What is your cancellation policy?
Private Lessons
- Cancellations: We require at least 24 hours' notice for cancellations. Approved cancellations will be issued as credit only.
- Sickness: Clients are permitted to reschedule up to five lessons per year due to illness.
- Transferring Lessons: You may give your lesson spot to a family member provided the instructor is given ample notice and we receive proof that the waiver has been signed.
Group Lessons
- Refunds: Group lesson bookings are refundable via credit only until the final business day (Friday) before the lesson set begins.
-Flex pass members will have one or two options based on location for a private lesson see flex page for more information.
Weather-Related Cancellations
- Private and Semi-Private: These lessons will be rescheduled.
- Group and Outdoor Lake Lessons: We allow for one missed class per set due to weather. If an entire set is canceled, a credit will be issued for future use.
Please note that all rescheduled lessons must be rebooked within the same month for all programing.
What Should my child bring to lessons?
Lake Lessons
- Preparation: Please ensure your child brings a water bottle, sunscreen, and snacks to enjoy before or after their lesson. If your child tends to get cold, we recommend bringing a wetsuit or rash guard.
- Day 3 (PJ Day): This is a fun safety session where children learn what it feels like to swim in clothes.
- Day 4 (Life Jacket Day): Please ensure your child has a life jacket ready.
- Day 7 or 8 (End of Program): This will be a fun day to celebrate the end of the set.
- Themes: Please check with your instructor regarding the specific theme for your child’s lessons, as these change throughout the summer.
Indoor Lessons
- Meeting Point: Penticton pool Please meet your instructor on the deck by the family change room side, closest to the showers. Osoyoos come into the pool deck parents
-Under 5 must stay close in case your child need a washroom break.
- Pick-up: Parents are required to be at the meeting point five minutes before the lesson ends.
- Late Fees: Please note that late pick-ups will result in a charge of $5.00 per minute. Timely pick-ups are essential to ensure subsequent lessons can start on schedule.
Can my child bring goggles?
You are welcome to bring personal goggles to class; however, we ask that they do not have a nose guard.
We will be teaching the students how to prevent water from entering their noses without the use of protection. If you feel this will be a challenge for your child due to water anxiety, please let their instructor know. The instructor will work at an appropriate pace to help ease your child's transition.
Do you teach at home pools?
Yes, we provide lessons at home pools from May through September.
To book, we require a minimum of one hour of instructor time per visit and a commitment of at least four total bookings to cover the administrative coordination required. While you can request specific times, final scheduling is determined based on your location to help our instructors travel efficiently between lessons.
We begin organizing our home pool booking lists every April. Please use the link below to submit your request; you may fill this out at any time of year, and we will review it when programming begins in April. We recommend providing several scheduling options to assist with our routing.
Home Pool bookings — Water Waves
Do you teach adults?
we do offer swimming lessons specifically tailored for adults. We believe that swimming is an essential life skill for individuals of all ages, and our programs are designed to accommodate various experience levels.
Whether you are looking to learn the basics or refine your technique, our instructors are here to help you reach your personal swimming goals. Please let us know if you would like more information on our current schedules or if you have specific objectives you would like to discuss.
We look forward to helping you get started in the water.
All Programs Start Page (perfectmind.com)
Do you teach year round?
We teach year-round! To stay updated on our programming, please visit our classes page, which is updated weekly with our current offerings. You can also sign up for our monthly newsletter for regular updates.
Our current locations include:
- Penticton: Year-round indoors, and at home pools from May to October (weather permitting).
- Osoyoos: Indoors from October to May, with lake lessons offered through the city during July.
- West Kelowna: Coming soon for year-round sessions!
All Programs Start Page (perfectmind.com)
Pool drop in fees ?
Please be advised that the drop-in fee for the Penticton Pool is not included in our program costs. We have structured our pricing this way to avoid the additional 5% GST that would be applied if these fees were incorporated into our tuition.
For clients enrolled in ongoing lesson programs, we suggest purchasing a seasonal pass or a swipe pass to take advantage of available savings. We also encourage you to take your child to the pool as often as possible outside of scheduled lessons, as consistent practice significantly accelerates skill development.
Please note that while drop-in fees are included for hotel pool bookings, this varies by location. While we aim to transition toward this registration model, Penticton does not currently have hotel pool accommodations available. We will notify you should this policy change.
Additionally, please be aware that you are responsible for the drop-in fee at the West Kelowna location.
Additional or extra program requirements?
We are constantly adding and programming for our clients this is done so by requesting the office programmer to customize something for you. We ask if you are requiring a group lesson with report cards that the sessions go alongside the same as our regular programming. Should you not require a report card we will add in the session as a custom private lesson booking where report cards are written a few times out of the year.
We are working hard to add in the programming needed for the community. has changed in the last three years and programming is not as sought after as it used to be, we are trying to accommodate as much as we can your feedback is essential in our planning for the upcoming season.
We are never fully booked and have tons of options for our clients if something online says full please reach out we may be able to accommodate you in another way.
Do you have any discounts?
We do offer promotions from time to time. I recommend following our social media channels to stay updated on any upcoming offers. We also occasionally donate gift certificates to various packages where you can bid on them.
If you are unable to afford tuition for our Flex Pass or other programming, you can apply to the Learn to Swim Fund. We have partnered with local businesses to allocate funds for families in need. We do require that you pay a portion of the lesson or drop-in fee; this ensures accountability and commitment to the lessons you register for.
To apply for the Learn to Swim Fund, please contact info@waterwaves.ca.
What is a Micro Mini group?
Our private lesson time slots can accommodate up to three children. A Micro Mini group consists of three children of similar age and skill levels. Please note that we do not match students for these groups; clients must organize their own group of three children prior to booking. A minimum of four lessons must be booked at once to cover registration requirements.
If you are open to having additional children join your private or semi-private lesson, please inform your instructor. We can then monitor for other interested families, as we have successfully coordinated groups in the past.
Regarding cancellations, if a group member cannot attend and provides at least 30 days' notice, the remaining participants will be charged at the semi-private or private lesson rate. We recommend discussing potential vacation plans with the other families in your group to ensure accurate budgeting.
For those using a Flex Pass, payments are spread evenly throughout the season. In the event of a cancellation, the group must reschedule the class within the same month to receive the lesson. Flex Pass policies will still be in place regarding the one complimentary private lesson per student either at the beginning or end of your season depending on location For more information visit that page
Can you help with my home pool?
If you are a new homeowner looking to learn how to maintain your pool, we can help. We provide a basic understanding of pool maintenance and can teach you about the essential safety concerns associated with owning a backyard pool.
We also highly recommend attending the two-day Pool Operators Level 1 course. This program offers in-depth information on pool chemistry and how to properly balance your water.
Our expert, Devonne, is a certified pool operator with extensive experience managing pool maintenance at the Summerland and South Surrey aquatic centers.
Do you run private bookings for First Aid Training?
We offer private workplace training, including First Aid simulations and recertification classes for your staff. We book these courses year-round and can schedule them as far in advance as you require.
For more information or to book a session, please call our office at 778-622-0515.
Will you travel to teach?
Yes we are willing to travel to different cities to help assist with the following courses.
Water Safety Program, First aid courses and recertification, Inservice training
Travel fees may apply depending on locations.
What PFD should I buy?
We recommend on buying ones that are Canadian approved they are all yellow, red or orange in color.
Make sure you are buying the correct fit for wight and body size. Always store your PFD out of direct sunlight and if using in a pool be sure you rinse it well before storing away. Discarded your PFD when you see rips or holes in it as this can make it not as effective in the water.
Reminder a PFD is different from a lifejacket as this may not keep your child from floating face first in the water. people can still drown in a PFD it should never be replaced as active supervision of your child.
How do I apply for funding?
We have funding available to help you cover the cost of your child’s swimming lessons should you require some finical assistance. Please note learn to swim funding cannot be used for pool drop in fees. Pool does have a program assisting in financial assistance for families that qualify for more information you can visit Penticton's website or head into Penticton Pool and request for some financial assistance. A little bit of paperwork to be filled out and an approval process for this, note this should be done before using learn to swim funding to book your lessons if you are not able to cover your child's drop in.
If you are In need of using our learn to swim funds we ask that you save these funds for families that truly need this. We don't want to ask intrusive questions as to proof of income. To apply for this funding click the link below
Please review the following guidelines regarding lesson etiquette and safety to ensure a positive experience for everyone at Water Waves.
Lesson Arrival and Instructors
If you are running late, it is your responsibility to bring your child to the pool deck and locate their instructor. You can find our staff by looking for their clear plastic bins or by asking a lifeguard. Photos of all instructors are available on our website; please familiarize yourself with your instructor's appearance prior to the first lesson.
Pool Rules and Facility Policies
- Penticton Pool: All facility rules apply, including policies on illness and etiquette. A list of rules is posted near the Lifeguard Centre. For specific facility questions, please contact their front desk.
- Holiday Inn: We adhere to all recommendations and policies laid out by the Holiday Inn.
- Supervision: Children under seven or those unable to swim 25 meters independently must remain within arm's reach of a guardian. Children are not permitted in the water before their scheduled lesson time.
- Hot Tub: Use of the hot tub is not permitted if it disrupts the following class.
Safety and Supervision
Parents must remain within arm's reach and be prepared to enter the water if their child requires assistance. Once a lesson concludes, you are entirely responsible for your child’s safety. Please note that cell phone use is prohibited while supervising children on the pool deck; prolonged use may result in the discontinuation of lessons.
Family Etiquette and Diversity
Water Waves is a multicultural organization that welcomes all families. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for yelling, screaming, slander, or inappropriate language. We expect all interactions between parents to remain respectful. Failure to adhere to these conduct standards may result in removal from our programs.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our environment safe and inclusive.