Start learning today
Dive into the world of swimming
with confidence and ease.
Safety
A true foundation of safety comes from your own learning and confidence.
Growth
Developing and sharing confidence in the water will expand your horizons to new adventures.
Freedom
Finally participate in all the aquatic activities you used to sit out!
A true foundation of safety comes from your own learning and confidence.
50% of adults don’t identify as strong swimmers.
Our Services
Learn to swim, teach others,
and everything in between.
Online Courses
Instructor Certification
Signature Retreats
DISCOVER
Learn more about our different programs or schedule a free meeting for guidance on where to begin.
PREPARE
Our courses will help you prepare mentally and physically so you can feel calm and confident in the water.
SWIM
Begin taking tangible steps to meet your personal swimming goals without fear.
Common Queries
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you’ve never stepped foot in a pool or you’re just not comfortable in deep water, we have options for you.
You really can! Whether you use our courses to supplement your local in-person swim class or as your personal companion for swimming in deep water, we’re committed to equipping you with every tool you need.
No matter your past experience or current ability, learning to swim can be a reality for you!
Between working on your own and with an instructor, it takes an average of 100 hours to learn to swim with calm in deep water, depending on your particular background when you begin.
Discover joy in swimming.
Adults and kids learn in vastly different ways. We can’t expect to confidently learn to swim – or teach other adults to swim – using a curriculum for kids.
Adults experience the water with their unique stories that create questions, concerns, and even fears about swimming that kids don’t have! That means whether you’re the student or teacher, adult swim classes need to be approached with a focus on mindset first and physical skills second.
After 20+ years of working exclusively with adult swimmers, Calm Within Adult Swim is committed to providing resources that will help you transform your mindset and accomplish goals in the water you used to think were impossible!
We’re honored to equip instructors and teach students like you learn to swim with a brand new perspective in the water. After swimmers discover calm in the water, the skills and movements flow from there!
Expert Trainers
20 +
Student Experiences
What's the word on the program
Words cannot express how grateful I am to Orca Swim School. I just finished the 3 day Foundations course this past weekend and I feel like I’m a different person. Learning to swim was one of my life goals since I didn’t learn when I was a child. At 60 years old, I thought I may have to give up. But then I found Orca Swim School and when I heard they were doing these classes in Portland, which is closer to my home, I took it as a sign to finally face my fears of deep water and sign up. All the lessons I’ve taken as an adult failed me because it didn’t address my fear of the deep water. After taking these classes with Cori as my instructor, I am now more comfortable in the water because I now know how the water holds me up and able to change my thought process which helps with dealing with my fear. Cori made the classes fun – which I never ever experienced that feeling of fun in the water EVER. By the last day, I was able to confidently jump into the deep end of the pool and swim back to the side of the pool – I COULDN’T STOP SMILING!!!! What I also loved is the complete understanding you receive from the instructors that as an adult, you are not weird for not knowing how to swim — there are many people like me that don’t know but haven’t found these classes. For anyone out there reading this and considering taking the plunge, PLEASE DO. It will change your life. THANK YOU CORI, and ORCA SWIM SCHOOL! I am forever grateful!!!
The 3-Day Learn to Swim Retreat was transformational. I went from being anxious and tense in the water to neutral and relaxed. I better understand how my body moves in water, how to conserve energy, how to get air when I need it, and am building healthy foundational skills.
I highly recommend this course to anyone wanting to feel safer in water, and more confident in their body and its capacities in water.
First of all, this has been the best learning experience I have had as a new beginner swimmer. I was skeptical at first but so glad I took the leap of faith to enroll. I just competed Foundations 1 classes this past weekend with instructor Karen who is phenomenal! I would also like to acknowledge Jack who helped out the first week. The class number is only 4 people which makes learning easy and enjoyable. I am more comfortable in the water and will continue building on the skills I have acquired. I would definitely recommend anyone looking for adult swimming classes to check out Orca Swim! Thank you again!
Not the typical swim class. It was guided mindfulness while engaging with water. Fun, educational, and empowering. In the end, we all became swimmers!! Amazing!
It’s great to hear the feedback. This is a feature I was not expecting. I’m very glad I chose to sign up for this before my swimming lessons start in two weeks. I’ve already felt my confidence improve.
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