About
Patti's Swim School offers private lessons, beginner, intermediate, and advanced lessons, as well as special needs swim lessons. The program also offers Parent & Me Confidence Builders (private 1-on-1 lessons), Build-Your-Own Group Swim Lessons, baby and me classes, intensive weekly lessons with perpetual enrollment, and parent child lessons.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
Patti's Swim School was established in 1981 and has provided swim instruction to over 100,000 children and adults. The school is described as a boutique institution specializing in private, one-on-one swim instruction, with personal and customized swimming lessons and an emphasis on individualized lessons that cater to the needs of the learner. It also offers special needs swim lessons with customized programs and Build-Your-Own Group Swim Lessons that allow families to design small swim classes, and it serves families across Castro Valley, Oakland, Dublin, San Ramon, Pleasanton, Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette, and surrounding areas.
Founder Patti O’Brien is a mother of six with a BA in Education and an MA in Educational Leadership and Administration, and she uses the Red Cross Water Safety curriculum for instruction. The mission of Patti’s Swim School states that it aims to transform swimmers of all ages into confident and skilled swimmers through personalized lessons, expert coaching, and a safe and fun learning environment, and to empower individuals of all ages to become confident, skilled swimmers while fostering a love for the water and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle. Generations of families have attended Patti’s Swim School, and it is described as a beloved institution in Castro Valley and the Bay Area.
Parents in testimonials report that children who were initially hesitant in the water began swimming, floating, submerging, and even practicing diving within a few weeks, and they describe instructors as calm, centered, professional, sweet, patient, and knowledgeable. Specific instructors mentioned positively by name include Ryan, Daniel, Isaac, and Santiago, and parents describe management and customer service as excellent, with friendly and efficient staff and straightforward booking. One parent notes that the facility includes two changing rooms, a bathroom, and a shower.
Last updated March 12, 2026.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
Patti's Swim School was established in 1981 and has provided swim instruction to over 100,000 children and adults. The school is described as a boutique institution specializing in private, one-on-one swim instruction, with personal and customized swimming lessons and an emphasis on individualized lessons that cater to the needs of the learner. It also offers special needs swim lessons with customized programs and Build-Your-Own Group Swim Lessons that allow families to design small swim classes, and it serves families across Castro Valley, Oakland, Dublin, San Ramon, Pleasanton, Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette, and surrounding areas.
Founder Patti O’Brien is a mother of six with a BA in Education and an MA in Educational Leadership and Administration, and she uses the Red Cross Water Safety curriculum for instruction. The mission of Patti’s Swim School states that it aims to transform swimmers of all ages into confident and skilled swimmers through personalized lessons, expert coaching, and a safe and fun learning environment, and to empower individuals of all ages to become confident, skilled swimmers while fostering a love for the water and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle. Generations of families have attended Patti’s Swim School, and it is described as a beloved institution in Castro Valley and the Bay Area.
Parents in testimonials report that children who were initially hesitant in the water began swimming, floating, submerging, and even practicing diving within a few weeks, and they describe instructors as calm, centered, professional, sweet, patient, and knowledgeable. Specific instructors mentioned positively by name include Ryan, Daniel, Isaac, and Santiago, and parents describe management and customer service as excellent, with friendly and efficient staff and straightforward booking. One parent notes that the facility includes two changing rooms, a bathroom, and a shower.
Last updated March 12, 2026.
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