The questions we hear most often

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, so we can support you as well as possible in the water.

Sign-up always goes through us: write to us using the form on the Contact page or call our office directly. There is no automatic online enrolment. We need the participant’s personal details and the course and location you prefer: we’ll help you find the right age group and time based on group availability.

Go to the form on the Contact page →

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.

Payment for the course is due by the end of the lesson cycle. The price depends on the location: each pool has its own rate for the cycle. You’ll find the up-to-date details on the Prices page, or you can ask our office directly when you sign up.

Yes, two: a family discount when several members of the same household sign up, and a multi-course discount for those attending more than one course in the same week. To find out how they apply to your situation, write to us or contact our office: we’ll work out the best option together.

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

A swim cap is not required. What you need varies by pool and activity type, so we let you know everything you need when you sign up, along with practical information about the chosen location. In general, a swimsuit, towel and pool sandals are enough; for the youngest children, a swim nappy is needed.

As a rule, only one parent gets in the water at a time, because pool space is limited and groups are small. It is possible to alternate between lessons, though: many families do this, so both mum and dad get to experience the water with their child.

Infant water familiarisation can start in the first months of life, with your paediatrician’s go-ahead. Our parent-child courses are organised by real age groups: 0-12 months (Acquababy), 1-2 years and 2-4 years. Each group has activities calibrated to that age’s motor development, always in warm water and in a parent’s arms.

A child begins learning to swim in a structured way around age 4, once they have enough coordination and independence. Before age 4, it’s about water familiarisation and getting comfortable, not technical learning. Ondarte’s swimming courses follow the progressive levels of swimsports.ch, with badge tests certifying progress step by step.

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.

Our indoor pools reach up to 34 °C, much warmer than a sports pool (26–28 °C): at this temperature the muscles relax and movement flows more easily. It’s ideal both for infant water familiarisation — since babies don’t yet regulate their body temperature well — and for aquatic therapy and expectant mothers. Each pool has its own temperature: you’ll find it on the Our warm water page.

Ondarte runs courses in 7 pools across Ticino: Ponte Tresa (Tresa Bay Hotel), Mendrisio San Martino, Novaggio (Clinica EOC), Sementina (Clinica FisioAndreotti), Balerna (Fondazione Provvida Madre), Chiasso (Life Club) and, in summer only, Magliaso. They span from Malcantone to Mendrisiotto and the Bellinzonese, so the right water is always close to home.