Just wanted to rave one more time about the staff here. Our time slots are currently 4:30 & 5:00 respectively and it is a busy time overall. The staff never flinches, they all perform their roles well and take safety into account in every way. I love that they blow the whistle every ten minutes to make sure everyone is accounted for. Miss Alyssa is so patient with the two year old crowd. Love love love! read more

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Really frustrated with our experience for swim lessons for my three year old. For 30 minute lessons he spent about 8 minutes of those in the water. The instructors were really sweet and the time in the pool reflected the fact that one child was crying and didn't want to participate and the other child was launching into the pool without waiting for instruction. At our second visit two parents of the other children were hovering over our child and even picked him up to set him back down on the poolside after he got bored waiting on the other children. We did NOT like the fact that other parents were touching our child. We quickly realized that these lessons were not productive and decided to not continue with additional ones. We then noticed that a charge of $200 was made to our credit card and when we asked about this it was apparent were were auto-enrolled in lessons and would be charged $200 for the next month. No where on the website was it obvious that we were enrolling for recurrent lessons. When we contested the payment and discussed that we were unsatisfied with our experience we were essentially told tough luck. Private lessons are $150 for 30 minutes, which did not seem at all worth it. We will be contesting this with the credit card company and report to the better business bureau for deceptive practices. The facility is clean, safe, and the instructors seemed good. It's just unfortunate that the business practice is predatory. We'll be happy to spend the time in traffic and return to Tom's Dive Shop. read more

We signed our 8 year old up for March and April lessons looking to improve technique before summer swim team. I was clear at sign up that we were there specifically to get a consistent side breath. After 6 lessons I can't tell any improvement. We had a different instructor almost every class. The instructors ran drills and never corrected sloppy technique. On back stroke they allowed him to mix and match elementary backstroke with windmill arms. On freestyle he was taking doggy paddle breaths 3 out of 4 breaths. At $40/ lesson I am pretty sure I can do better elsewhere. read more

As new parents, we want to make sure our little guy is comfortable in the water and give us the peace of mind later on when going near a pool, so we started going to Emler around 3 months. We are going to the bathrooms babies class and so far it's been super fun, it's a 30 minutes class, one parent goes in the water, it's easier if both parents go and one stay out but it's doable alone, and the babies get to "swim", be around other babies, we sing, we dance, and we celebrate them. Our little fishy seems to enjoy it and then goes for the biggest naps (bonus!). The price of the bath time babies class (until 6 months), is incredible, you pay a $35 fee for the year and then $5/class. So worth giving your baby the experience of being in the water other than a bathtub. The water is at the perfect temp and the teacher is very nice. Pro-tip: since you need 2 baby swimsuits, Amazon has some great deals. read more

Emler Swim School of Austin-Westlake - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Austin, Texas

We attended one class and quickly realized it wasn't the right fit--too many crying kids in the pool made it a chaotic experience. We informed the front desk immediately that our son wouldn't be returning and acknowledged we were forfeiting the rest of the month we had already paid for. A month later, we were surprised to see another charge, only to be told our cancellation was never processed and that their policies had since changed. It's frustrating when a business chooses to nickel and dime families, especially when there's a clear record that our child only attended one class and never came back. If you decide to enroll here, keep a close eye on your billing--they seem more focused on collecting payments than providing a great experience. read more

Could not recommend Emler more highly! They have been teaching our kids to swim since our oldest was 18 months old, and they are both little fishies now. They love the water and are so comfortable in it, thanks in large part to everyone here! The whole team is so friendly and great with the kids. We just discontinued lessons after nearly 5 years between 2 kids, because we are moving but will miss everyone here so much. The staff really become like a second family, and the lessons are awesome--very well structured and super engaging. read more

Great staff. Honestly the staff makes the location successful and comfortable. The team is very aware and present, always on the lookout to further educate the young swimmers in the most comfortable and nurturing way. We have two littles that attend and we are very happy with the level of service the location provides. Facility is always clean, water is clean, changing stations are clean. read more

No, we were at the Westlake location. Should I contact you? Leo started in the fall and continued through the winter/spring. He did at least 6 privates and then started classes. By the end of privates, he still wouldn't put his face in the water. Once classes started, his instructor was changed mid course and she also didn't push him at all and no progress was made. read more

Love this place , price are really reasonable of course is group class what baby enjoy interacting with other babies and people , we had a really good experience at this place love people who works there read more

Emler Swim School of Austin-Westlake - Baby bath time class - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Austin, Texas

My son is 4 and had been attending swim lessons elsewhere for a year prior to coming here. He was able to go under water, grab rings/toys from the bottom, swim roughly 6-8ft and grab the edge and lift himself out, and jump in and turn around the wall and get out without assistance. I was SHOCKED that on our first lesson here, they started covering him in floaties that are basically puddle jumpers. I quickly notified the staff that my son would not be using floaties under any circumstances and that I'd like my money back if that's how they "teach." Unfortunately, they have a no refund policy... because they have a "guarantee" that your kid will swim. But they will also inform you that this guarantee is void if you disagree with any of their teaching practices. The deck manager did what he called an evaluation and said my son couldn't be moved up to the next class the didn't use floaties because he was missing one skill according to their curriculum. I ended up dropping him to a baby class just so he wouldn't be forced to wear a puddle jumper. After the evaluation, the deck manager spent the rest of my sons class trying to explain to me why they use floaties and their philosophy behind it. I told him that as an avid swimmer, triathlete, and water polo player, I whole heartedly disagree with this practice and there would be no convincing me, but I thanked him for being polite even though I was extremely disappointed and unhappy with the situation. Since the start of his lessons 5 weeks ago, my son has regressed so far backwards that it's like he's never had lessons. He's afraid of the water at home, he now kicks with bent knees rather than straight, and he goes vertical and sinks to the bottom any time you let him go. My son went from a brave and determined swimmer to being scared and saying he can't try things he already knows how to do... in a short 5 weeks, they completely ruined his swimming. The 1 star I did give is for the fact that the staff is very nice and pleasant to deal with. No one was ever rude in my discussions with them, and the teachers seem to be kind to the children. read more

Emler has a fun, gentle and systematic approach to teaching kids to swim. If you are hoping to introduce swimming in a manner that gives your kids life long confidence and enjoyment in the water, then Emler is the perfect place to begin. Their curriculum is so organized, and it works. We love the staff at the Oak Hill location: friendly, attentive, and great with kids. read more

We have been coming here for over a year and a half and the kids love swimming. The swim instructors and staff are very friendly. They greet the kids by name, makes it very personal and the kids learn so quickly. The confident that builds up so they can excel with swimming. A big Thank you! read more

When we took our 10 month old daughter to Emler for the free orientation class, and our plan was to check out another swim school or two prior to making a decision. Our daughter enjoyed the class and didn't want to leave the water, she fell in love with it to be honest. After the class, we were talking to John Mazurek about the class, how much fun our daughter had, and that we were going to check out another school or two. The fact that John was more interested in telling us what to look for at another school, and never once went into a sales pitch nor went to "bad mouthing" other schools told me all I needed to know. My daughter's safety was more important than "closing the deal" with us. That type of care for children impacted me, not just as a father, but as someone who loves to work with kids. After a few days of thinking it over, we signed our daughter up and decided not to check out the other locations. The following Saturday, John noticed us, and came to ask how the other locations were that we were going to visit. Seeing his response as I explained this was great. I could tell that it genuinely meant a lot to him that his care for my daughters well being and safety was a deciding factor. We look forward to the continued progress for our daughter as she continues to take swim lesson. read more

Lauren at Emler Westlake is the absolute BEST. My 20 month old, Humphrey, absolutely LOVES her class, and she has been such a gem for us at swim. While he has always enjoyed being in the water, he has made so much progress in her class alone. His breath control has greatly increased. He reaches for and climbs the wall on his own! Not to mention he has so much more confidence in the water. I know for sure this is because Lauren creates such a positive environment, is hands on, nurturing, and happy to be there with all the kiddos. We love Lauren and Emler! read more

This place has our year and a half old child holding her breath for 10 seconds. We really enjoy the efficiency of the teachers in maximizing all the activities we do in only a 30-minute time period. We can't wait til our 2nd baby hits 3 months so we can start taking her to classes so she can catch up to her big sister. Special thanks to our fav teacher Lauren for always keeping the classes entertaining and informative. read more

I am so BEYOND impressed with Emler Westlake! I was very concerned about putting my often cautious and sensitive 4-year old into a loud swimming arena with a LOT of activity. I begrudgingly submitted to the fact that my kid NEEDED to learn to swim! Day 1 he gripped me like a koala bear and I was in awe as Miss Lauren gracefully distracted him and enticed him with some one-on-one play in the pool. She magically reintroduced him to his class minutes later, to be sure he finished knowing he was safe in his class. THIS ALONE is awesome. They always have managers watching the pool to see where they can jump in and assist. He was so cautious in the beginning, but every teacher was sensitive and kind and encouraging. Their consistent system of gradually encouraging students through each class is STELLAR. It's a true science they have nailed and it helps the kids become proficient at THEIR pace. I have seen their teachers coach all types of kids and they adapt to your kiddos needs. My fav teachers - Miss Lauren, Miss Kristin, Mr. Dan, Miss Jessica Also BLOWN AWAY by their Management Team. Miss Katherine has always been so attentive and checking-in on us. Miss Lauren and Mr. Casey (also teachers) are incredible. Pretty much everyone we meet, my son and I both love. Not sure how this place got so many amazing young people who kick butt and are so kind. Props to Emler for nailing the formula. For those people who have left bad reviews, I feel confident the Emler Team would have bent over backwards to repair any dissatisfaction. They bend over backwards for all of the happy clients, so I KNOW they would do it for the unhappy ones. Give them a chance and TALK to them. The more you get to know them, they are all greeting you by name and making sure you're all good. Last note - I NEVER write reviews this long, but as a business owner and parent, I truly appreciate what an incredible job they do. They deserve every praise! read more

We signed up at Emler Westlake because of the stellar reviews. My daughter is almost 3 and has been attending classes here since she was 1. Growing up on a lake I believe water safety is extremely important and our main goal with these classes has been for our daughter to be able to, at a minimum, swim to the side of the pool and exit if she were to ever fall in. Unfortunately, she is still not able to do this. She absolutely loves the water but has learned, if anything, many bad habits from her classes here. Elmer does 'evaluations' periodically by the deck manager (or this is what I was told) to check on a student's progress. I have tried repeatedly to either talk to the deck manager or the front desk about her evaluation and have been told my daughter either didn't receive one that session and they don't know why or that the deck manager will call me back to talk to me about it. After all of the time spent here I have never seen an evaluation, had her teacher talk to me about an evaluation, or simply had the deck manager call me back. At this point, the children we know that are her age (or younger) and started classes at other schools are, at a minimum, able to swim to the edge of the pool and get out. Many are decent little swimmers. After many attempts to figure out what she needs (we even did a private class at $90/30min) and getting nowhere we will be attending classes elsewhere. read more

I love this swim school! We drive all the way from Kyle to bring our 2.5 yr old daughter here. The instructors are absolutely fantastic, run each class safely and smoothly, and my daughter LOVES it! They make classes so much fun, even if what they are learning is water safety skills. She has been going since she was just 4 or 5 months old, and of course has had her ups and downs with her feelings about the water. When she goes through a (totally developmentally normal) phase of crying the entire time during class, they work with her so sweetly, even offering private classes for no extra cost, to help her work through the phase. Even times when I have had to get out of the water to change her diaper, they offer for us to take another class at no extra charge to make sure we get our class time in. You definitely get your money's worth here! read more

Love this school. The instructors are patient but firm to keep control of class. The school is also very flexible when needing to change classes. I love that they emphasize water safety especially when 1st learning. read more

I can't begin to thank Swim Emler Westlake. We delayed putting our 2 year old daughter into swim lessons because of COVID this spring, but as the summer rolled around I knew we couldn't delay getting started any longer. Our socially-distanced activities always seemed to involve a pool/body of water in some way and I knew we needed to go ahead and get started with water safety/swim lessons. The registration process was easy for me-I called and talked to John who let me change my mind about locations once or twice :) I wondered how swimming lessons would go in a post covid world, and it's no surprise that things have apparently changed. I don't have a frame of reference, but I feel safe. The class size is pretty small and we see the same kids every week. We are also provided with face shields and our kiddos practice in different "stations" around the pool so we are at least 6 ft apart. I am a healthcare worker and felt really safe in terms of what Swim Emler was doing to follow COVID precautions. My daughter is a very opinionated 2 .5 year old and was totally THAT kid screaming/crying that set off all the other kids throughout the first few lessons. After the third swim class of shrieking, Paul suggested setting up a time where I could bring my daughter up to pool to explore in a low pressure environment without anyone around. This did wonders! The pool was quiet-it was just us and it gave my daughter the time to explore the water as she needed. It was during this time that I got some 1:1 time with Megan to talk about tips/tricks to help my daughter feel more comfortable in the water. After that, she didn't have a meltdown entering the pool!!!! It took a few more visits to be comfortable. John also took the time to chat with us about helpful strategies. She went from clinging to me the entire swim class to asking to go "underwater" an obnoxious amount of times :) It's been two months and we've seen SIGNIFICANT progress. We are also learning that this is not a thing you can do in the summer and come back to next year. In order to reinforce a skill, it must be present all year long in order to reinforce motor learning. I've been pleased with our experience, we see it as an investment, and we are so glad for the expertise at Swim Emler. Thank you for helping our girl be safe while learning to love and appreciate the water! read more

I have joined my daughter on several occasions at Emler for my grandson's swim lessons. He started at 6 months old, all staff were friendly and helpful especially Julia. The staff explained everything to me while I was in the pool with my grandson. It is so fun to watch him learn to swim. Emler is definitely a top notched swim school. read more

*I quite literally can't say ENOUGH great things about Emler Westlake. I was just recommending this location to ANOTHER friend yesterday. My little dude started swimming with Emler the day he turned 2 months old in their Bathtime Babies class. We've been hooked ever since. It's incredibly important to make swim class and swim safety fun and, obviously, safe. They tick all the boxes! Bathtime Babies is a must for your little one. It will give them the boost and confidence they need in swimming and getting them comfortable in the water and swimming. But don't fret if you're starting later than Bathtime Babies - they will help guide you and get your little one comfortable and swimming! We've gotten so much out of the classes - to the point where Newt practices in the bathtub the things he learns in class and sings the songs. From the very beginning starting with Emler, they make it fun and engaging. Newt is so excited to go to swim class every time. We've had our days where we've missed a nap, or are just in our feels and they go ABOVE and BEYOND to make sure he has what he needs to succeed. It may be a deck person sitting next to him with toys, or choosing colors of things, something so simple but they're able to turn it around for him and it means the world. You can tell that everyone that works at Emler loves their job, loves teaching swim safety and they really care about us. We're not just another client, they know us by name when we enter and everyone says hi to Newt and he just loves it. He's advanced so well in swim, even with having to take months off during the pandemic. He came back and took it back like it was nothing and now he's swimming on his own, cue tears. We love all the teachers and we've had nearly every teacher at Emler! They're all fabulous and have enriched Newts swimming time in different ways. The managers and front desk staff are always there to help and guide you in making the right decisions for swim classes - they even helped us when our car was dead in the parking lot after class. I'm not kidding when I say they care and go above and beyond. I don't say that lightly. I feel so confident and safe having Newt swim with Emler. WE LOVE YOU EMLER!!!! read more

My son has been swimming with Emler since bathtime babies idk maybe 6 or 8 weeks old. As early as they let him. He is now 3 and constantly amazing us with his swimming ability. I strongly believe that swim class is the best thing you can do for your child. Don't wait get your child used to the water from now. In Texas 8/12 months are summer... so don't wait! . Also We have had several instructors and they are all great, it's really who ever your kiddo connects with... but obviously we love our instructor the most! read more

Emler Swim School of Austin-Westlake - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We have loved Emler Westlake. My 3 1/2 year old grandson looks forward to class every week. And he shows such continued improvement. We've had 3-4 different instructors over the last couple of years and they've all been great. Caring and patient. He's now swimming, coming up for breaths and climbing out of the pool on his own. Not only has it helped him be safe in the water but it's helped his love of the water. Getting ready to start my other 10 month d grandson soon. read more

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this school!!!! Please open up a location in san Marcos, New Braunfels, or Schertz so that we don't have to drive that far! Heck, I'll even drive to San Antonio cuz this school is so good. No other swim school compares to this school..... Wonderful, caring, supportive instructors that LOVE children. read more

Big shout out to the crew at Emler's Westlake! My son has been going there since an infant and he's now almost 3 years old. This year he is in Mr. Paul's class and he and John are going the extra mile to make sure my son hits his milestones. It's quite true you get what you pay for and Emler's Westlake is worth every single penny! read more

Lauren Lauren Lauren... she is one of the best teachers I've experienced at any swim school. The love she has for all the kids is untouchable. I've been taking my daughter to Lauren's classes since she was five months old. She's patient, challenges our kids, she taught my daughter how to give high-fives, and make sure she laughs as much as possible during class. She has a heart of gold, and I've changed my daughter's nap schedule so that we can continue to be in her class. She doesn't teach swim; she teaches Emler! read more

After doing research for swimming instruction from private lessons to swim schools to swim team prep, we decided Emler was the best fit for our child. Emler was easy to register with and to find a course that matched our availability. We joined the Preschool Beginners class with Aimee as the instructor. Aimee is patient, encouraging, and most of all a wonderful teacher. I observe her each week, dealing with a variety of child behaviors during instruction, and she is still able to joyfully teach each lesson despite their best attempts at derailing her! Our daughter is timid and fearful of water and Aimee has done an excellent job equipping her with a foundation of skills to both respect the water and be able to enjoy it. That foundation of skills enabeled our daughter to be able to enjoy ocean snorkeling, with a life vest in very calm waters, no small feat! We made the extra effort to be with Aimee for our next class, b/c of how much we appreciate her. Definitely check out Emler and Aimee! read more

The staff here is really friendly and energetic and seem to enjoy what they do. They cram a LOT of people in this pool and they do the best they can with the limited space. The downside is mostly the patrons, my god the level of douchebaggery here is unreal. If you want to see the epicenter of entitled Westlake arrogance, come here. It's almost hard to articulate how abhorrent the whole experience is from the minute you pull into the parking lot until you get back on to the highway. No one yields, no one says "excuse me", no one says "honey move to the left, people are trying to get by". It's "me, me memememememememe" the entire time. If you live in Westlake you're already used to this and probably won't notice. If you're normal, run the hell away. read more

My review is of a specific instructor. I can not say enough positive things about Jamie, my son's Xtreme Beginners swim class instructor. Our first session at Emler is coming to an end and I feel especially compelled to give a shout out to Jamie due to special circumstances within this particular class. There is a student who requires a significant amount of attention due to what appears to be a challenging behavioral deficit. I considered the possibility that he was significantly detracting from my child's learning experience and I found myself feeling frustrated at the lack of parental intervention. Jamie was amazing in her ability to manage the situation. She parented AND simultaneously managed to motivate her swimmers to learn and be mindful and respectful. My son has excelled in Jamie's class, has had fun and wants to join her for the next level. Thank you Jamie for a great lesson in swimming and in life. read more

Emler Swim School of Austin-Westlake - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Austin, Texas

We've had both our kids in Emler since they were 3 months old. Ms. Lauren, Mr. John, and Mr. Xander have been so helpful and knowledgeable. Both of our kids love swimming and look forward to going every week! read more

My daughter has been going here since she was 13 months old. She loves the pool activities and songs. We have been with Britney since we started and love her class! read more

My son's been taking lessons since he was 5 months old. We love Emler's, and Mr. John M. is the best!

Incredible swim school! We have been at Emler for just shy of a year now. The facilities are wonderful and the instructors my son has had are amazing (Javier and John)! They are truly kind and really make their students feel secure in the water. My son has been in a swim program since 4 months old, but we started Emler when we moved to Austin just before he turned 2 and I honestly can't believe the progress he's made since we started. When I show family members videos of him swimming they are literally in shock! Don't hesitate to choose this school, you won't regret it. read more

So happy at Emler! We started swim lessons here nearly 2 years ago. It's an encouraging and caring environment, my kids love going, it's fun for them and I see progress in their skills. I believe they have excellent customer service. I have always felt supported when I've engaged in critical conversations with them, like switching classes to a teacher that might be a better fit, or evaluating where my kiddo is at if I feel like they've stalled in their progress. Coach Jessica is such a good fit for my daughter, who responds to hugs and encouragement. I credit Coach Isaac for teaching my son how to swim! read more

I love Emler! We're in the bathtime babies class and my son loves it. Julie, our class instructor, is amazing and has helped both he and I feel comfortable in the water. read more

A friend recommended Emler to us - and it is all-around fantastic. Well-run, great staff, smart curriculum, and we feel so good about our son learning to enjoy water, as well as understanding how to be safe in it (and he's only 7 months old). We started with Bathtime Babies and then graduated to Water Babies. We were running a few minutes behind for our first Water Babies class because, well, babies, and the deck manager of the day, Kacey, spent time 1x1 after class to catch us on things Dylan missed. He got in the water and taught all three of us. Didn't ask him to, didn't have to do it, he just wanted to ensure we were up to speed and getting the Emler experience. If you're not sure, call them, talk to them, take a class to try it out! read more

Elmer's has changed our lives. I'm like many parents out there with a kid that can stay afloat but not swim. Maddy, my daughter, was scared of "going under". We did a bonding lesson with the amazing Miss Brittney and she fell in love. Elmer's worked with us to make sure my daughter Maddy could actually stay under water without scaring her by pushing her too far. I cannot express how grateful I am for helping her learn how to swim in just a few short weeks. Please send your kid here!! They are miracle workers! read more

My 3-year-old daughter has been enrolled at Emler for five months and she has made incredible progress. She can now swim freestyle for about 20 feet, can breathe to the front, and can jump in and safely make her way to the side of the pool withOUT her goggles on (which was a big struggle for her previously). Ms. Haley is our teacher and she is fantastic - a great combination of nice/fun and tough. I had heard from friends that Emler didn't push their kids enough and so when I signed my daughter up I talked to Claire about this and specifically requested a coach that would not cave to whining/crying. If you are concerned about this as well, I would just mention it up front. We have had a GREAT experience and plan to continue at Emler until my 3-year-old is ready for swim team with her big sisters! Thank you, Emler! read more

We have been really happy with every aspect of Emler, from their amazing and patient teachers to their helpful and courteous staff. They have been instrumental in teaching my children to swim with confidence! read more