At Water Lilies Bermuda, we are proud to be PediaSwim certified, teaching fundamental swimming skills for safety, fun, and efficiency to individuals of all ages. Accredited by the International Swim Schools Association (ISSA), we uphold the highest standards in water safety and enrichment programming.
Our signature Basic Training course provides a focused foundation for water safety. In just three to five weeks, children as young as six months learn to float confidently at the surface, just like a water lily, through carefully simulated water entries. From there, they progress to swimming facedown, kicking in the correct posture, and rolling over into a calm float before transitioning back to a propulsive swim. This swim-float-swim sequence serves as the cornerstone of all future stroke development.
Beyond foundational skills, we offer a range of lessons tailored to the needs of all swimmers:
- Maintenance, Stroke Development, and Stroke Mechanics: For those who have completed Basic Training or with instructor approval.
- Adult Swim Lessons: Perfect for beginners learning to swim, those refining their strokes, or athletes training for triathlons.
- Semi-Private Lessons: Perfect for pairs or small groups of family members or friends. These sessions combine personalized instruction with the social benefits of learning alongside a familiar face. Semi-private lessons maintain a low instructor-to-student ratio, ensuring quality instruction and progress for all participants.
- Open Group Lessons: Designed for swimmers who enjoy a collaborative learning environment, our group lessons focus on age-appropriate skills and teamwork. These sessions bring together small groups with similar skill levels, promoting encouragement and camaraderie while ensuring each swimmer receives guidance tailored to their needs.
Swimming is more than a life-saving skill—it’s an excellent exercise for people of all ages, promoting health, confidence, and personal growth.
Why Water Lilies?
Swimming is more than a fun summer activity or vacation pastime—it’s a vital life skill that builds confidence, safety, and independence. At Water Lilies Bermuda, we provide a unique and personalized approach to swim lessons, tailored for infants, toddlers, and older children who are just beginning their aquatic journey.
Our program begins with a focused Basic Training course that teaches children to swim and float independently while having fun. This course lays a strong foundation for water safety, ensuring that students develop essential skills regardless of their ultimate goals in swimming.
The progressive swim-float-swim sequence equips each child with life-saving skills in case of accidental water entry. By mastering buoyancy and balance in both face-down and face-up positions, students learn to remain calm and confident in the water. These core skills seamlessly transition into stroke development, paving the way for recreational enjoyment or competitive swimming as students grow.
Starting with the right foundation is critical for engaging with the water safely and effectively. Parents consistently report that our program fosters self-discipline, independence, and confidence, qualities that extend far beyond the pool. These attributes benefit children in school, at home, and throughout their lives, setting them up for success in every area.
At Water Lilies, we are proud to offer a holistic, well-rounded program that empowers students to thrive. Our dedicated instructors create a structured and nurturing environment, helping each child refine their skills while building a lifelong love for the water.
Our Lessons
Water Lilies’ lessons are designed with safety and efficiency in mind. Each lesson is one-on-one, customized to your child’s unique personality, ability, and confidence level. Safety is our top priority during basic training, ensuring a smooth transition to stroke development in the future. Your child will learn the importance of breathing while swimming and master the roll over to the float position.
As your child progresses, this foundational skill of rolling over to float will be crucial for learning more advanced techniques. For example, when learning to breathe for freestyle, this movement is paused halfway in a ‘side kick’ position, allowing for a breath mid-stroke. By keeping this progression in mind, our lessons develop effective swim techniques from the start.
We combine competence with confidence, building a foundation for fun and enjoyment in the water.
Clothing Checkout
When a child falls into the water, it often happens unexpectedly and while they are fully clothed. As part of the Basic Training course, your child will go through a series of simulated water entries. These entries replicate the experience of falling into the water fully clothed during an emergency situation. By experiencing the sensation of being clothed in the water, your child is less likely to panic and more able to focus on swimming or floating to safety if such an event occurs.
Coming Soon
Family-Focused Enrichment Programs
We are thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of our family-focused enrichment programs and seasonal camps at The Explorers Center. Designed to inspire creativity, celebrate culture, and ignite a sense of adventure, these programs will provide unforgettable experiences for children and families.
Stay tuned for more details as we prepare to introduce this exciting new chapter in our journey!
GET TO KNOW OUR TEAM
We want every child to love swimming, respect the water and swim beautifully. That’s why our standards are the highest and our approach is unique no matter the instructor. Our highly trained and qualified teachers are experts at identifying a child's level of ability and are able to adapt activities to the individual, nurturing confidence while encouraging their natural abilities.
Fiona Nusum
Nicole Brangman
Fay Naylor
Candiss Steede
Suhaila Tucker
Khadijah Ming
Jonea Paynter
MEET WATER LILIES FOUNDER AND OWNER: FIONA NUSUM
Fiona Nusum has had a passion for teaching for as early as she can remember. At four years old she knew she wanted to become a teacher. Fiona enjoyed swimming in her youth and swam competitively for Warwick Academy’s swim team. She was thrilled to have attained a summer job with Swimming Instinct in 2006 which gave her a great opportunity to share a passion of hers while polishing her teaching skills. Fiona has been teaching infants and toddlers how to swim ever since. She developed a great love and joy for the profession and has since been able to refine her teaching techniques and strategies even further. Fiona brings with her a calm and patient approach to her lessons which are adapted to meet the needs of every student.
Fiona became a certified lifeguard in 2013 where she worked at The National Sports Center for many summers in between teaching swimming. She was amazed by the skills and training needed to rescue a person in distress. Fiona believes that learning how to swim is an essential part of life, especially here on an island. She believes that drowning is preventable if the right programs are available.
In 2019, after recognizing that Bermuda did not have a concentrated swim programme completely dedicated to infant self-rescue, Fiona decided to complete an instructor training course in Orlando, Florida. Her intent was to bring the skills learned to Bermuda’s shores and pools through a new swim program, giving locals and visitors alike peace of mind for their child’s, and their own, swim safety. Her rationale for this goal was to be able to teach all ages to love the water and to grow as confident swimmers without fear or accident in the water, with a focus on starting at a young age. Fiona is extremely proud of the students who have been entrusted to her for swim lessons thus far and looks forward to making fun and safe splashes with many more.
When Fiona is not in the pool, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family. She has received her BA in Fine art, MA in Education, and Post Graduate Certificate in Education. She has taught in and out of the classroom, in Bermuda, England, and Thailand. She is currently a full time Primary and Middle School Art Teacher within the Bermuda Public-School System.