step into the pool, to the day they’re waterproof.

Consistency is key. Whether that’s in our pool, or in the bathtub at home. Your wins are our wins! Our instructors will discuss ways of practicing outside of lessons – in the bathtub, pool, or even dry drills that are beneficial to our students’ progress. Many of our wonderful students who came to us with no prior experience and stayed consistent have gone on to swim competitively. However, if that’s not a goal your family has in mind, at the minimum your swimmer will finish our lessons with age-appropriate expertise.

Finally, the size of our classes are intentional! In our 10 years in business, and 14 years of teaching lessons, we’ve found that lessons are most productive in very small groups. Each group class will be 3 students per instructor. Each shared private lesson is 2 students per instructor. This gives our instructors time to get to know each student and come up with a plan that will work best for them.

Are you ready to book your swim lessons with Little Fins Swim Academy? CLICK HERE! 

Still have questions? Check out our FAQ’s here. 

The New Orleans Mom Featured Swim Lesson Partner: Little Fins Swim Academy


Swim Lessons in New Orleans

Swimming lessons are a necessity in New Orleans; most of our kids have been in a pool since birth. If your New Orleans home doesn’t have a pool, chances are your neighbors do. The scary reality is that drownings (and near drownings) can happen in an instant; just ask this local New Orleans mom. It is never too early for New Orleans kids to learn the importance of safety near the water. Knowing that your child can swim to the side should they fall in a pool is a tremendous relief and sense of assurance as a mom. Of course, I still worry like any mom, but I know that my kids are prepared in the event that they happen to fall into water.

There are many options to consider when determining where to take swim lessons in New Orleans. You can start with a Water Babies / “Mommy and Me” class where a parent accompanies the baby into the water for an easy adaptation. Alternatively, you can start from the beginning with official lessons whereby a parent is not in the water with the child.

We also suggest that parents consider whether they prefer swimming lessons in a facility or in a home setting, as well as whether group or private lessons are a better fit. There are many swim lessons in New Orleans that happen in more official facilities, but there are also many excellent New Orleans swimming teachers who instruct in a pool in their backyard. As with anything childcare related, we’d always urge parents to “interview” the instructor to gauge their skill set, credentials and fit with your family. Finally, think through whether you prefer an indoor or outdoor pool. Please also note that this New Orleans swim lesson list is only meant to be a starting point for your research.

Our friends at Little Fins offer some great tips on getting your kiddos started. It’s essential that your swimmer wants to be there and that it’s something the emerging swimmer looks forward to while building their skills and self-confidence.

Best Swim Lessons in New Orleans, Metairie and the Northshore

New Orleans Swim Lessons

Love Swimming

Location :: 5221 South Front Street, New Orleans {uptown New Orleans swim lessons}

Ages :: 6 months to adult

Facility :: Indoor pool

UNO Aquatic Center

Location :: 6801 Franklin Avenue, New Orleans {Lakefront New Orleans swim lessons}

Ages :: 3 year to adult

Facility :: Indoor pool (heated year round)

JCC – Uptown 

Location :: 5342 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans {uptown New Orleans swim lessons}

Ages :: 6 months and up

Facility :: Outdoor pool

Loyola University

Location: 6363 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans {uptown New Orleans swim lessons}

Ages :: Infant to Adult – call for availability in Spring 2022

Facility :: Indoor pool

Jewell’s Pool Swim Lessons

Location :: Marrero {Westbank New Orleans swim lessons}

Ages :: beginner, intermediate and advanced swim lessons available

Tulane / Reily Center

Location :: 31 McAlister Dr, New Orleans {uptown New Orleans swim lessons}

NOTE :: Tulane’s pool is currently CLOSED for renovation {as of Fall 2022}.

Brown Girls Swim

Location :: 2220 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd {Dryades YMCA}

Ages :: 3 and up to adult!

Jennifer Laurent

Location :: Covington, Hammond, Slidell, New Orleans or YOUR HOME

Phone :: (985) 351-4812

Ages :: 6 months to 6 years

Swim Lessons in Metairie

Little Fins Swim Academy 

Location :: 5728 Plauche St Suite B, Elmwood, LA 70123 {Metairie swim lessons}

Ages :: 6 months to adult

Facility :: Outdoor pool

South Louisiana Swim Team

Location :: 4828 Utica Street, Metairie {Metairie swim lessons and swim team}

Ages :: 16 months and up

Facility :: Indoor pool

Note: SLST also offers swim lessons in New Orleans and Hammond.

Safe Swim

Location :: 2208 Judith St, Metairie, LA 70003 {Metairie swim lessons}

Ages :: 4 months-adult (also offers water safety training and diverse abilities lessons)

Facility :: Indoor and Outdoor Pool

JCC – Metairie 

Location :: 3747 W. Esplanade Avenue, Metairie, LA 70002 {Metairie swim lessons}

Ages :: 3 and up

Facility :: Outdoor pool

Harry’s Dive Shop

Location :: 4709 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA 70001 {Metairie swim lessons}

Ages :: 6 months to adult

Facility :: Indoor pool

East Jefferson YMCA

Location :: 6691 Riverside Drive Metairie, LA 70003 {Metairie swim lessons}

Ages :: 6 months to 15 {also offers lifeguard and diverse abilities swim lessons}

Facility :: Outdoor pool

Note :: Belle Chase YMCA and West St. Tammany YMCA also offer swim lessons

Ms. Bubba

Location :: 2002 Toledano St., Kenner {Kenner swim lessons}

Phone :: (504) 400-6544

Ages :: 6 months to adult

Facility :: Outdoor pool

Note: Please text to schedule swim lessons.

Nikki’s Fishies Private Swim Lessons

Location :: 3627 W Grandlake Blvd {Kenner swim lessons}

Phone :: (504) 994-4595

Ages :: 2 years to adult

Note :: Specializes in children with special needs. Please text to schedule private swim lessons.

Northshore New Orleans Swim Lessons

Infant Swim Resource

Location :: Covington, Hammond, Slidell, New Orleans or YOUR HOME

Ages :: 6 months to 6 years

Northshore Swim

Location :: 690 Albert Street, Mandeville, LA {Northshore swim lessons}

Ages :: 2 months to adult

Facility :: Outdoor pool with dome covering in winter, heated year-round

Franco’s 

Location :: 100 Bon Temps Roule, Mandeville, LA {Mandeville swim lessons}

Ages :: 6 months to adult

Facility :: Outdoor pool

Note :: Mandeville swim lessons are open to members and non-members.

Pelican Athletic Club

Location :: 1170 Meadowbrook Blvd, Mandeville, LA {Mandeville swim lessons}

Ages :: 6 months to adult

Facility :: Indoor or outdoor pool

Note :: Mandeville swim lessons are open to members and non-members.

Coach William “Bill” Babcock

Location :: 8 Beth Drive, Covington, LA {Private residence}

Ages :: 6 months to adult

Email :: [email protected]

Facility :: Outdoor pool

Note :: Email Coach Bill to schedule lessons. 

Stone Creek Club & Spa 

Location :: 1201 Ochsner Blvd, Covington, LA.

Contact :: Register online.

Facility :: Outdoor pool

Mandeville Sports Complex

Location :: 23052 Highway 1088, Mandeville, LA

Contact :: 985-801-7105 or [email protected]

Facility :: Outdoor pool

19 COMMENTS

  1. I just wanted to warn other moms about Harry’s Dive Shop. My 3 year old was enrolled there and participated in 3 lessons, on the 3rd lesson the instructor had them all paddle to the deep end of the pool and sit on the the side of the pool to take turns going into the water. While working with the first child my 3 year old slipped into the water on accident. The instructor did not notice. Luckily, my husband and I both saw it happen and ran from the shallow end to the deep end of the very large pool and my husband had to jump in and pull him out. The instructor did not notice until my husband made it into the water and a manager only noticed because I was screaming while we ran. I feel that if we did not have our eyes on him and the moment he slipped in this all would have had a very different outcome. I just want to make sure other parents know about this and that they are cautious about who they use for swimming lessons and vigilant about watching their children around pools.

  2. We had a bad experience today at my 20 months old’s 2nd swim lesson. The instructor kept dunking him under the water even though he was hystetically screaming and clinging to her. He was terrified. Is this normal? I hope not. Any recommendations on facilities that do not teach this way?

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here