Makai Swim School

Makai Swim School offers swim lessons, summer camps, poolside parties, open swim for families, and activities such as synchronized swimming, Swim Team, and Water Polo. The program includes Parent-Child swim lessons, Learn to Swim classes for 3-year-olds to adults, and water safety courses, along with swimming, creative crafts, games, and outdoor fun. Makai Swim School also provides swimwear and accessories for pool and beach use that are recommended by its experienced swim teachers.

• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Schedule: Office hours with staff available Monday–Thursday 4:00pm–7:00pm and Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 10:00am–1:00pm
• Price: $13.00 USD for Solar Buddies Sunscreen Applicator; $35.00 USD for Booster Fin - Orange JR Size 11-1; $16.00 USD for Goggles - Beta Red; $26.00 USD for Happy Nappy Duo™ Swim Diaper - Up and Away

Makai Swim School was the first private swim school in Napa and has offered swim lessons in the Napa Valley for over 30 years. Teaching swimming began in 1974, and by 1989 Makai Swim School was teaching over 500 students per summer. Since 2015, Makai Swim School has employed more than 20 employees and serves over 2000 families a year. Makai Swim School also offers Swim Camp Kits to “Launch a Successful Swim Program” and has a teacher-training program developed and implemented by its owner.

Owner and operator Tami Nixon began teaching swimming lessons for the American Red Cross at age 12 and became an Aquatics Pool Director by age 18, overseeing summer swim programs for a San Francisco Bay Area Red Cross. From 1982–1991, Tami worked at Sunrise Montessori of Napa Valley as a preschool and kindergarten teacher and obtained a BA in Early Childhood Education and a Montessori Teaching Credential, and in 2014 she obtained a Comprehensive Pilates Certification. The leadership team includes Tami Nixon as owner and operator of Makai Swim School, LLC, Ashley as Operations Manager, Kaya as Summer Camp Manager and Deck Supervisor, and Lindsey as Lead Instructor and Manager. Makai Swim School has Adaptive Swim Whisperers® Level 1 certified instructors on staff, trained in specialized techniques to support swimmers of all abilities.

The mission of Makai Swim School states that it is founded on the premise that each student’s individual needs be met and challenged, recognizing that each student has a unique learning curve based on fear, experience, and emotional and physical development, and that the program strives to uncover and meet each student where they are and to honor and encourage their development along the way. One parent describes Makai as “Napa’s most trusted source for swim lessons for all ages and abilities,” and another notes that “the Makai instructors teach the whole kid and move at their pace.” Other parents and caregivers report positive experiences with parent-baby swim classes, summer camp, and one-on-one instruction focused on making a child safer around water.

Last updated June 30, 2026.