A freestyle stroke in an indoor Ondarte pool, with the lake and the mountains of Ticino beyond the windows
Warm water up to 34 °C · Ticino · since 1996

Grow, reconnect and learn in warm water

Warm-water courses up to 34 °C in 7 pools across Ticino: water familiarisation for babies and children, swimming, acquagravidanza and Acquantalgica. Since 1996.

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◈ Courses recognised by several health insurers

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An adult’s hand and a child’s hand meet at the surface of the warm water in an Ondarte pool
Why Ondarte

A warm water few pools can offer

In Ticino, pools that are warm, open all year and suited to babies, expectant mothers and gentle movement are very rare. Our indoor pools reach up to 34 °C: the warmth relaxes the muscles, protects the youngest and makes possible courses you won’t find elsewhere.

Groups are divided by age and lessons are organised to suit the participants’ characteristics. This split makes it possible to calibrate play, the pace of the activity and safety around the real needs of those in the water, fostering an educational, engaging and safe experience.

Our courses

From the first months of life to adulthood

A baby smiles at the water surface, resting on a floating tube, during an Acquababy water-confidence lesson in an indoor pool — Acquababy · Parent-baby (0-12 months)
Water confidence

Acquababy · Parent-baby (0-12 months)

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A dad guides his child at the water surface during a parent-and-child lesson in an indoor pool — Parent-baby (1-2 years)
Water confidence

Parent-baby (1-2 years)

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A child with armbands moves along the water surface, guided by the instructor, during a parent-and-child lesson in an indoor pool — Parent-child (2-4 years)
Water confidence

Parent-child (2-4 years)

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A group of children moving forward with kickboards during an Ondarte swimming lesson — Swimming for children & teens
Swimming

Swimming for children & teens

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Acquagym — the photo shows Ondarte’s open-air summer pool in Magliaso, on Lake Lugano
Water fitness

Acquagym

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Three adults seen from behind, wearing Aquafit® flotation belts, during a lesson in an indoor pool — Aquafit®
Water fitness

Aquafit®

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All courses
Where we are

Seven pools in Ticino, from Malcantone to Mendrisiotto

The pool of the Ondarte location in Ponte Tresa, c/o Tresa Bay Hotel
Main location

Ondarte — Ponte Tresa

c/o Tresa Bay Hotel

◈ Warm water 32–33 °C

  • All water-confidence levels and swimming
  • Acquagym, Aquafit® and warm-water therapy

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Ondarte — Mendrisio

Mendrisio San Martino

◈ Warm water 32–34 °C

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The pool of the Ondarte location in Novaggio, c/o Clinica di Riabilitazione EOC

Ondarte — Novaggio

c/o Clinica di Riabilitazione EOC

◈ Warm water 31–32 °C

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The pool of the Ondarte location in Sementina, c/o Clinica FisioAndreotti

Ondarte — Sementina

c/o Clinica FisioAndreotti

◈ Warm water 32 °C

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The pool of the Ondarte location in Balerna, c/o Fondazione Provvida Madre

Ondarte — Balerna

c/o Fondazione Provvida Madre

◈ Warm water 33–34 °C

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The pool of the Ondarte location in Chiasso, c/o Life Club

Ondarte — Chiasso

c/o Life Club

◈ Warm water 30–31 °C

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Ondarte's outdoor summer pool in Magliaso

Ondarte — Magliaso

c/o Centro Magliaso

☀ Outdoor summer pool

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See all locations
Why choose us

Three reasons to start with us

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Warm water up to 34 °C

Ideal for babies, expectant mothers, gentle movement and for anyone wary of the water.

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A course for every age

The age groups don’t mix: a baby and a four-year-old are never in the same group.

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Swiss method

Swimming with the swimsports.ch method, a Swiss Aquatics partner, with QualiCert and aQuality recognition.

Our most requested course

Acquantalgica, for back and joints

An active group workout in warm water for those living with back pain and joint pain: the warmth relaxes the muscles, buoyancy takes the load off. It runs at Ponte Tresa and Mendrisio, with no prescription needed.

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Calm water in an Ondarte pool, where the warm-water therapy course takes place

What people say about us

Reviews verified on Google

Read all reviews on Google ↗

Professionalità, disponibilità e semplicità. Grazie a loro questo posto ha preso vita. La mia famiglia è rimasta felice e ho notato quanto ha imparato in questo corso di nuoto. Consiglio.

Translated from Italian: Professionalism, helpfulness and simplicity. Thanks to them this place has come to life. My family was happy and I noticed how much they learned in this swimming course. Recommended.

Ewelins Google review

Piscina molto ben attrezzata per i neonati, ogni postazione aveva un fasciatoio e un phon a disposizione, in più è presente un box dove lasciare i neonati mentre ci si cambia. Ambiente caldo e pulito, personale gentilissimo

Translated from Italian: Pool very well equipped for babies: every spot had a changing station and a hairdryer available, plus there is a play-pen to leave the babies in while you get changed. Warm, clean environment, very kind staff

Iside Local Guide Google review

Ho portato entrambi i miei bimbi: professionalità, simpatia, rispetto dei tempi dei bambini, cordialità. Consiglio vivamente di intraprendere un corso in acqua con Ondarte!

Translated from Italian: I brought both my children: professionalism, friendliness, respect for the children’s pace, warmth. I highly recommend taking a water course with Ondarte!

Valentina Google review

Frequently asked questions

What is Ondarte and where is it?

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Ondarte is an aquatic-activities school active in Canton Ticino since 1996. It runs warm-water courses up to 34 °C in 7 pools: Ponte Tresa, Mendrisio, Novaggio, Sementina, Balerna, Chiasso and, in summer, Magliaso. Courses range from infant water familiarisation to swimming, from acquagravidanza to water fitness and aquatic therapy.

At what age can water familiarisation with Ondarte begin?

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Water familiarisation can begin in the first months of life, with your paediatrician’s go-ahead. Parent-child courses are organised by real age groups (0-12 months, 1-2 years, 2-4 years), in warm water and in a parent’s arms, for a gradual, calm introduction.

Are courses split by age?

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Yes, always. Each parent-child course has its own age group — 0-12 months, 1-2 years, 2-4 years — and the groups don’t mix: a baby of a few months and a four-year-old are never in the same group. Each age has different attention spans, motor skills and safety needs: keeping them separate is what lets the instructor tune play and pace to whoever is actually in the water.

Why is your water warmer than other pools?

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Our indoor pools reach up to 34 °C, much warmer than a sports pool (26–28 °C). At this temperature muscles relax and the youngest children’s thermoregulation is protected: it’s ideal for babies, expectant mothers and for aquatic therapy. Each location has its own temperature, which you’ll find on the Our warm water page.

Do I need a medical certificate to sign up for courses?

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No. In Switzerland a medical certificate is not required for pool courses and Ondarte does not ask for one: you can sign up directly, with no medical visits or health documents. We only ask you to let us know of any health conditions the instructor should be aware of.

How does signing up for a course work?

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Write to us using the form on the Contact page or call our office: there is no automatic online enrolment. We need the participant’s details and the course and location; we’ll help you find the right age group and time. Payment is made by the end of the lesson cycle.

Go to the form on the Contact page →

Can missed lessons be made up?

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Yes: up to 3 lessons per cycle, barring exceptions, can be made up within the current cycle or the next one depending on availability. Lessons not attended are not deducted from the price, because your spot stays reserved for the whole course.

Are the courses recognised by health insurers?

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Ondarte is recognised by several health insurers. Reimbursement conditions are set by each individual health insurer: we recommend checking them with your own insurance. The courses recognised for reimbursement are Acquababy, Aquafit®/Acquagym, Acquantalgica and Swimming.

Some things are easier to sort out by talking.

Just two lines: who’s getting in the water, how old they are and what they’re looking for. We’ll point you to the course, location and time to start from.

Write to us or message us on WhatsApp