by Cindy Britton, founder of Cindy’s Swim School
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Are you afraid of learning to swim?
You’re not alone. Recent statistics show that an estimated 14.2 million people in the UK cannot swim. That is 1 in 3 people – a staggering amount! The same goes for children, where 1 in 3 children leave primary school unable to swim.
One of my earliest memories of swimming is from when I was four years old. I saved my two-year-old cousin from drowning in just 5 cm of water in her splash pool. At the time, I didn’t grasp the gravity of the situation, but growing up in South Africa, I soon realized the crucial life skills swimming provides.
Shortly after starting my swimming career, my family were rocked by the devastating loss of a young cousin to drowning. Sadly there was no one there to save him that day.
These two events cemented my commitment to water safety and the importance of people overcoming fear and learn swimming as a vital life skill.
I believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn and enjoy swimming. And that is why at Cindy’s making swimming accessible to all is one of our core values.
I’ve written this article to address common questions about the fear of swimming and to help those who are scared take the first steps on their own swimming journey.
Why am I scared of swimming?
The simple answer is that swimming is a vital life skill. Subconsciously, we know that if we find ourselves in water and cannot swim, we are at risk. In fact, when you think about it, a fear of swimming is a completely normal reaction.
Sometimes, specific events and fears trigger a fear of swimming. For example, past traumatic experiences like a near-drowning or being thrown into a pool as a child can lead to a fear of water. Many fears are not about the water itself, more about the fear of lessons. You might worry about your appearance, or how you will react to being totally out of your comfort zone; you might feel incapable, or even feel embarrassed to wear a swimsuit in front of others. Remember, water is naturally buoyant and helps you float. Plus, everyone is wearing a swimsuit, so you’re in the right place!
Many of our adult swimmers come to their first lesson feeling terrified, overwhelmed, and embarrassed, believing they are the only ones who can’t swim and feeling a deep sense of shame before even getting in the pool. Rest assured, we are experts at putting our adult beginner swimmers at east, and you will find there is nothing to fear. Nearly every adult who has come to swim at Cindy’s has felt the same anxiety and apprehension, and they have gone on to enjoy swimming in all sorts of adventures.
How Swimming Lessons can help
Throughout my career, I have taught hundreds of adults how to swim. A little secret: teaching adults is one of the most rewarding parts of my swim teaching journey. I love teaching adult swimming because adults come willingly, committed financially to learning this new skill, and with great humility. It’s incredible and inspiring to witness and be part of someone’s journey as they challenge their fears and prejudices to succeed in something so special.
At Cindy’s, we have a thriving adult learn-to-swim programme, teaching hundreds of swimmers every week, from the basics to triathlon training. The funny thing is, learning how to swim is actually quite logical and nowhere near as complicated as you might think! The main challenge in teaching adults, especially those with a fear of water, is helping them train their brains to overcome that fear trigger. This is easier said than done, but very achievable with a logical, step-by-step approach.
A good example of this is breathing, one of the foundations of proper swimming. It’s the first thing we teach, focusing on staying calm, learning rhythms, and creating a safe environment with full support from your teacher. Overcoming a fear of water and swimming follows the same principles: teaching logically and rhythmically.
It is only natural to feel a little embarrassed, apprehensive or nervous when challenging oneself and confronting one’s fears. I always reassure my adult swimmers that they are exactly where they need to be. At Cindy’s we genuinely look forward to help them build the confidence and the fulfill the ability that is so within their reach.
The first step is the hardest, and that is booking the class. Once you’re in the water you’re already on your way to being the swimmer you want to be!
Six Tips To Help Overcome Your Fear of Swimming Lessons
Here are 6 things to keep in mind before booking your swimming lesson.
1. Pick a swim school with a strong reputation!
This is especially important for those who have a fear of water or have experienced a near-drowning incident. For people with a genuine fear of swimming, committing to lessons can be the hardest part of the process. Trusting someone with your physical, mental, and emotional well-being is no small feat. Being able to trust your instructor to keep you safe and guide you through your fear is imperative. Having the wrong instructor—someone who is unqualified or lacks empathy—can further damage your already fragile swimming confidence.
2. Use Goggles and a Swim Cap
You need the right gear. You NEED goggles and not just any goggles; ill-fitted goggles are worse than no goggles. Make sure you get goggles that fit your face shape. If you don’t know which to get, ask the swim school for recommendations. We sell the goggles we recommend. Wear a swimming cap. Having hair smuggle into your nostrils whilst you are learning how to breathe is just annoying and counter productive. They also keep the goggles in place and your ears and hair dry (most of the time :-))
3. Mention your fear when you book your swim lessons
Make sure you mention clearly that you have a fear of water and why when you book your lessons. This will help ensure you get the best available teacher for your lessons.
4. Talk to your teacher before the start of your first lesson
When booking your lessons, clearly mention your fear of water and its cause. Talk to your teacher before your first lesson. At Cindy’s, all our instructors are highly trained and a passionate bunch! They know how it feels to be scared of something and do it anyway They will do their best to make your swimming experience as positive as possible.
5. Bring a positive attitude
You’ve already accomplished the hardest part: deciding to learn to swim. Grit is what is going to get you the rest of the way there. You might even end up swimming much longer distances that you could possibly have imagined, like Nate, who only learned to swim at Cindy’s a year before he completed the 2022 Swimathon for cancer research. Well done, Nate!
6. Have Fun!
The most important tip of all is to enjoy the experience as much as possible and have fun!
Remember that swimming is what you make of it and what you want it to be. If you aspire to swim 2km in the morning like Nate, that’s fantastic! However, most people simply want to enjoy fun, safe swims during holidays with their children or grandchildren. At Cindy’s, we focus on teaching you to be water-safe, which means you’ll be able to keep yourself safe in deep water. You don’t have to swim in deep water if you’re not comfortable with it. Start in the shallow end and gradually build your confidence— you never know, you might like it!
We would love to welcome you to a Cindy’s adult swimmer class at any time. Please get in touch with any questions you may have or a book a lesson today and get started on your swimming journey!
