New York, NY
(212) 206-6976

88 Fulton Street · heated to 88°F

Swim with the teacher in the water.

Private lessons for adults, children and anyone afraid of the water.

Call (212) 206-6976

“I never thought I could learn to swim, let alone love it”

David Kaplan, published on aquaskills.com

The pool at 88 Fulton Street

A heated pool inside a private spa club between William and Gold Streets, a short walk from the subway and the PATH. You do not need a club membership to swim here.

60ft
long, the length a beginner works toward
15ft
wide, a calm size to learn in
88°F
water temperature, all year round
1hr
every session, longer than most schools
0
memberships, and no card kept on file
2004
teaching swimming in New York City

01

Lessons for the swimmer you are now

Every instructor is an American Red Cross certified lifeguard, trained in CPR, AED and First Aid, and every lesson is taught from in the water.

Adult swim lessons

An instructor in a dark wetsuit laughing with an adult student in the pool

Packages of 6, 10 or 20 after the intro

Floating, breathing, treading water, then breaststroke, freestyle with breathing and two styles of backstroke. Beginners work toward swimming a distance with no flotation device; intermediates refine all four strokes, turns and laps.

Adult lessons, beginner to four strokes

Overcoming fear of water

An instructor in a wetsuit supporting a swimmer in a USA cap in bright water

Everyone moves at their own pace

An hour to start, then a package sized to you. The first steps are breath and balance: inhale above the surface, exhale into it, walk through the water, float face down and on your back, glide.

Fear of water, one breath at a time

Children's swim lessons

Two instructors in wetsuits holding a young swimmer with foam dumbbells

Parents can take classes alongside

From age 4, in groups for 4 to 6, 5 to 8 and 8 to 15. One instructor for up to three or four children, in the water with them, teaching water safety and how to swim and float without flotation devices.

Children's lessons from age 4

Stroke and triathlon coaching

Two swimmers in blue caps close up in teal water

Breathing timed to the stroke, flip turns and open front turns, drills, time and endurance. For swimmers preparing for a team, a triathlon, or simply a cleaner freestyle.

Stroke and triathlon coaching

Fitness and rehab swim

Lori Pailet in the pool in a blue cap holding foam dumbbells

Lori Pailet, AEA certified

Water takes the impact out of exercise and resists you in every direction. Rehabilitative and weight-loss swims, lap work, water aerobics and aqua-pilates, for arthritis, life after physical therapy and runners' knees.

Fitness and rehab swim

AquaPool parties

Two lessons under way at the pool edge with an orange noodle on the deck

Birthdays, graduations, retirements and awards in the water: an aqua-aerobic workout to music, noodles, toys and giveaways. Priced per party by guest count and lifeguards, with two weeks' notice.

Plan an AquaPool party

Film, TV and stunt swimming

The empty tiled pool hall with light rippling across the wall

The pool as a location for shoots, promos, pitches and TV segments, with swimmers supplied on request. Credits include CBS News, The New York Times and an underwater camera pitch for Olympus.

Film and TV work in the water
All lessons, formats and gift certificates

From the first exhale to the far wall

The order the beginner course follows, step by step. Each one is taught by an instructor standing in the water next to you; the full syllabus is on the adult swim lessons page.

  1. Exhale.

    Inhale above the surface, exhale into the water. Breath control comes before any stroke.

    Holding the pool edge

  2. Walk.

    Walking through the water teaches balance and resistance while your feet are still on the floor.

    Shallow end, standing

  3. Float.

    Face down first, then on your back, with the instructor's hands under you until you no longer need them.

    Beside the instructor

  4. Glide.

    Push off and let the water carry you. This is where most people stop fighting it.

    From the wall

  5. Tread.

    Treading water and sculling hands, so you can stay up anywhere in the pool.

    Middle of the pool

  6. Kick.

    Flutter kick for freestyle, then the propulsion of the breaststroke arms and kick.

    Along the lane

  7. Breathe and swim.

    Freestyle arms while breathing, then backstroke in two styles.

    Across the width

  8. 60 feet.

    The beginner course's goal: swim a distance with no flotation device, breathing with every movement.

    The full length

02

Counted in lessons, not months

As published by the students on aquaskills.com

An instructor holding a student's hands as she floats, white cap, teal water
An instructor guiding a swimmer with hands on her shoulders
Instructor and student underwater, the student in a yellow wetsuit top

I never thought I could learn to swim, let alone love it -- thanks to Lori and Craig, I conquered my fear and I hate leaving the water. The opposite of when I began less than 4 lessons ago!

David Kaplan, Published on aquaskills.com

  • “When I began I had a pretty bad fear of water, mainly getting my head underwater. After the 3rd class I was much more comfortable”

    Matt Romero, Published on aquaskills.com

  • “10 lessons later, not only am I able to float and exhale underwater, I'm able to swim across their pool”

    Angelica Martinez, New York, Published on aquaskills.com

Your first lesson, mapped onto the pool

Fear of water usually lives in one moment: the face going under. The first hour is built around getting past it, one place in the pool at a time.

The pool hall at 88 Fulton Street: tiled deck, stone column and pool edge, light moving on the wall

Intro class $98 per person

Before your first lesson

The questions people ask Lori most. Anything else, text (646) 724-7024 or use the contact and booking page.

A real one-hour lesson, private or semi-private, for $98 per person. It is how you meet the instructor and the pool before you buy a package. If you decide not to continue afterwards, nothing else is owed.

No. AquaSkills does not require a membership and does not keep a card on file for recurring charges. Lessons are bought as packages after the intro class.

The pool is heated to about 88°F all year. It is 15 feet wide and 60 feet long, which is a comfortable size to learn in.

Yes. AquaSkills instructors teach from in the pool, demonstrating each skill beside you rather than calling it out from the deck.

A towel and flip-flops. Loaner caps and goggles are available, or you can buy new ones. Bring your own lock for the locker room or buy one there, and text (646) 724-7024 when you arrive.

Text or call (646) 724-7024 for current package rates. The intro class is $98, and gift certificates are listed with their prices.

Every session is one hour. Longer sessions, sometimes two hours, can be arranged for students who want to immerse in training.

Zelle is preferred. Cash, Venmo, a check made out to Lori Pailet, and PayPal (with 4% added) are also accepted, and instalments can be arranged if necessary.

Hands in the water, every lesson

From the school's own gallery: the instructor at arm's length, the student doing the work.

A swimmer in a black wetsuit floating on foam dumbbells in aqua water
Foam dumbbells under the arms: the float that comes off last.
An instructor beside a student at the tiled pool edge
Tiled wall, gutter edge, the instructor's hand at the student's shoulder.
The pool hall's tiled steps, handrail and spa tub under a painted sky ceiling
Handrail, steps and the spa tub, under the painted sky ceiling.
Lori Pailet, director of AquaSkills, in the pool in a blue cap

Text (646) 724-7024

Text Lori, then get in the water.

Send your name and cell number and she will find you an hour. Weekday classes start at 6 AM; weekends run until noon.

Call (212) 206-6976
Phone
(212) 206-6976
Email
info@aquaskills.com
Hours
7 days, from 6 AM · by appointment