For many adults, the thought of stepping into a pool or ocean isn’t relaxing — it’s terrifying. You’re not alone. In fact, Royal Life Saving Australia reports that adults make up a significant proportion of drowning fatalities each year, many due to poor swimming ability or water anxiety.
The good news? Fear of swimming — often called aquaphobia — can be overcome at any age. At Swimly, we’ve helped more than 200 adults transform water from a source of fear into freedom. Here’s how.
Why Adults Fear Swimming
Fear around water usually develops for one of three reasons:
Negative experiences in childhood. A scary swim lesson or unexpected dunking can stay with you for decades.
Never having learned properly. If you didn’t take lessons as a child, the pool can feel overwhelming as an adult.
Cultural or environmental factors. Growing up without regular access to water often means swimming feels foreign and unsafe.
Recognising the root cause is the first step to overcoming it.
Step 1: Reframe What “Swimming” Means
For adults, “learning to swim” shouldn’t start with freestyle. Instead, the goal is water confidence: being able to enter, move, and exit water calmly and safely.
Think of it this way: before learning strokes, you need to feel at home in the water. Once you achieve calm breathing and basic floating, every next step becomes easier.
Step 2: Start Small and Safe
Don’t dive straight into the deep end. Begin with:
Standing in shallow water
Practising calm breathing while leaning on the pool edge
Submerging your face and exhaling underwater
Floating on your back with support
These small wins teach your body and brain to relax, building trust that the water can support you.
Step 3: Focus on Breathing, Not Technique
When panic hits, it’s usually the breath that’s out of control, not the stroke. Learning to exhale steadily underwater reduces anxiety and prevents that “I can’t breathe” feeling.
At Swimly, we spend more time on calm breathing drills than on arm movements in the early stages. Once breath control is mastered, stroke technique comes naturally.
Step 4: Work with Trauma-Informed Coaches
Not all lessons are the same. Children’s methods — like “just blow bubbles” — don’t work for adults. You need coaches who understand trauma, respect personal boundaries, and can adjust progress to your comfort.
Swimly’s programs are specifically designed for adults. Our team has guided people who avoided water for 30, 40, even 50 years. With the right support, breakthroughs happen quickly.
Step 5: Celebrate Every Milestone
For adults, success looks different than for children. Key milestones might include:
Entering the pool without panic
Floating for 30 seconds unaided
Swimming 5 metres calmly
Exiting water confidently
Each step is a life-changing victory. The transformation isn’t just physical — it’s mental. Many clients tell us their new water confidence carries into their work, relationships, and overall self-belief.
Water Safety Is Just as Important
In Australia, water surrounds us — from beaches to rivers and backyard pools. Adults who lack swimming skills are at higher risk, especially if they’re responsible for children.
By gaining water confidence, you not only protect yourself but also model safe behaviour for your kids. Children learn by watching, and seeing you calm in water will encourage them too.
The Swimly Approach
Our Adult Water Confidence Program is built on:
Small group or private sessions with personalised attention
A trauma-informed, step-by-step method
Mindset coaching alongside physical skills
Real-world outcomes: safe entry, calm floating, confident exits
We’ve seen adults go from gripping the pool rail with fear to smiling while floating in just a few sessions.
Your Next Step
Fear doesn’t have to define your relationship with water. With the right support, you can move from anxiety to confidence, and from avoidance to enjoyment.
If you’re ready to finally overcome your fear of swimming, Swimly is here to guide you.
Book your Adult Water Safety session at Swimly today and gain the skills to protect yourself and your family.
