Lifesaving Society · Swim for Life

What you'll learn at each level

Ibrahim Huber teaches the complete Swim for Life ladder — from a child's very first time in the water through strong, confident swimming across all four strokes. Here's what each level covers.

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Preschool

Typically ages 3–5

Water comfort and confidence for young children, with parent support at the earliest levels. Water Smart® safety is woven through every level.

Preschool 1

Octopus

First experiences — getting comfortable in the water.

  • Get in and out of the water safely
  • Jump into chest-deep water
  • Put face in the water and blow bubbles
  • Float and glide on front and back with support

Preschool 2

Crab

Building independence and first submersions.

  • Enter and exit the water independently
  • Submerge and exhale underwater
  • Get comfortable wearing a lifejacket in the water
  • Glide on front and back with a flotation aid

Preschool 3

Orca

Deeper water with a lifejacket.

  • Jump and do a sideways entry into deep water (in a lifejacket)
  • Recover objects from the bottom in waist-deep water
  • Develop kicking and gliding on front and back

Preschool 4

Sea Lion

Solo entries and eyes open underwater.

  • Jump into deep water and climb out independently
  • Open eyes underwater
  • Short front-crawl swim while wearing a lifejacket
  • Kick and glide on their side

Preschool 5

Narwhal

The bridge into the Swimmer levels.

  • Forward roll entry wearing a lifejacket
  • Tread water for 10 seconds
  • Front and back crawl for 5 m
  • Introduction to whip kick and flutter-kick interval training

Swimmer

School-age & up

The core learn-to-swim ladder — from first independent strokes to strong, efficient swimming across all four kicks and strokes.

Swimmer 1

Beginners — comfort and breath control.

  • Jump into water with and without a lifejacket
  • Open eyes, exhale and hold breath underwater
  • Floats, glides and kicking on front and back

Swimmer 2

Advanced beginners — first real distance.

  • Jump into deeper water; sideways fall wearing a lifejacket
  • Support themselves at the surface without an aid
  • Introduction to whip kick
  • Swim 10 m on front and back; flutter-kick interval training

Swimmer 3

Junior swimmers — dives and coordination.

  • Dives and underwater skills (front somersaults, handstands)
  • Swim 15 m front crawl and 15 m back crawl
  • 10 m whip kick, with increased interval training

Swimmer 4

Intermediate — Swim to Survive standard.

  • Swim 5 m underwater
  • Full-length front crawl, back crawl and whip kick
  • Breaststroke arms with breathing
  • 25 m front crawl sprints; completes the Canadian Swim to Survive® standard

Swimmer 5

Advancing — new entries and stamina.

  • Shallow dives and cannonball entries
  • Eggbeater kick and backward somersaults
  • 50 m front and back crawl; 25 m breaststroke
  • Structured interval training

Swimmer 6

Advanced — polished, powerful strokes.

  • Stride entries and compact jumps
  • Lifesaving kicks: eggbeater and scissor kick
  • Head-up breaststroke sprints
  • Full-length front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke; 300 m workouts

Not sure which level fits? That's completely normal — Ibrahim Huber will assess where you or your child is starting from and build lessons around the right next steps.

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Levels and objectives are based on the Lifesaving Society Swim for Life® program. Swim for Life® and Water Smart® are registered trademarks of the Lifesaving Society.