Swimming Lessons, Swim Clubs & Pools in Kelowna
Kelowna Water Polo Club runs swim classes that will help to improve your kids confidence, skill and swimming. If you love swimming and team sports then give water polo a try!
Our only pre-requisite is that all participants must be able to swim one length of the pool unaided (25 metres). If you are new to swimming are looking for beginner classes then there is a list list below of the best swim lessons in Kelowna.
May to August Water Polo Sign-Up is Open
Join our youth and adult programs for a fun summer of spring water polo in the pool and summer water polo outdoors on the lake. For May and June all grousp practice twice a week at the pool and then beginnig in June and throughout July and August we play outdoors at Tugboat Beach in Kelowna.
Starts May 1st 2024
Check out youth and adult programs spring/summer programs - Find out more ➜
Our spring and summer sessiosn are open to anyone who would like to play water polo. This is a great opportunity for kids and adults to improve their swimming and confidence in the pool and out on the lake.
Get started with Water Polo swim lessons, whatever your age
If you love swimming and team sports then registering for our youth or adult water polo swim lessons could be the best thing you do this year!
Kids as young as 6 can take part in our Splashball water polo classes and then we have youth teams at 9U, 11U, 13U, 15U and 18U levels plus our adult programs. Our fall Splashball program are underway but we welcome players who want to try out or join anytime.
If your kids have completed Red Cross Swim Kids Level 4, YMCA Swimmer, Lifesaving Society Swimmer 4 or can confidently swim one 25m length of a pool then they are ready for Splashball water polo and our fun girls and boys groups. This year our Splashball classes start on Sunday 24th & Thursday 28th September.
Splashball girls groups and boys groups currently practice on Wednesday and Sunday at the H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre starting on 24th & 28th September respectively. Register for Splashball Water Polo Swim Lessons here.
Why should you choose water polo?
Our youth teams practice on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evenings. We are a community club and athletes can choose to practice from 1 to 3 times-per-week.
Adult practices run on Wednesday evening, Friday lunchtime & Sunday evenings with opportunities for beginner and experienced players to learn and play the game.
Water Polo is a great way to improve swimming strength, skill and confidence in the water whilst playing a team sport.
You can find the full practice schedule here - Kelowna Water Polo Club Practice Schedule.
Registration is open for fall 2023
Get in touch at if you have questions of register for our programs here.
Swimming in Kelowna
Putting your kids into swim lessons, or learning as an adult, could be one of the best things you do! Not only will they learn the essential swim techniques and safety skills to keep them and others safe in the water but they will also grow their self-confidence whilst working hard and having fun. Following on from swimming lessons some of the clubs listed below can provide a great way to continue improving their confidence and skill in the water and if your kids love team sports then water polo is a great sport to try out.
Below are a list of swimming lessons, swim clubs and aquatic teams in Kelowna and the surrounding area. There are also some great events & lessons out on the Okanagan’s beautiful lakes during the summer months too.
If you would like information about our programs at Kelowna Water Polo Club you can find them here. If you want some information about why to choose water polo then check out the “Why Water Polo?” page on our site.
Swimming Lessons in Kelowna
Kelowna itself has 3 main pools. Photographed above is the YMCA of the Okanagan in Rutland. In addition the Parkinson Recreation Centre & H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre provide a great range of facilities for the city.
Canucks Autism Network - The swim program teaches basic swimming and water safety skills, under the nationally recognized Canadian Red Cross Swim program. Each lesson consists of a small group of participants with a high ratio of support provided by a certified swim instructor, trained support workers, and dedicated volunteers.
City of Kelowna – The City of Kelowna's Summer 2023 Activity & Program Guide is now online and you can register for Aquatic & first aid programs through their web-site and includes their Red Cross swim lessons and Lifesaving Society lifeguard courses. These are run at the Parkinson Recreation Centre follow the Red Cross swim lessons pathway which can be used if as a pre-requisite for lifesaving and lifeguarding courses.
Fire Department Swimming Ability Assessments - applicants in the firefighter recruitment process will need to complete a swimming assessment. This consists of a a three (3) minute surface support treading water exercise, 25-meter swim, 25-meter tow, in a life jacket, 20 lb weight recovery from the bottom of the pool (7 feet in depth). A great way to prepare for this is by getting some private swim lessons or even better by joining a water polo club. We have working firefighters who play with our club and water polo is a great way to get ready for the swim test and also in preparation for the other fitness tests.
H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre – At the H2O the YMCA Learn to Swim Star Program is taught. These foundational skills run from Star 1 to Star 7 in its swimming lessons. Summer 2023 registration begins around May with early registration for YMCA members.
Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre – At the 25m pool in West Kelowna you will find Red Cross Parent & Tot Swim lessons, Red Cross Swim Kids lessons for older kids as well as Adult Swim Lessons. Keep an eye out for the summer 2023 registrations. If you have completed all the Red Cross classes then the Junior Lifeguard Club or Water Polo are a great way to stay active in the water.
Lake Country Learn To Swim – learn to swim in the lake during the summer at Pebble Beach in beautiful lake country! Keep an eye out for these popular lessons when they start registration from March or April each year.
Peachland – Swim Bay/Swimming Lessons – Learn to swim in the lake, how awesome is that. The Red Cross swimming lessons run in The District of Peachland are a great way to build foundational swimming skills. Summer swim lessons registration normally begins each May. Water Polo has been added to the program for these popular summer swim lessons. Also, the beach at Peachland boasts a diving board, lifeguarded beach in the summer and is definitely worth checking out.
Summerland - the Summerland Aquatic & Fitness Centre runs the Red Cross Swim program throughout the year and will also be offering Water Polo taster sessions in 2023.
S.W.A.M. Okanagan – a not-for-profit student initiative with the mission of providing affordable and accessible one-on-one swimming instruction to children with special needs. SWAMclasses are held on Saturdays at Parkinson Recreation Centre in Kelowna.
WETS – We Teach Swimming – We Teach Swimming is a private swim school offering learn to swim programs based on the Red Cross Swim Levels for both pre-school and school age children. It is the perfect way to build water safety and core skills to develop a swimmers endurance and strong strokes before beginning to play water polo or joining another aquatic discipline. Get your kids on their waitlist for summer 2023 classes early as these fill up fast.
YMCA of the Okanagan – At the Kelowna Family Y the YMCA Learn to Swim Star Program is taught. These foundational skills run from Star 1 to Star 7 with the YMCAs excellent team of swim lesson instructors. Fall 2021 registration begins on August 23 (for YMCA members) and September 13 (for non-members).
Clubs in the Okanagan
Water Polo, Artistic Swimming, Open Water & Speed Swimming are all popular aquatic sports in the Okanagan. Other disciplines such as triathlon incorporate swimming into their competitions.
Once swimmers have some of those fundamental skills under their belt and are interested in building more strength in the water and even perhaps competing, then joining a club for Artistic Swimming, Water Polo or Speed Swimming are great options to explore.
Kelowna AquaJets – this is Kelowna’s winter speed swimming club and is a great way of building foundational skills & speed in swimming in the Junior Jets or for taking things to the next level with the Competitive program. Some of the best water polo players are also excellent speed swimmers. Canadian Olympic Bronze medalist Brent Hayden comments “Learning how to swim faster freestyle is definitely a useful skill for all water polo players. I got most of my goals because I got all the breakaways.”, definitely true!
Kelowna Dolphins – formerly know as synchronised swimming, artistic swimming is an a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics that requires incredible strength and dexterity in the water to perform a synchronised routine. The 2023-2024 season includes competitions that will take place in the Lower Mainland and Kamloops.
Ogopogo – this summer club is affiliated with the BCSSA and its main season is from May to August where swimmers trains 5 times per-week. As well as training at the Parkinson Recreation Centre and H2O Aquatic Centre you may see the Ogopogo club swimming loops at Gyro Beach Park. Summer swimming is a great option if you want to build strong swimming skills while being able to take part in your favourite winter sports like water polo.
Kelowna Springboard Diving Club
Kelowna Triathlon Club – if you love to cycle and run on top of a good swim then triathlon could be for you. The swimming lessons for triathlon take place at the H2O aquatic centre and then out on the lake in the summer for training and competitions.
Kelowna Water Polo Swim Club – Join the swim club anytime! If you lilke swimming & teams sports then you will love water polo. Our club offers swim lessons for young athletes who want to develop their swimming & water polo skills in a fun team environment. Our community welcomes players of all ages whether you want to learn the game or are an experienced player..
KISU Swim Club – for swimmers of all ages in Penticton, British Columbia KISU has a spot for you. From those new to speed swimming and all the way through to a Masters swim program there is a spot for everyone looking to improve their stroke.
Lumby Lightning – a BCSSA club that trains at the outdoor pool in Lumby at 1811 Glencaird St. from mid-May to mid-August. Summer swimming is a great way to complement any winter sport (like water polo) and to compete in swim meets around the Okanagan.
Merritt Otters – a competitive summer swim club located in the heart of the Nicola Valley. This community speed swimming team has also fielded water polo teams in provincial competitions taking place at the Canada Games Pool in Kamloops.
Okanagan Masters - the masters swimming club has both long course 50 m sessions and short course 25m training sessions. They offer a variety of flexible training times for all levels of ability.
Penticton Pikes Summer Swim Club – BC Summer Swim club with about 90 swimmers. The club trains at the Penticton Community Centre, a 25m, 10 lane indoor facility. Our competitive season is May 1st through mid-August.
Vernon Water Polo Swim Club - there is a strong water polo community in Vernon that will be starting a water polo club in the near future. To get involved join the Vernon, Lumby & Enderby Water Polo Community facebook group.
Lifesaving & Lifeguarding
H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre – improve your water safety with a Bronze Medallion lifesaving course or sign up for the nationally recognised National Lifesaving Society certification as a pool lifeguard.
YMCA of Southern Interior BC
City of Kelowna – check out the Aquatics and First Aid courses on offer at Parkinson Recreation Centre.
Lifesaving Society - you can find dates for all lifesaving & lifeguarding courses in BC on the Lifesaving BC & Yukon webisite.
Why Swimming Is Important
The infographic below is commonly used to highlight the foundational skills that athletes of any age need to participate in a sport. As you can see swim lessons & learning to swim are an important step in progressing to play or compete in many other sports.
Swimming Pools
There are a number of awesome pools offering swim lessons in Kelowna and the surrounding area. Check them out or just head down for a lap swim.
Grand Forks & District Aquatic Centre - four 25 metre lanes, a large shallow water leisure area, sauna, whirlpool and well equipped fitness and wellness centre.
Kelowna - Outdoor Aquatic Pool (closed), City Park, Kelowna - The site is now used for the Kelowna Classic Lake Water Polo Tournament every July. There is a campaign to create a new outdoor Aquatic Pool in Kelowna that you can find out about here.
Kelowna – H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre – 8 lane 50m pool that is normally split into two 25m pools.
Kelowna – Parkinson Recreation Centre – 6 lane 25m pool.
Kelowna – Family YMCA in Rutland – 8 lane 25m pool and 10m x 18m deep tank with 4 lanes.
The Water Polo Swim Club Training at the Family YMCA in Rutland during 2020
Lumby Outdoor Pool - one of the Okanagan's few outdoor 25m lap pools. This pool has 5 lanes in a shallow to deep format that would work really well for youth water polo. The pool hosts swim lessons, aquafit and other activites for the community in Lumby. In summer 2023 our water polo club visited Lumby to offer "Try it Out" water polo sessions.
Penticton Community Centre – 10-lane 25m lap pool, leisure pool with lazy river and spray features, waterslide, whirlpool, sauna and steam room. It also has many accessible features.
Salmon Arm Recreation Centre - 6 Lane 25m pool
Summerland Aquatic & Fitness Centre - Features include 25m, 6 lane pool featuring large inflatable pool toys, jetted whirlpool hot tub & sauna. This pool also has water polo goalie nets.
Vernon Aquatic Centre - a 6 lane 25m pool with opportunities for lane swimming, masters swimming as well as water slide, small lazy river and a hot tub.
West Kelowna – Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre
Outdoor Swimming & Water Polo in the Okanagan
Improve your stroke in the summer months by jumping into one of the many warm lakes in and around Kelowna.
Tugboat Beach - this is where the water polo club practices and plays in the summer.
Gyro Swim Loop – many swim clubs and triathletes take advantage of the the warm lake temperatures and long days in the summer months to swim the 800m loop at Boyce-Gyro Beach Park. The loop is marked out with 11 Buoys 50m apart. Kelowna Water Polo Club members have also been known to play pick-up water polo here during the summer. If you are a keen open water swimmer you might also like to check out the Manteo Mile but be sure to make sure you are visible when swimming in the open lake.
Peachland – Swim Bay the only lifeguard protected beach in the Okanagan Valley, from May long weekend to Labour Day. Featuring a wharf with diving board, zip line & rope swing, concession stand, picnic tables, washrooms and change rooms.
Vernon - Splashdown Waterpark - If you are looking for a day of pure water fun... no laps... no water polo drills then Splasdhown is definitely worth a visit. Formerly Atlantis Waterslides, Splashdown is located in Vernon, British Columbia. With 10 slides and some great concesssion stand this is a great family day out. The tube ride River Riot has been voted "Best Family Fun" attraction in the Okanagan Region.
Events & Activities
Across the Lake Swim – this annual swim across Okanagan Lake is not only an awesome event but it also helps raise money to fund the YMCA Okanagan Swims program with a goal of donating $40,000 to increate the number of children that are send for a free swim lesson.
Drop-in Water Polo on the Lake – this non-club activity takes place during the summer when the lake has warmed up, normally on Wednesday evenings. Check out the YMCA Water Polo group on Facebook during the summer. These games are not refereed but often a lot of fun!
Sailing, Surfing and Kitesurfing on Okanagan Lake
If you are looking for other lake activities then check out Antlers Beach on a very strong south wind and you may see some surfers in the water. Also, COSA, The Kelowna Paddle Centre and other organisations offer some great activities such as sailing lessons, outrigger paddling and much more.
A club missing from the list?
If you would like to add your swim club or know another location where kids or adults can lear to swim then drop us an e-mail. You can get in touch at .
PHOTO CREDITS
Water Polo cover Photo by Moetaz Attalla CC BY 2.0