The Aquatics programs provide a full spectrum of recreational and instructional activities in a safe, healthy, fun environment which aids in the development of life skills and builds resiliency in our service members. Drowning prevention is a key theme for Aquatics with a focus on prevention awareness.


Class Descriptions

Active Duty Swim Instruction (ADSI) - Free

One-on-one to group lessons pending instructor availability
  • Age: Adult (Active Duty) 
  • Objective:  The purpose of the ADSI program is to help active duty personnel develop, improve, and refine basic aquatic skills and swimming strokes.
  • Entry Requirement: Must be Active Duty
  • Skills Covered: Vary based upon student needs.
  • Note: MCCS Aquatics offers swim instruction to active duty personnel free of charge. To request ADSI sessions, please email aquatics@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org with the following information:

Title: Active Duty Swim Instruction Request

  1. Full Name
  2. Email Address
  3. Cell Phone Number
  4. Duty Phone
  5. Branch of Service
  6. Rank
  7. Which Aquatic Center (Schwab, Hansen, Foster or another)
  8. Preferred Time
  9. What is your swimming background and experience?
  10. What would you like to learn?
  11. Remarks
Once our instructors have reviewed your request, they will respond with options for ADSI times. Please confirm the time and dates from your instructors within 48 hours to secure your timeslot.

Group Swimming Lessons

Group Swimming Lessons are divided by age and by skill level. Due to the many skills required to graduate from each level, it is not uncommon for children to repeat a class. Our overall goal for swim lessons is to help your swimmer become more comfortable and safer in an aquatic environment. We work towards skill proficiency at each level. Swimmers can advance to the next level when they meet the objectives of their current level, which are the same as the entry requirements for the next level. On the first day of class, if a student is found to be in the wrong level, they will either be moved to the correct level if there are open slots or the registration fee will be refunded.

  • Classes meet on weekdays and are 30-minutes long.
  • Parent/Child classes are limited to 8 students. All other classes are limited to 5 students.
  • Check the "Upcoming Courses" tab to see upcoming sessions. 
  • You can use our Swim Lesson Level Guide to determine which level is the right starting point for your swimmer. Click here to download (pdf). 
  • Below are descriptions of various levels of the group swimming lesson program. For a detailed description of each lesson level, please review the Swim Level Chart. Click here to download (pdf).  

Adult - $75 (8x 30-minute classes)

  • Age: 16 years old and older
  • Objective: Help participants gain basic aquatic skills and swimming strokes, teach skills and concepts needed to stay safe in and around water and to help themselves or others in an aquatic emergency, and improve proficiency in the six basic swimming strokes. 
  • Entry Requirements: None
  • Skills Covered: Vary based upon student needs. 

Parent and Child - $50 (8x 30-minute classes)

  • Age: 6 months through approximately 3 years old. Parent must accompany child in the water at each class, one parent per child.
  • Objective: Familiarize children between the ages of 6 months and approximately 3 years with the water and teach swimming readiness skills; Provide safety information for parents and teach techniques parents can use to orient their children to the water.
  • Entry Requirements: None
  • Skills Covered: Holding and support techniques demonstrated by the parent; water exploration with support; Water safety topics.

Preschool 1 - $75 (8x 30-minute classes)

  • Age: Approximately 4 to 6 years old
  • Objective: To help students become comfortable in the water and learn very basic water safety.
  • Entry Requirements: None
  • Skills Covered: Enter the water using the pool steps; Blow bubbles; Put their mouth, nose and eyes underwater; Front glide; Back glide; Roll over from front to back and back to front; Use arm and hand treading action; Alternate leg action on front and back; Alternate arm action on front and back; Use combined arm action on front and back.

Preschool 2 - $75 (8x 30-minute classes)

  • Age: Approximately 4 to 6 years old
  • Objective: To help students builds on the skills learned in Preschool 1.
Entry Requirements: 
  1. Enter independently, using steps or side, travel at least 5 yards, submerge to mouth and blow bubbles for at least 3 seconds then safely exit the water (children can walk, move along the gutter or “swim/dog paddle”).
  2. While in shallow water, glide on front at least 2 body lengths, then roll to back and float on back for 3 seconds, then recover to a vertical position.
Skills Covered: Enter the water using pool steps; Bob; Open their eyes under water and retrieve an object that's under water; Front float; Front glide; Back float; Back glide; Roll over from front to back and back to front; Tread water for 15 seconds; Use combined arm and leg action on front and back.

Preschool 3 - $75 (8x 30-minute classes)

  • Age: Approximately 4 to 6 years old
  • Objective: To help students builds on the skills learned in Preschool 1 and 2, and start to develop coordinated arm and leg movements.
Entry Requirements: 
  1. Glide on front for at least 2 body lengths, roll to back, float on back for 15 seconds, then recover to a vertical position.
  2. Glide on back for at least 2 body lengths, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position.
  3. Swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for at least 3 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then continue swimming on front for at least 3 body lengths.
Skills Covered: Entering water by jumping in; Bob; Go completely under water and hold their breath; Front float; Front glide; Back float; Back glide; Roll over from front to back and back to front; Tread water for 30 seconds; Use combined arm and leg action on front and back five body lengths.

Level 1 - Introduction to Water Skills - $75 (8x 30-minute classes)

  • Age: Approximately 5 to 15 years old
  • Objective: To help students feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely
  • Entry Requirements: None
  • Skills Covered: Entering and exiting the water safely, learning to submerge mouth, nose and eyes and breath control, front and back float and recovering to a stand, changing direction in the water, swimming 5 feet on front and back. 

Level 2 - Fundamental Aquatic Skills - $75 (8x 30-minute classes)

  • Age: Approximately 5 to 15 years old
  • Objective: To give students success with fundamental skills

Entry Requirements: 

  1. Enter independently, using either the ramp, steps or side, travel at least 5 yards, bob 5 times, then safely exit the water (participants can walk, move along the gutter or “swim/dog paddle”).
  2. Glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to a back float for 5 seconds, then recover to a vertical position. 

Skills Covered: Entering water by stepping or jumping in from the side, submerging entire head, blowing bubbles, open eyes underwater, front and back glide, swim 15 feet on front and 10 feet on back, swim on side, life jacket use

Level 4 - Stroke Improvement - $75 (8x 30-minute classes)

  • Age: Approximately 5 to 15 years old
  • Objective: To build on skills in Level 2 through additional guided practice
Entry Requirements: 
  1. Step from the side into chest-deep water, push off the bottom, move into a treading or floating position for at least 15 seconds, swim on front and/or back for 5 body lengths, then exit the water.
  2. Move into a back float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position.
  3. Push off and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to the front, then continue swimming for at least 5 body lengths.
Skills Covered: Jump into deep water, head first entry from sitting or kneeling, submerging and retrieving an object, bobbing, survival float for 30 seconds, treading water for 30 seconds, front crawl 15 yards, butterfly 15 feet, back crawl 15 yards, elementary rescues, safe diving, check-call-care

Level 5/6 - Stroke Refinement and Swimming Proficiency - $75 (8x 30-minute classes)

  • Age: Approximately 5 to 15 years old
  • Objective: Coordination and refinement of strokes
Entry Requirements:
  1. Perform a feet first entry into deep water, swim front crawl for 25 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards.
  2. Swim breaststroke for 15 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim back crawl for 15 yards.
  3. Submerge and swim a distance of 3 to 5 body lengths underwater without hyperventilating, return to the surface, then exit the water
Skills Covered: Shallow dive, tuck and pike surface dives, 2 minutes of survival floating, back float and treading water, flip turns on front and back, 50 yards front and back crawl, 25 yards butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke and sidestroke, 2 minutes of survival swimming, rescue breathing. 500 yards continuous swim using 100 yards each of front & back crawl, 50 yards each of breaststroke, elementary backstroke, sidestroke & butterfly and 100 yards choice of any of those strokes, survival floating and back floating 5 minutes each, feet first surface dive & retrieve an object from 7 feet.

Additional Information

Swim Level Placement Guide

Group Swimming Lessons are divided by age and by skill level. Due to the many skills required to graduate from each level, it is not uncommon for children to repeat a class. Our overall goal for swim lessons is to help your swimmer become more comfortable and safer in an aquatic environment. We work towards skill proficiency at each level. Swimmers can advance to the next level when they meet the objectives of their current level, which are the same as the entry requirements for the next level. On the first day of class, if a student is found to be in the wrong level, they will either be moved to the correct level if there are open slots or the registration fee will be refunded. Follow the below steps to determine your swimmer's lesson level. Download a copy (pdf) by clicking here.

Lighting and Thunder Policy

In the event of thunder or lightning the pool must close for 30 minutes and the pool deck must be cleared of all personnel. If thunder or lightning is present within 20 minutes of the lesson start time, we will cancel the lesson for the day. For example, if your swimming lesson is scheduled for 12:30 p.m., the class would be cancelled if thunder or lightning was present at 12:10 p.m. or thereafter. Any thunder or lightning before this 20-minute-prior mark does not affect the lesson. For instance, thunder at 12:09 p.m. will not cancel the 12:30 p.m. lesson. If thunder or lightning occurs during a lesson, the rest of that lesson will be cancelled for the day. We will do our best to contact you in the event of a cancellation, but please be aware that we might be unsuccessful.  If you are unsure about your lessons being held, please phone your lesson pool. 

Refund Policy

Request for refunds must be made by emailing mccsaquatics@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.  The percentage of the refund is determined by when the email is sent to the MCCS Aquatics email.
  • 100% refunds will be given for withdrawal made on or before the 1st day of class.
  • 75% refunds will be given for withdrawal made on the 2nd day of class.
  • 50% refunds will be given for withdrawal made on the 3rd day of class.
  • 25% refunds will be given for withdrawal made on the 4th day of class.
  • No refunds will be given for withdrawal made after the 4th day of class.

Liability & Publicity Release

In consideration for receiving permission to participate in this event, I shall indemnify, waive, release, and forever discharge the U.S. Government, the U.S. Marine Corps, the Marine Corps Community Service (MCCS), and all sponsors, medical support and any other individuals or entities connected in any way with this event from any and all claims for damages, death, personal injury or property damage and/or litigation costs/attorneys’ fees, arising from or contributing to, in whole or in part, by any act, omission, fault or mistake of the above-named persons or entities and their employees or agents, resulting from my participation in this event. I verify that I have full knowledge of the rigors of this event and the risks involved in participation, including but not limited to trip and fall, loss of orientation, exhaustion, dehydration, hyponatremia, fatigue, over-exertion, sun or heat stroke, illness, cold injuries, hypothermia, drowning (if water event), and any other injuries related to running and/or endurance events. I assert that I am physically fit and have sufficiently trained to complete this event. I realize medical support for this event will consist primarily of first-aid type assistance, perhaps by volunteer laypersons. This waiver and release shall be binding on my heirs and assigns and shall run in favor of the above-named persons or entities and any individuals in any way connected with this event. By registering for this event, you understand and expressly acknowledge that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. In attending the event, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19, and waive, release, and discharge MCCS or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers from any and all liability under any theory, whether in negligence or otherwise, for any illness or injury. I further agree to have my participation in this event videotaped and photographed, and I hereby waive and release all rights to said videotapes and photographs to MCCS for its exclusive use in publicity for and/or illustration of athletic events. I agree to abide by all decisions of MCCS and its designated officials. I have read and understand the contents of this Liability & Publicity Release. 


Location


Contact Information

Swim Program Office (Foster)

Building 5910
Foster Aquatic Center
Camp Foster, Okinawa


Phone: 098-970-2787

DSN: 645-2787

OCONUS Base Phone: 81-98-970-2787


Email: mccsaquatics@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org

Follow Us:

 Hours
Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Sat–Sun CLOSED
Holiday Hours
Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Outdated Browser

×