We created MarTar Swim School because of our strong belief that everyone should have equal access to swim lessons taught by experienced instructors.
Hear what our parents have to say.
Then join us for a lesson in the Charleston area!
Testimonials
“My daughter had her first lesson tonight and I was amazed! Tara is the real deal! We’ve had swimming lessons at 2 or 3 other places (and a number of sessions trying different CA instructors) and my daughter made more progress tonight than she did in weeks of lessons anywhere else. What’s more, she’s so excited to practice and wants to swim more. I really can’t say enough good things. I think that these lessons are so amazing because they actually know how to teach a kid to swim. This is not just a teenager (no offense to the young-ins) following a manual.”
- Michelle M.
“We can not say enough good things about MarTar Swim School. The skills and confidence that they have taught our boys in remarkable!!!”
- Theresa C.
"The lessons at MarTar have given Monet a better quality of life to enjoy herself in social situations. I can't believe this is my daughter who last year Marty was prying her fingers from the lane ropes. Thank you for making a difference in our lives. The smiles and laughs from Monet brought tears to my eyes.”
- Kathy L.
There aren't enough words to express how much we love Mar-Tar swim school. Ms.Tara has taught all 3 of my children to swim, and loves them like her own. Were so grateful for them!
-LeAnn Marshall
“What can we say about MarTar Swim School that has not already been said!? My 3yo started classes with them last summer and it helped him a lot to feel comfortable in the pool. Fast forward to Summer 2018... I called Tara and said, we need you, we have 6 weeks before we travel to El Salvador and my (now 4yo) son needs to know how to swim good before we leave. Can you make it happen? She said no problem! For the next six weeks we had 3-4 classes a week and they were amazing with him. Swimming was starting to click and Tara said, he’s good, he just needs to find his confidence and when he does, you will not be able to get him out of the water. I am here to tell you that we are in El Salvador and all my son can talk about is how proud he is that he reached his goal to learn to swim before our trip! and guess what... he’s been in the pool and ocean almost everyday or a minimum of 8hrs daily!!! He has turned into a confident water bug! Thank you MarTar! You really know your stuff and we could not have reached our goal without you! Call MarTar ASAP!!”
- Christina B.
“Our family is so grateful for the wonderful people at MarTar Swim School. Marty and Tara are the best! As a mother of small children, water safety is so important - and especially important for autistic children. My son is nonverbal and doesn’t recognize danger. He has been doing weekly lessons at MarTar Swim School since September and he has made so much progress. Not only does the water provide sensory input to help regulate his body- but every single week we hear new phrases and words from Henry! The care and expertise that you will find at MarTar Swim School is unmatched. Henry knows when it’s swim day- and he is so happy to get into the water! Since starting lessons, our family has been on vacation twice- this may not seem like a huge deal to most but for us, it is enormous. In the past, vacations that involved water or swimming- just weren’t possible for us. Between Henry not recognizing danger and the anxiety around water- it just wasn’t something we could do. But for the first time ever, our family was able to vacation and all of us were able to safely enjoy the resort pool - thanks to the MarTar Swim School!”
- Tiffany Stayrook
“We have been taking both of our kids to MarTar for years. Their classes for infants and toddlers has been foundational for our son's swimming experience. Now, we take both for semi private lessons, and they have been doing phenomenally! The teachers (Allison and Steve) are so patient with them, and have even helped my daughter over come some of her hesitation with jumping in. Their instruction has helped instill confidence in my kids and their abilities in the water. They keep it fun too so that the kids look forward to going swimming every weekend. I would highly recommend MarTar Swim School to anyone who has a kid with hesitation about the water, to those with kids who have no fear of the water. They provide a great, safe learning environment while keeping it fun!”
- Elena M.
“We have had a great summer full of lessons. My 6 and 3 year old mastered swimming with Tara. When we moved into our home 3 months ago, with a pool, I knew we had to have our girl swimming ASAP. Tar was wonderful to work with. She figured out how to connect with both of my girls quickly. I love that MarTar Swim school teaches kids to actually swim. I also love that they don't use fear or scare tactics as well. We will forever be grateful for the peace we now have with our children in any pool.”
- Megan K.
"We have used MarTar Swim School continuously for almost 10 years to teach my non-verbal, severely autistic son to swim (yes – year-round, weekly lessons for nearly 10 years). He started afraid to put his head under water and now swims four strokes, dives, and competes in Special Olympics. He would prefer to be under the water rather than out of it. We have worked with various instructors from the school over the years and each one has been dedicated to work with individuals having special needs. My son has recently started having seizures and the school has worked with us to develop a comprehensive safety plan to meet his needs if he has a seizure while in a lesson. There is no other place that I would trust to meet his swim and safety needs than at MarTar Swim School."
- Susan M.
“I initially signed up for swim lessons as our family prepared for our first cruise. Having grown up afraid of the water, my goal was simply to feel more comfortable and confident in it. I was especially excited about a snorkeling excursion with my husband.
On the day of the excursion, we were thrilled to experience the ocean and see the local wildlife up close. We were given self-inflating life vests and snorkel gear before entering the water. Chad, an experienced swimmer, chose not to inflate his vest, while I filled mine completely.
Once we were in the ocean, it quickly became clear that something was wrong. Chad was struggling to keep his head above the surface and was taking in too much water through the snorkel gear. I made my way to him and began supporting him in the water. By then, we had drifted a considerable distance away from both the group and the boat.
Marty’s calm and steady reminders to stay focused, combined with the muscle memory and confidence I had gained during those early swim lessons, helped me keep both of us afloat until I was finally able to get the attention of our guide. He was then able to help Chad safely back onto the boat.
It wasn’t until after we returned home from the cruise that we learned Chad had actually been having a heart attack that day.
MarTar Swim School truly saved his life.”
- Kim Myers.
