Some Swimmers Do Not Need a Bigger Class. They Need Someone Who Sees Them.
Every swimmer is different. Some children are hesitant and need more time to build trust with the water. Some are working through a specific skill that group classes have not resolved. Some adults have been putting off learning for years. Private and semi-private lessons are built around the individual in front of the instructor, their pace, their goals, their starting point.
Private lessons are $85 per session. Semi-private (two students) are $120 per session or $60 per child. Buy 5 get 1 free on both. Semi-private lessons can be booked by phone, email, or the online sign-up form. Call (512) 451-3425 → · Sign Up for Semi-Private →
Program at a Glance
| Ages | 2 years to Adult |
| Private lesson | $85 per session · 1 student · Book online at austinswim.com |
| Semi-private | $120 per session ($60/child) · Max 2 students · Sign up → or book by phone or email |
| Bundle | Buy 5 get 1 free · applies to both private and semi-private |
| Placement assessment | $42.50 · half-price private lesson · recommended if unsure of group class level |
| Adult lessons | Available as private appointments · contact the shop to schedule |
| Pool | 90°F heated indoor pool · 10 yards · year-round |
| Booking | Private lessons: book online at austinswim.com · Semi-private: sign up online →, call (512) 451-3425, or email swim@tomsscuba.com |
Private lessons at Tom’s Dive & Swim, Austin, TX.
Book online or call us to schedule.
Solo private lessons: book at austinswim.com. Semi-private and adult lessons: call or email. Buy 5 get 1 free on all bookings.
Who Benefits Most from Private Instruction
Children or adults who need more time to build trust
Some swimmers are not ready for a group setting. Private lessons create a low-pressure environment where comfort can develop at the swimmer’s own pace, with one instructor focused entirely on them.
Children stuck on a specific skill
Side breathing, flip turns, butterfly, some skills just need more focused repetition than a group class can provide. Private lessons let the instructor target the exact thing holding the swimmer back.
Adults learning to swim or returning after years away
Adult learners are not children who are behind. They have different anxieties, different goals, and different learning patterns. Our instructors approach adult lessons directly, patiently, and without condescension.
Children who want to move through levels faster
Group classes meet once a week. Private lessons allow more frequent, focused practice for swimmers who are ready to move faster and want more dedicated instruction time.
Two swimmers at a similar level learning together
Semi-private lessons work well for two children at a similar level: siblings, cousins, or friends who want to learn together with more attention than a group class provides.
Not sure which group class level is right?
A placement assessment is a private lesson at half price ($42.50). An instructor evaluates your child and recommends the right group class level. It removes the guesswork and makes sure your child starts in the right place.
Private or Semi-Private: Which Fits Your Swimmer?
Both formats put your swimmer in front of a Tom’s instructor with far more attention than a group class allows. The difference is who else is in the water.
Private · $85 per session
One instructor, one swimmer, full attention for the entire session. Best when a swimmer needs individualized pacing: significant fear of the water, a specific skill that needs undivided focus, or an adult learner who wants privacy while building confidence.
Semi-Private · $120 per session ($60 per child)
One instructor, two swimmers at a similar level. Costs less per swimmer than a solo private lesson, and many kids stay more engaged with a partner in the water: siblings, cousins, or a friend who swims at a similar level. Sign up online → or book by phone or email.
Not sure which is the better fit? Call us at (512) 451-3425 and we will help you decide based on your swimmer’s age, comfort level, and goals.
How a Private Lesson Works
Your instructor reads your swimmer
The first session (or a $42.50 placement assessment) establishes where your swimmer is: what they can do, what they are avoiding, and where the real gap is. Every subsequent session builds from that honest baseline.
One instructor. One or two swimmers. Focused repetition.
Private and semi-private lessons are 30 minutes of direct instruction with far less waiting than a group class. The instructor adapts in real time: when something clicks, they advance. When something needs more work, they stay. No fixed group pace to keep up with.
Practice makes the lesson count
Your instructor will suggest specific things to practice at home or during open swim. Even 10 to 15 minutes of unassisted practice between sessions accelerates progress significantly. Consistency is the biggest factor in improvement.
Private Lessons Work Best in the Right Environment.
90°F: warm enough to help nervous swimmers relax.
A warm pool removes a significant barrier for anxious swimmers of any age. Cold water makes people tense. Our 90°F indoor pool is available for private lessons year-round, regardless of season or weather.
Adults are taught with adult context.
Adult learners are not children who are behind. They have different motivations, different anxieties, and different learning patterns. Our instructors approach adult lessons accordingly: direct, patient, and without condescension.
Instructors who understand nervous swimmers.
Our swim instructors are trained, background-checked, and experienced with swimmers of all ages and starting points. Private lessons are not an afterthought: they are part of what Tom’s has offered Austin swimmers since 1982.
Buy 5 get 1 free on all private and semi-private bookings.
Consistent private instruction produces better results than occasional sessions. The 5+1 bundle makes committing to a run of lessons more accessible for families and adult learners who want to make real progress.
Meet the Tom’s swim instructor team.
What Parents Say
From our over 400 five-star Google reviews.
“I recommend this school to any parent looking for a swim school. The instructors were very attentive to the needs of the children.”
Matt O., Swim School Parent
“Everyone at Tom’s is very kind and welcoming. Our swim instructor was very knowledgeable and patient. My youngest has made so much progress.”
Erin I., Swim Lessons Parent
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes: private lessons are often the best starting point for fearful swimmers. A group class moves at a group pace, which can feel overwhelming for someone who is genuinely anxious. A private lesson gives the instructor full attention to work at your pace, build trust slowly, and never push past what feels safe. Many swimmers who struggled in group settings have had real breakthroughs in private lessons. If fear of water is the concern, call us before booking: we can help you understand what to expect and whether private lessons or a placement assessment makes more sense as a first step.
Solo private lessons can be booked online at austinswim.com or through the iClassPro app (Tom’s booking app for iOS and Android). Semi-private lessons can be booked using our online sign-up form →, or by calling (512) 451-3425 or emailing swim@tomsscuba.com. Adult appointments require a call or email.
A semi-private lesson is a shared private session for two students: $120 per session or $60 per child. Maximum two students per session. Semi-privates work well for two children at a similar level who want to learn together, or two adults. Sign up online →, or book by phone or email.
Semi-private lessons work best when both swimmers are at a similar skill level, since the instructor teaches to the pair rather than to two individuals. Many families pair siblings, cousins, or close friends. If you do not have a lesson partner in mind, call us at (512) 451-3425 and we can help you find a good match, or recommend a private lesson instead.
It depends on the swimmer and the goal. A placement assessment ($42.50) is the most efficient way to get an accurate answer: after one session, the instructor can give you a realistic picture of where your child is and what to work toward.
Yes. Adult learners of all ages and starting points work with our instructors through private lessons. Call (512) 451-3425 or email swim@tomsscuba.com to discuss your situation and get scheduled.
Private lessons are available from age 2. Children under 2 are enrolled in parent-and-child group classes only. Infant & Toddler lessons →
Lessons can be canceled or rescheduled without penalty with at least 24 hours’ notice, given by phone, email, or in person. If a replacement lesson can’t be scheduled right away, we’ll issue a makeup token to your account: tokens expire 30 days after issue and are subject to instructor and pool availability. Lessons canceled with less than 24 hours’ notice, and no-show appointments, are forfeited: no refund, makeup lesson, or makeup token. We issue up to 12 makeup tokens per student per calendar year, and we make reasonable exceptions for illness, family emergencies, severe weather, or other extraordinary circumstances. If we cancel a lesson, for instructor illness, facility closure, weather, or other operational reasons, we’ll provide a replacement lesson or makeup token that does not count toward your annual limit.
Book online or call us to get scheduled.
Private lessons: book at austinswim.com or the iClassPro app. Semi-private and adult lessons: call or email the shop. Buy 5 get 1 free on all bookings. Located at 5909 Burnet Rd in Central Austin.
Book Private Lesson → Sign Up for Semi-Private → Call (512) 451-3425 →