The younger you can start your child swimming, the better!

We offer classes for all ages, and encourage parents to start swim lessons for their kiddos as early as 4 months old. Our proven teaching style builds confidence and skill without dunking.

Classes range from our Parent/Baby Class (Little Otters) to our swim team (Dolphins) for children, and our beginning swim class for adults (Aquaphobics) to our Senior Swim Therapy—all in our comfortable 94-degree pools.

Swim With Us

Jim Booth Swim School students learn how to swim

Levels

Babies and Kids

  • Little Otters (Parent/Baby Class)

    💦 Ages 4 months – 3 years
    👏 1:6 teacher-to-student ratio
    🏊‍♀️ Early swim movements
    ⭐️ Confidence-building experience

    For parents and infants starting at four months old. We follow a gentle approach to encourage their own natural enthusiasm. Babies are actually learning to swim. We have a step-by-step way to get babies going underwater without dunking or forcing. Your infant benefits from the bonding and trust of this family-oriented class.

  • Sea Otters

    💦 Ages 3+
    👏 1:4 teacher-to-student ratio
    🏊‍♀️ For complete beginners
    ⭐️ Fundamental skill building

    This beginner class leads to comfort and confidence in floating. Children work on:

    💦 Going under water independently
    💦 Blowing bubbles
    💦 Floating face down
    💦 Floating on their backs

  • Seahorses

    💦 Skill-based placement
    👏 1:4 teacher-to-student ratio
    🏊‍♀️ For students who can float on their front
    ⭐️ Developing arm stroke

    Children in this class will also work on:

    💦 Working on swimming a short distance independently
    💦 Floating on their back
    💦 Elementary backstroke

  • Seals

    💦 Skill-based placement
    👏 1:4 teacher-to-student ratio
    🏊‍♀️ For students who can swim a short distance
    ⭐️ Working on building strength and endurance

    Students in this class will also:

    💦 Work on their side breath
    💦 Learn the backstroke
    💦 Be introduced to flutter kicks
    💦 Work on dives

    This class is taught in the deep end of the pool.

  • Swordfish

    💦 Skill-based placement
    👏 1:4 teacher-to-student ratio
    🏊‍♀️ For students who can swim freestyle independently with unassisted side breaths
    ⭐️ Improving freestyle and backstroke

    Students in this class will also:

    💦 Build strength
    💦 Be introduced to breast stroke
    💦 Be prepared for our pre-competitive Dolphins Swim Team

    This class is taught in the deep end of the pool.

  • Dolphins Swim Team

    This is a non-competitive swim team designed to build endurance and confidence in all strokes and lap swimming.

    This swim team is for skilled swimmers and is a great way to keep your swimmer swimming!

Adults

Aquaphobics

A second chance for those adults who have never learned to swim. This is a fun way to become an aquatic wonder. Classes are available for fearful or new swimmers all the way up to adults who just need some stroke work. It's never too late to learn how to swim!

Schedule

We have dozens of class times each week, and we work hard to accommodate your schedule and personally match your swimmer with the best class for them and your family. 

Classes are offered from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, Monday through Thursday, year round for all ages. We also have Friday & Saturday classes available.

Ready to get going now? You don't even have to wait for a new session to start. Simply give us a call for more information on class availability; it's as easy as that! If a swim session has already started, and there is still room to accommodate you, the cost will be prorated.

Swim Lesson Schedules

We offer four-week sessions each and every month. There are two types of schedules: Weekday lessons and Saturday lessons.

Student swimmer at Jim Booth Swim School in Santa Cruz during swim lessons

Weekday Lessons

Lessons are two days per week for a half hour. Classes are either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday. Sessions are four weeks long. Each session includes a total of eight lessons.

Baby swim lessons at Jim Booth Swim School in Watsonville and Santa Cruz

Friday & Saturday Lessons

Lessons are one day a week for a half an hour. Classes are held on Saturdays. Sessions are four weeks long. Each session includes a total of four lessons.

Our Pricing

Our pricing structure is straightforward.

Click on pricing options to see details.

  • Each session is four weeks long, and includes two lessons per week. Students choose either a Monday + Wednesday or Tuesday + Thursday schedule, and each lesson is 30 minutes long.

    (We have a twin discount of $260 per session, and your 3rd child gets half off their session fee.)

  • Each session is four weeks long, and includes one lesson per week on Saturday. Each lesson is 30 minutes long.

  • Each session is four weeks long, and includes two workouts per week on a Tuesday + Thursday schedule. Each workout is 45 minutes long.

  • We have a one-time registration fee per student per calendar year.

Payment is required upon signing up. Payment may be made by credit/debit card, or you may stop by to pay cash or check in person before lessons begin. 

Registration

The fastest way to get registered is to give us a call at (831) 722-3500. You’ll likely connect with a staff member immediately; if you leave a message we will get back to you very shortly. 

Jim Booth Swim School student having fun underwater while learning to swim

We don’t offer online registration, and here’s why. We want to ensure you get to:

  • Have an opportunity to ask any and all questions you may have, and get answers right away

  • Explore various class times that would work for your family

  • Be able to “pencil in” for a class time—yep, we’ll save your spot if you need to check something else before committing!

  • Coordinate with another family or swimmer; we can tell you how many spots are available in each class, and pencil in multiple students, if needed

  • Talk to a real human! We care deeply about building relationships with all our families (and, we promise to get down to brass tacks and get you scheduled and on your way!)

Call us!
(831) 722-3500

Jim Booth Swim School teachers in the pool

Birthday Pool Parties

Want to have a fun and memorable birthday or private party that you and your guests will love? Jim Booth Swim School offers birthday swim parties at our Duncan Holbert Indoor Pool in Watsonville. Here’s the details:

  • Year round on Saturdays only (depending on availability)

  • You can book minimum of two hours for $248, with each additional hour costing $125; parties are a maximum of 4 hours

  • Send your kids home happy, tired and clean! 

  • For more information on party details, please contact us and we'll help you create a wonderful, carefree swim party

Open Swim and Birthday Parties

Open Swim

Want some extra time in the pool outside of lessons? Then open swim is for you! Here’s how to join us:

  • Open Swim is at our Duncan Holbert Indoor Pool

  • Hours are Saturdays 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm 

  • The cost is just $5 per person or $10 per family

  • Drop in and have fun!