Laugh Love Swim

Swimming is a lifetime skill, not just a sport

For over 35 years, Deane's Swim School has been the watering hole for thousands of families in Johannesburg. Small groups. Personal attention. A genuine love for the water.

Take the Plunge →

Est. 1990 · Abbotsford, Johannesburg

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Laugh

Learning to swim should be fun. Every lesson is designed to build confidence through joy, not pressure. Because when you're laughing, you're learning.

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Love

We genuinely care about every swimmer. Deane knows every child by name, by ability, by personality. That personal touch is what families come back for — generation after generation.

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Swim

From water familiarisation to advanced stroke technique, we build fundamental aquatic skills that make swimming come naturally. Not just strokes — a lifetime of affinity with water.

Three generations of learning to love the water

Deane's Swim School is based in Abbotsford, Johannesburg North — positioned within a 1–4km radius of Oaklands, Atholl, Melrose, Norwood, Houghton, Highlands North and Waverley.

Established over 35 years ago, the school has provided swimming lessons and water skills to literally thousands of people — from toddlers to adults. The central ethos: swimming is a lifetime skill, and the learning experience should be done in a fun, relaxed environment, no matter what level or age.

"My mom's pool was always the watering hole — we all felt safe there. She taught all of us, literally everyone!"

By ensuring that fundamental core aquatic skills are well mastered, the learning of strokes happens more easily, far quicker and with much more confidence.

Deane's Swim School — poolside in Abbotsford

My mom's pool was always the watering hole — we all felt safe there. She taught all of us, literally everyone! Three generations of our family have learned to swim with Deane. That's not just a swim school, that's home.

Ayla Hofer

Daughter & parent — three generations of swimmers

What We Teach

Small, manageable groups. Real attention. Actual progress.

Ages 2.5 – 4

Water Familiarisation

Building comfort and safety in the water. Your little one will learn to trust the water, blow bubbles, and start moving with confidence.

Ages 3 – 8

Learn to Swim

The core programme. From first strokes to confident swimmers, we build technique through fun, structured progressions at each child's pace.

All Ages

Stroke Improvement

Refining technique, building endurance, and developing proper form. For swimmers who want to get genuinely good at their strokes.

Advanced

Squad & Competition

Starts, turns, underwater work, and an introduction to squad training. For swimmers ready to take it to the next level.

It's never too late to learn

Deane has been teaching adults for over 35 years. Whether you've never been in the water, or you want to improve your technique, our adult programme meets you exactly where you are.

No judgment. No pressure. Just patient, expert instruction in a relaxed environment. Many of our adult swimmers started terrified — and now they swim with confidence.

Lessons conducted Monday to Saturday, in small groups or private sessions tailored to your comfort level.

Adult swimming lessons at Deane's Swim School

When We Swim

Lessons run Monday to Saturday, with different schedules for summer and winter terms.

Summer · Sep – Jun

Summer Timetable

Tuesday13:30 – 18:30

Wednesday13:30 – 18:30

Thursday13:30 – 18:30

Saturday8:00 – 13:00

Winter · Jun – Aug

Winter Timetable

Tuesday14:30 – 17:30

Wednesday14:30 – 17:30

Thursday14:30 – 17:30

Saturday9:30 – 12:00

"You're the one who turns hesitation into confidence. You're the one who turns fear into fun. You're the one who turns a child who doesn't want to get in the water into a child who doesn't want to get out."

— Deane