What this level looks like
Swimmers ready for the four-lane 25-yard lap pool and their first competitive strokes.
Aquatic Foundations: a 30-minute group lesson with five swimmers to one instructor, in the four-lane 25-yard lap pool, kept above 80 degrees.
From here the timeline lengthens. Solid stroke mechanics in strokes like freestyle and backstroke generally take 50 to 80 or more lessons overall, spread across the Independent Swimmer and Advanced milestones.
Sea Lion is complete when a swimmer pushes off properly, performs simple turns, breathes to the side and shows freestyle and backstroke.
Parent questions
Which pool do Sea Lions use?
The four-lane 25-yard indoor lap pool, kept above 80 degrees.
Does Sea Lion mean swim team?
Sea Lion sits in Aquatic Foundations, and swimmers at this level train in Sport I on the swim team.
What comes before Sea Lion?
Penguin, where endurance and lane skills are built.
Skills in Sea Lion
Check them off as your swimmer earns them, one skill at a time, before moving up the Journey.
Where Sea Lion sits
Ten levels across three milestones. Tap any level to open its page.
