This is a nice swimming school in the area for those looking to ensure their kids have this critical life skill. We've been to a few different swim schools in Bergen County, this is one of the more centrally located ones, being right off Rt17 and the GSP. Being fairly new, the facilities are very clean and bright, well equipped with spacious storage and changing rooms, with very friendly staff. Hours are very good so you should be able to find a time that works for you. There's even a small kids play area for those with antsy little ones. Price seems to be a bit higher than a few other places, but not surprising considering how new and clean it is here. But good overall. read more

The Senior Assistant Manager, Abigail, reached out to me directly to address the concerns I shared in my last review. She invited me to return and try the facility again. I was paired with a great instructor (Haighley) and my son has been with her consistently for a few weeks. My son was always fearful of water and would cry before getting in any pool. My son now looks forward to swim class. I couldn't get him in a pool before and now I have a hard time getting him out lol. He's very shy but I was surprised to see him talk and joke around with her so quickly. She is great with children (my son is 3). They recently celebrated a year of being open and I've noticed a difference in consistency with instructors throughout. The facility does well at maintaining cleanliness throughout. I'm glad I gave it another chance! Abigail has been amazing and accommodating. read more

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My daughter had been coming to this location since it opened. It has been a interesting experience. Not all instructors are met to teach. They are not consistent. After coming since 2022 she is still in bold 3, with no hope in sight of her progressing to the final level. We have decided to take her out since its a ridiculous amount to pay for her to be waiting for her final star to go to the next level (she been at bold 3 for over ine year). Would have liked for her to finsih the program but its too costly and she is a proficient swimmer. Also, we have to give them 30 days notice before we can exit. What a joke. Wished I followed my instincts and took her out since last year. Note, there is a limit to 15 make ups per year which we have reached. My kid tends to get sick often so she has had to miss a lot of classes. This is a ridiculous rule and we are met to pay for it? Thanks big blue! read more

I'm very happy with Big Blue. I have a baby, attending baby blue. The classes are so cute and fun for me and baby. My daughter is 7 months, she doesn't cry and happy going under the water, and working on each skill. I attribute this also to our instructor Hugo, who is so patient. My daughter goes right to him, showing she feels safe. When I have questions, their text line is great, always a fast response. If they need to, I get a quick call to further answer my questions. All around great place and staff. read more

I put my daughter in the new school in Woodland Park. Xavier and Andrew are amazing instructors. My daughter is 3 1/2 and I have been a pre-k teacher for 20 years. It's not easy to work with this age group, but they are amazing. Djoulia and Eddy at the front desk are absolutely amazing. They listen and take care of any concerns I have. I look forward to taking my daughter here. read more

I am writing this review after being a client for several months to express my deep disappointment with the recent and drastic decline in the quality of the swim program and its management. While the initial experience was positive, the changes over the past few months have made the program unacceptable. 1. Unacceptable Facilities and Logistics The facility logistics are severely lacking. There is only one private shower/bathroom available for families. We frequently encountered lines of three to four people waiting just to use the single shower to wash their children after class. This is a significant operational failure and creates an unnecessary amount of stress and delay for parents. 2. Drastic Drop in Instructional Quality The program made a critical mistake by removing or losing their one effective instructor. Following this, my son was given random instructors daily who appeared minimally prepared and often seemed unsure of the curriculum. In one particularly poor instance, the instructor assigned to a one-on-one lesson with my son was mostly floating passively in the pool instead of actively engaging and teaching. This inconsistency and lack of quality instruction severely undermines a child's progress and wasted valuable time. 3. Management Inconsistency and Unprofessional Communication The handling of program policies and communication was highly unprofessional. My son has been wearing the exact same type of swim diaper since he was six months old. To raise an issue now, when he is 22 months old, demonstrates a massive failure in internal consistency and staff training over a long period. Furthermore, instead of addressing this or any other issue in a professional, face-to-face manner--by pulling me aside briefly after class--management chose to send a text message while I was actively getting my child dressed. This disrespectful and indirect method of communication is highly unprofessional and indicates a fundamental lack of regard for customers. read more

My daughter has not had the same instructor on Sundays since we started in May. Even after making two requests they do not help in any way. No one concerns themselves with the swimmer's progress or why they aren't learning properly. Children cannot learn with the instability of new instructors very week. The instructor Natalie could not be any less interested while the kids are in the pool. She doesn't bother to teach anything, doesn't demonstrate and overall cold attitude with kids around the ages of 4-6. She doesn't know how to get the kids attention or stop them without getting physical and when she sees a parent watching her she'll switch to a friendly tone to the kids. I'm disappointed with the service provided and have given our 30 day notice to cancel sessions with this facility. read more

My daughter who is now 3 has been coming here since she was 3 months old. Some instructors are better than others but she's always excited to come. Her instructor Mr Ty is amazing. They have bonded and she is always so happy excited to see him. He's great with her and the other kids and does a great job with them. She's not independently swimming without a back pack but is making strides over time and truly enjoys the water now. We love Mr Ty! read more

I am torn writing this and giving 3 stars vs 2, but yes the location is new and looks very nice, so I'll give 3, but they're still pretty unorganized. My son has behavioral concerns (we are working with a doctor) and every time he has been to this location he has a different instructor. He doesn't do well with change at all and this deterred him from now wanting to go back to swim ever. He used to love swim while at Goldfish, and want to go every week, this is not the same at this school. Also, it's really chaotic trying to get in and out of the sessions with people all over trying to maneuver in and out of the pool. In addition, when you call, you can't get anyone from that location on the phone. It's a main corporate line which is really unwelcoming and a challenge to deal with. Lastly, the changing area is not a comfortable setting at all. It's a room with a bench - no changing area for babies so it makes it a bit challenging to manage. Either way that's not the real concern of mine, what mostly is that my child has a different instructor every single week and has even had to move pool lanes before. Doesn't work for us. read more

I think people are giving some harsh reviews! This is a very nice facility- super clean considering the high volume of wet kids! Instructors have been very nice in my opinion. My son is learning how to not fear the water and swimming skills while having fun. read more

We have given this school a fair chance. We tried it when it first opened and there was lack of consistency with the instructors and now the staff seems very annoyed to even be teaching. They are young adults with little to no patience. This school is definitely a waste of money. The customer service associates that greet you are extremely rude. We were told make ups did not expire and were robbed of over 4 make up classes and if you do the math that is over $100 . They canceled my daughter's class without me requesting it. As a result my daughter lost her place in class and her make up classes. As for my son, his instructor was nice at first and then seemed to run out of patience with him. Yes my son was scared of drowning but this was due to him drinking so much water at a session in YOUR school. There are instructors that have ignored my son while hes asking them a question and that is just rude. As parents we pay for a service and the least your staff can do is smile at our children. The only instructor I would recommend is Yohan. There are constant cancellations due to accidents in pool. Overall im looking for a school with patience that adequately assesses my children and provides us with a warm atmosphere. This school unfortunately is not for us. read more

Its great for kids , who is not comfortable in the water. And learn some basics too. But your child wont learn strokes .

My daughter has been going a few weeks now. I think it's a great place if your child is not a complete beginner. My daughter is the new kid in class and terrified. My instructor today by end of class was so annoyed she didn't even do the play in water end of class activity. It doesn't feel like they are working through her being new and getting acclimated but more going through the pre planned activities regardless of skill ability. read more

I had both of my daughters here from the time this location opened . One of my daughters did really well and the other didn't. The one that didn't was let go by an instructor when she wasn't ready to be let go mid swim. She was traumatized. One supervisor noticed she was not excelling and gave her some private lessons and that increased her comfort . However, her instructors were always changing because there was no consistency in this location. Big blue was getting paid to baby sit w/ no progress. After a few years ... my daughter's soccer practices got crazy ... they were no longer flexible even tho we were here for years ! Meaning make up got harder as they progressed. You pay money and the fact that we needed to reschedule use to be a perk ... but I was just paying this place not to help my second daughter at all. She almost drown in Tampa bc after years here , she still didn't have the skills ! I wouldn't recommend this place. Big blue paramus opened in 2019 ... my daughters have been here since then and I just pulled my 7 year old a few months ago! Research and go somewhere with consistent swim instructors. read more

My daughter has been going here since it opened. I'm torn on giving 2 or 3 stars, so I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. The place is brand new and beautiful. It is very clean and staff is welcoming and very kind. However- my daughter is extremely shy and doesn't like change. The instructors literally change by the week. She hasn't had the same instructor more than twice. She is 3 and refuses to get in the pool when it is a male instructor. One of the girls at the main desk put a preference on her profile for only female instructors- but for the past 3 classes she has had a male and had to change times to accommodate my 3 year old due to a shortage of female instructors at her time. My advice to Big Blue is to get organized.. because my head is spinning. read more

A month ago we experienced a nightmare! Went for a trial with my daughter and we specifically told them she had no experience. Via the quiz online and site. They put her in a class with more advanced students and the instructor (Brittany) did not assess her in any type of way. My daughter was left alone for a few seconds and swallowed water and was struggling to breathe. The instructor didn't even notice until I pointed it out. We got back home from the Doctor because my daughter felt she couldn't breathe. Maybe it was just nervousness but shame on this place to put a kid through this. Needless to say, I wont be signing up my daughter with this school. What a terrible experience. After management responded with a standard and in compliant response for corporate I posted more details: "My daughter was not assessed at all and yes, she had noodles for most part of the trial but my daughter was DOING LAPS and made to keep her head under water without having no prior experience. Just cause she has the height and age, does not mean she can be thrown right away in a unsafe manner.I wanted to trust you but clearly, you people in management have no grasp in what your instructors are doing. My daughter had to be nebulized and was treated at the urgent care. Please parents, only take your kids to this place if you are looking for a place where they can improve the skills they already have." They tried to suggest she was, indeed, assessed, she wasn't. My daughter is now terrorized by the water. read more

I was excited for my daughter to begin when this opened, however, am so disappointed. There is a different instructor every week and I've yet to experience a single one that seemed to know what they were doing. She has been going since August and it's mostly idle time in the pool, she learns more in the bath, to be honest. It is always packed and chaotic. I truly dread going there every week. I cancelled my membership. Such a shame. read more

I have been going to this place since September with my 3 and 6 year old-all of their staff is very friendly and caring. The place is always kept clean-play area recently updated with sensory wall and little house -they have a coloring table and lego's. Entrance can be tricky -NBA store sign was knocked down recently not sure if that was why -it's tricky because no dotted lines to indicate you can change lanes to enter-but not the schools fault obviously. The only downside i find is that true to other reviewers there is a different instructor very often-my son and daughter have sensory issues and trouble with transition-my son has his moments but this has been difficult for my daughter. The teachers however are all great; some in my opinion are really amazing. So in summary I like it -just hope for consistency at some point and that would make this place perfect! Having to deal with corporate when you call too as opposed to specific location can at times be annoying based on your need but not terrible. read more

Big Blue Paramus has the best team. The coaches, evaluators, front office, and all the managers are very professional, patient, genuinely nice, caring. They care about the progress and safety of our little swimmers. read more

After reading reviews it seems as if others have had similar complaints as I have. To begin, I drove my 3 year old daughter to swim two weeks in a row with her kicking and screaming that she does not want to go in and had to turn around to go back home which I explained when I called to see what the school could do about refunding me since I paid for the month and she did not have any swim lesson that month. She has been attending swim for several months now and no longer wants to go telling me "she does not like the teachers". Never once did she consistently have the same teacher. She was constantly bumped around every week to the point where she is fed up and refusing to attend. Now I know classes are paid for monthly. I attempted to take her into the building twice the first 2 weeks of August and she cries that she does not want to go in. I call to explain my situation and all I get is "it is our policy and no refund is allowed". She did not attend even one class in August because she has come to hate swim lessons because of inconsistency with instructors and yet $180 later no one is willing to work with me to provide any type of refund. So quick to take my money yet not understanding that these are children we are working with. The only thing being offered to me is make up lessons to come back. What don't you understand, my daughter does not want to go back there?! I cannot throw her in the pool and force her to swim when she has developed a displeasure for swim because of your system/school. And yet all the owner knows how to say in these replies on yelp is that a manager will reach out. Management could care less. The manager at the Paramus location only knows how to reply with "it is our policy" and doesn't care to hear anything else and if I ask for someone else tells me that they will tell me the same thing. I will not be recommending this swim school to anyone. There are plenty of others that actually care for the children, are consistent with instructors and are not all about collecting their money. Terrible customer service. This place is not fit to teach children how to swim. read more

AMAZING school with a phenomenal swim program for our kids. Big Blue opened their doors in Aug 2022 and already made a name for themselves. They have the CLEANEST facility, great staff, and amazing instructors. There are multiple life guards at the pool. Classes are small, almost feels as if 1:1. And most importantly my kids' gain a star weekly on something new they learned. I can't wait to see them move up and achieve more goals towards becoming independent swimmers. read more

Today 8/16/23 my daughter was attendig the 730 class. 3 kids per 1 instructor.  Her instructor had a student doing am exercise while my daughter and another child wait alone on the edge.... my daughter started to play by the lane divider when it flipped her over FACE DOWN! My daughter was face down in the water and not a lifeguard noticed and neither did her instructor or the instructor of the lane she face down in! My daughters dad had to jump into the pool fully clothed in order to save her! After he jumped in and pulled her out of there water the life guard ran over and asked what happened! NO ONE SAW ANYTHING! the entire place is ran by children whom failed to grasp the severity of the situation! Had he not been there I'm not sure if I would have taken my daughter home tonight! This place is 100% negligent! The manager had to be called out the back and she had to run the cameras back! Even the cameras didn't have a great view! This place has serious design flaws and it's not worth the risk! read more

This place is not even worth a star. I had both my kids enrolled in this "school" but I had to withdraw. My kids are now frightened of getting in a pool, thanks to this place. My kids are constantly get different instructors, not being consistent with the lessons. This place is all over the place. It's a waste of money. read more

The pool is lovely the instructor I had very nice. The customer service is at the very least awful. My son had his first paid lesson and I was not informed of the cancelation. I arrive at the pool change check in at the door ask what lane I am in. Once in the pool I am approached by a gentleman who tells me I'm in the wrong lane. I insist I am in the correct lane because I had just asked at the door a minute ago. He goes to talk to some girl who mumbled something in his ear and I'm told the lessons were canceled. He instructs me to get dressed and go to the front desk to see what can be done for me. I dry up get dressed and go to the front desk. The girl at the front desk tells me oh no the class was canceled last minute. I explain to her that I was not informed and she says yes you were. I show her my phone that there is no missed call and she says oh well I had someone sit at this desk and call. I explained to her that the treatment was very unprofessional and her response was well emergencies happen. Not once did she acknowledge that the situation was not handlers well and was eager to dispatch me. All her responses were ok ok ok ok we can withdrawal if you'd like but you still have yo pay for two more classes, it is our policy. What a professional manager and customer service this place has. The installation is lovely but the manager is severely lacking in personability and customer service. A shame to the establishment. read more