PhD Swim School

Jacqueline Kumar _{on Google}

Feb 6th, 2024

This is some of the best money Ive ever spent. Our daughter began survival at 11 months and she screamed and cried - but we are so glad we stuck with it, because by the end of the several-week survival session, she was feeling comfortable and aok in the water. Now at 2.5 years old, she can swim and float and roll from one to the other by herself. She LOVES her time in lessons. She adores all pools and bodies of water. Shout out to coach Alasha who is an INCREDIBLE instructor - including being patient with our concerns and reassuring us in the beginning, when our daughter was scared. Our daughter is now very attached to Alasha and talks about her occasionally between lessons. Im beyond thrilled that our little one is safe in the water and so so happy swimming!!

Anusha Balakrishnan _{on Google}

Oct 31st, 2023

Both my kids did survival swim here after not making a ton of progress at regular swim lessons. Within one summer, the difference in both kids' confidence in the water and skill level was ASTOUNDING. They both love the pool now (even my daughter, who previously had to leave other swim lessons since she was too afraid), and I am so much more comfortable with their ability to float well and stay safe in the water. Coach Gigi, who worked with my 3 year old, was especially wonderful in connecting with my son (he would be laughing and giggling the whole time during class!). While we won't be continuing with PhD due to relocating, we would highly recommend the survival swim lessons!

Sally Scruggs _{on Google}

Dec 27th, 2023

My daughter has taken classes here consistently since 2018, taking her first class, Survival, when she was 3. She has turned into a confident swimmer and has always looked forward to her weekly class. My advice after being at PhD for 5 years:
1) Schedule. Yes, it can be tricky to get a class time that works for your family, but it was worth the first few seasons of setting phone alarms to hop on and sign up for a class until we were able to move into a slot that worked really well for us for several years.
2) Bring some noise protection. This is optional, but I started bringing earplugs so my nerves didn't spike hearing the Survival babies. It's normal for them to be distressed the first few weeks of session and does get better, but it really set me on edge so earplugs were the ticket.
3) If you get discouraged about progress, give it some time. We went through about 6 months of a hard time when my kid was about 5. Everything was fine at school and home but swim class was rough. I almost pulled her out because she wasn't making any progress, was not having a good time, and I was worried that it wouldn't get better. Turns out it was a developmental milestone she was working through, and when we made it through that rough patch she had a HUGE spike in learning...like, overnight....and it was pretty exciting for everyone.
Thanks for many great years, PhD!

Karan Kumar _{on Google}

Oct 24th, 2023

I cannot recommend PhD Swim School enough! My child has been attending for a couple of years now, and the progress she has made is truly remarkable. Specific thanks to Coach GiGi, who is an excellent instructor and is patient, kind, and knowledgeable. She has a gentle approach that motivates my child to learn and improve swimming technique while having fun at the same time.
What I appreciate most about PhD Swim School is the focus on safety. They take the time to ensure that my child understands how to swim safely and confidently in the water. They also emphasize proper technique, which will be invaluable as my child continues to develop swimming skills.
The environment at PhD Swim School is fantastic. The facilities are clean and well-maintained, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. I feel confident that my child is in good hands there.
Overall, I highly recommend Coach GiGi and PhD Swim School to anyone looking for high-quality swim lessons in Durham, NC.