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Swim Level Descriptions

Use this page as a tool to help you determine what level your swimmer/s should be and see what exciting swim skills are in store for your swimmer/s in each of the City of Culver City's Learn to Swim levels. Please note: Due to COVID-19 precautions instructors will have no physical contact with the students. As a result all swimmers in group or private lessons level 3 and lower will require an adult/parent/guardian over the age of 18 to accompany the swimmer in the water.

Learn To Swim Level 1

For children 3 and older that have not had lessons before or may be uncomfortable/fearful of the water.

Learn-to-Swim Level 1	Introduction to Aquatic Skills
Water Adjustment, Entry and Exit	Enter water using ramp, steps or side Exit water using ladder, steps or side
Breath Control and Submerging	Blow bubbles, 3 seconds Bobbing, 5 times Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects in shallow water, 2 times
Buoyancy	Front glide, 2 body lengths Recover from a front glide to a vertical position Back glide, 2 body lengths Back float, 5 seconds Recover from a back float or glide to a vertical position
Changing Direction, Position and Treading	Roll from front to back Roll from back to front Arm and hand treading actions, in chest-deep water
Swim on Front and Back	All—2 body lengths Alternating leg action Simultaneous leg action Alternating arm action Simultaneous arm action Combined arm and leg actions on front
Exit Skills Assessment	Enter independently, using either the ramp, steps or side, travel at least 5 yards, bob 5 times, then safely exit the water. (Participants can walk, move along the gutter or “swim.”) Glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to a back float for 5 seconds, then recover to a vertical position. (This part of the assessment can be performed with assistance.)

Learn To Swim Level 2

For children 3 and older that are comfortable in the water, can submerge their head, hold their breath for 5 seconds and float on their front and back comfortably.

Learn-to-Swim Level 2	Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Water Adjustment, Entry and Exit	Enter by stepping or jumping from the side into shoulder-deep water Exit using ladder, steps or side from chest-deep water
Breath Control and Submerging	Fully submerge and hold breath, 10 seconds Bobbing, 10 times Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects in chest-deep water, 3 times Rotary breathing, 5 times
Buoyancy	Front glide, 2 body lengths Float in a face-down position, 10 seconds Front float Jellyfish float Tuck float Recover from a front float or glide to a vertical position Back glide, 2 body lengths Back float, 15 seconds Recover from a back float or glide to a vertical position
Changing Direction and Position and Treading	Roll from front to back Roll from back to front Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back Tread water using arm and leg actions, 15 seconds in shoulder-deep water
Swim on Front	Combined arm and leg actions on front, 5 body lengths
Swim on Back	Finning arm action, 5 body lengths Combined arm and leg actions on back, 5 body lengths
Exit Skills Assessment	Step from the side into chest-deep water, push off the bottom, move into a treading or floating position for at least 15 seconds, swim on front and/or back for 5 body lengths, then exit the water. Move into a back float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position. Push off and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to the front, then continue swimming for at least 5 body lengths.

Learn To Swim Level 3

Level 3 participants are able to float on their front and back independently, kick and glide on their front and back for 3 body lengths independently, and also know the basic crawl stroke.

Learn-to-Swim Level 3	Stroke Development
Water Entry and Exit	Enter water by jumping from the side, fully submerge, then recover to the surface and return to the side Headfirst entry from the side in a sitting and kneeling position
Breath Control and Submerging	Bobbing while moving toward safety, 15 times Rotary breathing, 15 times
Buoyancy	Survival float, 30 seconds Back float, 1 minute
Changing Direction and Position and Treading	Change from vertical to horizontal position on front Change from vertical to horizontal position on back While in a vertical position, rotate one full turn Tread water, 1 minute
Swim on Front	Push off in a streamlined position, then begin flutter kicking, 3 to 5 body lengths Push off in a streamlined position, then begin dolphin kicking Front crawl, 15 yards Breaststroke kick, 15 yards
Swim on Back	Elementary backstroke,15 yards
Swim on Side	Scissors kick, 15 yards
Exit Skills Assessment	Jump into deep water from the side, recover to the surface, maintain position by treading or floating for 1 minute, rotate one full turn, then turn as necessary to orient to the exit point, level off, swim front crawl and/or elementary backstroke for 25 yards, then exit the water. Push off in a streamlined position, then swim front crawl for 15 yards, change position and direction as necessary, swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards, then exit the water.

Learn To Swim Level 4

Level 4 participants are able to swim 25 yards of freestyle, 15 yards of backstroke, 15 yards of breaststroke kick, and can tread water in deep water.

Learn-to-Swim Level 4	Stroke Improvement
Water Entry and Exit	Headfirst entry from the side in a compact position Headfirst entry from the side in a stride position
Breath Control and Submerging	Swim underwater, 3 to 5 body lengths, without hyperventilating Feet first surface dive
Buoyancy	Survival swimming, 1 minute
Changing Direction and Position and Treading	Front crawl open turn Back crawl open turn Tread water using 2 different kicks (modified scissors, modified breaststroke or rotary), 2 minutes
Swim on Front	Front crawl, 25 yards Breaststroke, 15 yards Butterfly, 15 yards
Swim on Back	Push off in a streamlined position and begin flutter kicking, 3 to 5 body lengths Push off in a streamlined position and begin dolphin kicking, 3 to 5 body lengths Elementary backstroke,25 yards Back crawl, 15 yards
Swim on Side	Sidestroke, 15 yards
Exit Skills Assessment	Perform a feet first entry into deep water, swim front crawl for 25 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards. Swim breaststroke for 15 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim back crawl for 15 yards. Submerge and swim a distance of 3 to 5 body lengths underwater without hyperventilating, return to the surface, then exit the water.

Learn To Swim Level 5

Level 5 participants are able to swim 50 yards of freestyle, 25 yards of backstroke, 25 yards of breaststroke, 15 yards of butterfly kick and can tread water in deep water.

Learn-to-Swim Level 5	Stroke Refinement
Water Entry and Exit	Shallow-angle dive from the side Shallow-angle dive, glide 2 to 3 body lengths and begin any front stroke
Breath Control and Submerging	Tuck surface dive Pike surface dive
Changing Direction and Position and Treading	Front flip turn while swimming Backstroke flip turn while swimming Tread water, 5 minutes Tread water, using legs only, 2 minutes
Swim on Front	Front crawl, 50 yards Breaststroke, 25 yards Butterfly, 25 yards
Swim on Back	Elementary backstroke,50 yards Back crawl, 25 yards Standard (back) scull, 30 seconds
Swim on Side	Sidestroke, 25 yards
Exit Skills Assessment	Perform a shallow-angle dive into deep water at least 9 feet deep, swim front crawl for 50 yards, then swim elementary backstroke for 50 yards using appropriate and efficient turning styles throughout. Swim breaststroke for 25 yards, change direction of travel as necessary and then swim back crawl for 25 yards using appropriate and efficient turning styles throughout.

Parent and Me

Participants 6 months to 3 years old will work on developing swimming readiness through water exploration activities geared to create a fun experience for both parent and child.

Parent and Child Aquatics	Level 1 and 2
Holding and Support Techniques	Face-to-face position Hip support on front Back-to-chest positions Hip support on back Back support Arm stroke Hug position Chin support Shoulder support on front Cuddle Side-to-side position Hip straddle Shoulder support on side
Working with the Child	Cueing
Water Adjustment, Entry and Exit	Getting wet Getting wet with toys Getting wet kicking Water entry Lifting in Walking in Out-of-water exploration In-water exploration Water exit Lifting out Walking out Using a ladder Seated position—rolling over and sliding in Stepping or jumping in Using steps or a ramp—independently In-water exploration—independently, in shallow water Using side of pool—independently Using steps or ramp—independently Using a ladder—independently
Breath Control	Blow bubbles on the surface Blow bubbles with mouth and nose submerged Underwater exploration Submerge mouth, nose and eyes Underwater exploration—in shallow water Open eyes and retrieve objects below the surface Open eyes and retrieve submerged objects Bobbing—explore, independently
Buoyancy on Front	Front glide Front glide to the wall Front float
Buoyancy on Back	Back glide Back float
Changing Direction	Roll from front to back Roll from back to front
Swim on Front	Passing from instructor to parent Drafting with breathing Leg action—alternating or simultaneous movements Arm action—alternating or simultaneous movements Combined arm and leg actions on front with breath in explore, with assistance
Swim on Back	Leg action—alternating or simultaneous movements Arm action—alternating or simultaneous movements Combined arm and leg actions on back—explore

Contact Information

Culver City Municipal Plunge
4175 Overland Avenue
Culver City, Ca. 90230
Phone: (310) 253-6680
For additional aquatic information email.

Lesson Dates and Times

Click here to see what lessons we are currently offering.

Please Note

There may be times when our parks, park amenities and facilities are subject to temporary closures due to weather conditions, maintenance, failures of participants to follow COVID-19 guidelines and/or other reasons. We advise you to check the PRCS Department homepage for temporary closure notifications when planning activities.

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