The Philippines is a tropical country with 7,641 islands. As someone who loves going to the beach, I noticed that most foreigners know how to swim, whereas many Filipinos, including myself, often wear life vests.
During my high school years, our school offered swimming lessons, but I would often excuse myself, pretending to be sick or saying I had my period because I was really afraid to face my fear of deep water. Later on, when I realized how much I loved going to the beach, I started feeling limited whenever I traveled — I would just stay on the boat or at the shore because I was too scared to swim.
Below are the lists I’ve gathered, along with some firsthand experiences. I hope they help you avail and enroll the right swimming classes for you here in the Philippines.
Swimming Lessons for Adults Philippines
I enrolled in two swimming schools because I realized that learning wouldn’t be easy for me. Here are the two swimming lessons for adults I’ve researched around Metro Manila.
Swim Central
I chose the Survival Swimming class because I only needed to learn how to float. I was able to learn the basics, but sometimes I still find myself struggling during the drills. I realized that maybe I need to get a private coach who can correct my arm, leg, and body positions.
Their Survival Swimming lessons are held at the following venues: Plunge Dive Club in Ortigas, Blueworld Dive Center in Parañaque, and Divenet in Project 4, Quezon City.
Their Basic Swimming classes are offered at these venues: Galleria Townhomes in New Manila, Antel Spa in Makati, Blueworld Dive Center in Parañaque, and Patio Isabel Resort in Novaliches, Quezon City.
Swim Central Rates
- Survival Swimming – This lesson focuses mostly on floating and water treading. The rate is P1,299 for 2 sessions completed in one day, with a total of 3 hours of class time.
- Basic Swimming – This lesson includes 4 swim stroke sessions and 2 survival swimming sessions. You can choose between freestyle or breaststroke. It costs P2,999 for 6 sessions.
They also offer private 1-on-1 sessions with a coach for P1,200 per session.
Swim Solo
Their location is in Cubao, Quezon City, at AYSN Sports Center, with an admission fee of P500 per session. Since the admission fee is quite pricey, I chose Promo A to save on costs. Their instructors are former/current varsity athletes from UST and San Beda.
As of this writing, AYSN Sports Center is under renovation so these are their current options for the venue:
- Ace Water Spa, Pasig
- Ace Water Spa, Quezon City
- Royale Estates Clubhouse, Las Pinas
- Philippine Army Gym, Taguig
- Victoria Sports Tower, EDSA
- Marikina Sports Center, Marikina
As an adult with a very busy schedule, I appreciate that they allow me to choose when I can attend the sessions. The number of sessions you need depends on how fast you learn — if you’re a quick learner, you’re lucky enough to pick up 2–4 swimming strokes in addition to the survival swimming lessons they teach. Their approach to survival swimming is different from Swim Central’s.
By my second session, I had already picked up the basics of freestyle, and by my third session, we were working on perfecting both my survival skills and freestyle technique. Even though the classes were a bit pricey, I can honestly say it was sulit (worth it) — by the end of the sessions, I felt a huge boost in my confidence in the water. It was such an incredible relief, especially because there was a time I truly thought I was a hopeless case. Turns out, I just needed the right guidance and a little push!
Swim Solo Rates
- PROMO A – 5,000 php (6hrs)
3 sessions x 2hrs/session - PROMO B – 5,000 php (6hrs)
6 sessions x 1hr/session
In-house Venue:
- PROMO A – 8,000 php (6hrs)
3 sessions x 2hrs/session - PROMO B – 8,000 php (6hrs)
4 sessions x 1.5hrs/session
Please message their Facebook page directly for more info.
Other Swimming Lesson Classes
These are the other options I’ve been looking at. Please note that location and prices may be subject to change, so it’s best to inquire directly on their Facebook pages.
