Infant Survival Swim Lessons School
Teaching the Science of
Swimming Since 2016!
We teach infants and children self-rescue and independent swimming in Durham, NC.
Swim Lessons in Durham, NC:
Infant Survival & Toddler Classes
Welcome to PhD Swim School, Durham’s trusted choice for infant and toddler swim lessons since 2016. We specialize in teaching children self-rescue and independent swimming skills in a safe, supportive environment. If you’re looking for survival swimming classes in Durham, NC, you’ve come to the right place.
Our Specialized Swim Programs in Durham
Infant and Children Survival Swim Lessons
Our foundational Survival Classes are designed to teach students, from crawling infants to age 7, the skills to survive an aquatic accident. This one-on-one class is required for all new students (less than 48″ height and 50 lbs weight limits apply) and teaches children to swim and float independently.
Maintenance Lessons
Once your child graduates from our Survival class, we strongly recommend our age-appropriate Maintenance classes. These sessions build on their new skills, progressing them to the next level while developing strong, safe swimming techniques for a lifetime of confidence.
Take the Swim Assessment to find the correct class type.
What Makes Our Swim Lessons Unique?
- Survival-First Focus: Students first gain the critical skills and confidence to save themselves if an aquatic accident occurs.
- Masterful Technique: Our Maintenance Classes help students master proper swimming technique and build lasting water confidence.
- Wide Range of Programs: We cater to all swimming abilities, from teaching infant survival swim skills to training competitive swimmers. No matter your child’s current ability, we have a program that will meet their needs.
- Highly Trained Instructors: We feel our instructors are the most comprehensively trained Swim Instructors in the Triangle.
At PhD Swim School, we help your child build strong swimming skills and confidence
We teach the whole spectrum of swimming levels from infant survival to competitive swimming. Our teachers are extensively trained. We are a local, women-owned company that is committed to sustainable business practices, local and global social justice, and serving our community in and out of the water.
Why Choose Survival Swim Lessons?
Accidents can happen in seconds, often silently. While traditional “mommy and me” classes are excellent for bonding and water acclimation, they often don’t teach a child the skills to save themselves.
Our survival swim program is built on a simple, life-saving principle: competence builds confidence. We teach your child the essential, instinctual skills to react if they fall into the water unexpectedly.
Your child will learn to:
- Roll onto their back to find air, float, and breathe.
- Maintain this float unassisted, even when fully clothed, until help arrives.
- Swim to a point of safety (like the side of the pool, steps, or a parent’s hand) as they build strength and motor coordination.
Swim Levels
Swim Lessons Pricing
Survival
21 lessons; REQUIRED for Survival ;15 minute per class
- $515 per session per student
- Class duration: 3 times a week per 7 week session for 15 min per class
- Ages: crawling infant through age 7 (height & weight limits apply)
- Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 1:1
Maintenance- 15 minute classes
15 minute class after completion of survival classes
- $190 per session per student
- Class duration: 15 min per class per 7 week session
- Ages: available to graduates of Survival class or children who can swim 15 feet with their face in the water and float for 1 minute unassisted
- Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 1:1
Maintenance- 30 minute classes
30 minute class after completion of survival classes
- $340 per session per student
- Class duration: 30 min per class per 7 week session
- Ages: available to graduates of Survival Class or children who can swim 15 feet with their face in the water and float for 1 minute unassisted
- Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 1:1
Success Stories
Experience the PhD Swim School Difference
Swimming is a crucial life skill, and at PhD Swim School in Durham, NC, we take this responsibility very seriously. Our unique approach to swimming lessons ensures learning proper swim technique while fostering a love for water in your child.
Find the Perfect Class
Take our Swim Assessment today to get started. Our team will use your results to recommend the exact program that is the right fit for your child’s age and current skill level. Let’s build a foundation for a lifetime of safe swimming together—contact us!
Our Policies
Tuition is due on the 1st of the month, prior to the start of each session.
A $25 late fee will be applied to any account not paid in full by the 1st
We do not offer refunds for missed classes under any circumstances.
Registration fees are non-refundable once enrollment is complete.
Tuition payments are non-refundable.
To withdraw your child from the program, written notice must be provided by the 30th of the month prior to the upcoming session
- Make-up lessons are not scheduled due to the high demand for our classes.
- Student absences include vacations, illnesses, recitals, forgetting to come, and unforeseen circumstances.
- Students may not swap with other absent students in order to maintain teacher consistency.
- Sessions are 7 weeks long for instruction and the 8th week of the session will be used to schedule makeups for all affected students if lessons are canceled due to inclement weather, pool closing, or instructor emergency. Refunds will not be issued.
Maintenance Classes auto-enroll each session until a drop request is submitted through the Parent Portal.
To withdraw your child, you must submit a drop request via the Parent Portal by the 30th of the month prior to the upcoming session.
All administrative and registration fees are non-refundable.
No refunds will be issued for tuition or fees after the session begins.
- Serve thunder and lightning events do not cancel lessons.
General FAQ'S
- Students in the Survival Program under age 3 must NOT eat 2 hours before their lesson.
- Students in the Survival Program under age 3, should avoid 4 hours before their lesson, whole fruits (especially with skin), meats, dairy products.
- All students may have rice cereal, applesauce, bananas, toast, breast milk, and nut protein four hours before their lesson.
- Sure! No more than 2 students can share a 30 minute class.
- Each student must have graduated from PhD Swim School Survival program.
- Both students will be charged tution for a 15 minute class.
- Your child should wear a swimsuit. One piece bathing suits, tankinis, swim trunks are preferred.
- At least 2 swim non-disposal diapers, for students 3 and younger.
- Bring at least one towel.
- A change of dry clothes.
- A bag for wet clothes
- You may bring goggles to maintenanc classes, Survival students-do not wear goggles.
- Students 3 and under (even if they are potty trained) must wear two swim non disposable swim diapers at every lesson.
Tuition is due on the 1st of the month, prior to the start of each session.
A $25 late fee will be applied to any account not paid in full by the 1st
