Baby, toddler and children's swimming lessons in Marbella, Estepona, Fuengirola, Mijas, Benalmádena, Calahonda and beyond. STA-qualified instructors. Classes that children genuinely love.
Little Gem Swimmers has been teaching babies, toddlers and children to swim across the Costa del Sol since 2004. From Estepona in the west to Elviria in the east, and inland to Coín, we cover a wide area of Málaga Province so that local families never have to travel far for quality swimming lessons.
Every class is taught by a fully qualified STA instructor. We focus on building real water confidence and practical safety skills, not just getting a child from one side of the pool to the other. Music, singing and play are woven into every session, which is why children ask to come back week after week.
Whether you are looking for your first parent-baby session, a structured programme for a toddler, or private lessons for a child who needs focused attention, Little Gem Swimmers has a class that fits your family. We keep group sizes small, we work at your child's pace, and we make the whole experience something to look forward to.
Twenty years on the Costa del Sol has taught us exactly what children need to feel safe, happy and confident in the water.
Blaise Hills and every member of the Little Gem Swimmers team hold full qualifications with the Swimming Teachers' Association in England. They attend regular workshops and ongoing training, so your child is always learning from someone who knows the latest techniques in water safety education.
We limit every group class to a maximum of seven children. That means your child gets real attention, real feedback and real progress, not just an hour splashing around with twenty others. Smaller classes also mean a calmer poolside, which makes a real difference for children who are nervous around water.
Young children learn best when they are having fun. Our lessons use songs, games, nursery rhymes and guided play to teach safety skills and swimming techniques without the child even realising they are learning. It is an approach that works from the very first session, and it is why so many of our families stay with us for years.
We serve nine areas from Estepona to Elviria, including Marbella, Fuengirola, Mijas, Benalmádena, Calahonda and inland Coín. Private lessons come to you, at your home pool or communal pool, so you never have to pile children into the car for a long drive to find a good swimming teacher.
We cover a broad stretch of the Costa del Sol, from the western reaches of Estepona through Marbella, Mijas and Fuengirola, east to Benalmádena, Calahonda and Elviria, and inland to Coín. If you live in one of the areas below, we are likely already teaching near you.
From a baby's very first splash to a child swimming full lengths with confidence, we have a programme designed for exactly where your child is right now.
Babies can start from six weeks old. These early sessions are centred on gentle movement, sensory play and the natural water reflexes babies are born with. We introduce safe pool entry, supported floating, face washing and the first steps toward breath control, all wrapped in songs and warmth that make the pool feel like a safe, joyful place from day one.
From 6 weeksToddlers are curious and energetic in equal measure, and our classes channel that energy productively. This is where children begin to move independently in the water, learn to return to the poolside safely, and develop the kicking and arm movements that will eventually become real strokes. Classes are structured but playful, and progress is visible from session to session.
Toddler ageFor children who are ready to work on technique and stamina. We cover front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, breathing patterns, floating and poolside safety. Lessons suit complete beginners as much as children who can already swim a little but want to improve. Every child leaves knowing more than when they arrived.
All abilitiesPrivate lessons are available at your home pool or communal pool anywhere across the areas we serve. Everything is planned around your child specifically: their current ability, their confidence level and their goals. Because progress in one-to-one teaching is faster, some children go from non-swimmer to independent swimmer within just a few sessions.
Home poolThese sessions are as much for parents as they are for children. You will be in the water throughout, and our instructors guide you on how to hold, support and encourage your child effectively. The group setting also helps children develop social confidence alongside water confidence, and the shared songs and games make for a genuinely happy atmosphere in the pool.
Parent-childThe Starfish Baby Water Safety programme is a structured six-award pathway designed for the youngest swimmers. Children progress through safe pool entry, front and back support, face washing, floating, submersion cues, poolside holding, rotation, kicking and safe exit. Each award is a real milestone that families can track and celebrate throughout the programme.
6 progressive awardsMy daughter was terrified of the pool when we started. Six weeks later she was jumping in herself and asking to go every day. The way the lessons are taught, with the songs and the games, completely removed the fear. I cannot recommend Little Gem Swimmers highly enough to any family in the Marbella area.
We chose Little Gem Swimmers for private lessons at our communal pool in Fuengirola and it was the best decision we made this year. Both our boys, aged three and five, made more progress in four private lessons than they had in a whole term at a larger swim school. The personal attention made all the difference.
We started the Starfish programme with our baby at four months and I was honestly nervous about the whole thing. Within the first two sessions I could see my son completely relaxed in the water. The structure of the six awards gives you something tangible to work towards and the instructor was calm, patient and clearly brilliant with young babies.
Whether your child is a nervous beginner or ready to learn their first strokes, we have the right class waiting for them across the Costa del Sol. Get in touch today and we will help you find the best option for your family.