About
Aqua Culture Swim School & Training Center, located at 2213-A Commerce Rd, Forest Hill, MD 21050, USA, is a dedicated facility offering comprehensive swim lessons and training programs. They cater to individuals of all ages and skill levels, from infants learning water safety to adults refining their strokes and competitive swimmers. The center focuses on developing strong swimming skills in a safe and supportive environment.
The facility features a saltwater pool heated to a comfortable 90 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 32 degrees Celsius).
What are people saying (AI review summary)? Aqua Culture receives high praise from many customers, who describe the staff as friendly, welcoming, kind, and accommodating, particularly for children with special needs. Instructors, like Mr. Wayne, are noted for their passion, attentiveness, and ability to make classes enjoyable and educational, focusing on water safety and skill development. Several reviewers commend the owners and staff as caring and committed, with one even calling it the 'best swim school in the USA.' However, one significant negative review details a deeply concerning experience, citing a complete lack of communication, unprofessionalism, and perceived negligence. During a swim assessment, a non-swimming toddler submerged twice after being told by a lifeguard he could remove his float if on the steps; the lifeguard did not immediately intervene, requiring the father to jump in. This incident, combined with a lack of introductions, unclear expectations, and absence of post-assessment communication from the owner, led the family to lose trust and vow not to return, expressing hope that the staff will learn and improve their communication and safety protocols.
Location
Gallery
Amenities
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Accepts Credit Cards
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Accessible Entrance
Reviews
Listing Reviews
May 29th, 2025Kevin McCann
We have a special needs child and they were kind, accommodating and made sure she got the attention she needed.
June 9th, 2024Morgan Elam
We just had our first Pearl swim class with Mr. Wayne and it was awesome. I can tell he is very passionate about what he does and he provided great attention and care to my son. He taught us many great things on our first lesson and we can’t wait to go back week after week. Thank you Mr. Wayne for making our first class very enjoyable and educational.
March 15th, 2025Brent Hott
Very friendly and welcoming. We took the kids here to get a swim assessment. Looking forward to swimming here.
January 27th, 2020Neil Etter
There is only one problem with this swim school, and that is there is only one! One location - that is it - of the best swim school In the United States of America. Team Etter is proud to be a part of the Aqua Culture family. The owners and staff are all part of wonderful, caring, and committed group of people with a strong focus on growing their students' swimming viability and effective water safety skills. People of Harford County and the region are very fortunate to have Aqua Culture.
June 12th, 2019Erin Williams Richmond
My original review is too long for Google (please read on Facebook, Yelp, or BBB). I want to say that I am writing this in hopes that the staff at Aqua Culture will learn from their actions and make a positive change. Ultimately, our concerns revolved around the total lack of communication and what we believe to be negligence. There were many concerns but I'll leave the part were were most upset by ... "....We had no idea what was happening at this point. Our boys were in the water. Emily was standing close to them. My husband and I were on the bench next to the pool. When we asked her what was going on at this point, she said there was 3-4 minutes of “open pool time” and offered no further explanation of what we should expect from the assessment/consultation. My 2-year-old was getting frustrated with the pool float and kept wanting to take it off. We continued to tell him that if he wanted to be in the pool that he had to wear it. She told him that if he stayed on the steps that he could take it off. Then, next thing we know, he jumps off the steps and submerges underwater, comes up, and then submerges again. Even though this whole incident happened in a few seconds, it felt like slow motion and it was terrifying. A mother’s worse fear. Emily, the “lifeguard,” leaned over and held her hand out and tells him to come to her. HE CANNOT SWIM AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. My husband, with shoes and socks on, jumps in the pool and gets him out. My son was hysterically crying after pulling him out. In my opinion, Emily should have been in that pool immediately. It should have been instinct. At this point, my husband and I were so upset. We were so frustrated and felt so confused as to what was happening from the “assessment” to “open pool” time and the lack of communication altogether. If we knew to expect “open pool time,” we would have been in the pool with our children or we would have had the boys get out after the assessment - especially if we had known the lifeguard would be so negligent (unwilling to jump in the pool). After our son was submerged in the water, we got our things and left immediately. Wayne, the owner and the one who left for break after the assessment without talking to us, came back to ask what happened. My husband shared what happened and he apologized. Our trip to AquaCulture was a disappointment to say the least and we will not be returning. We hope we just came on an “off” day. Regardless, we will not be trusting our children in their care with something that is so important to us. We want to know our children are safe as they learn to develop the skills needed to be confident in the water. Communication and trust are paramount when it comes to anyone who works with or cares for our children. Thankfully, our 2-year-old loves the water and being in the pool. However, if this had been his first time – I know this incident would have traumatized him. In summary, here were our biggest concerns - No introductions from any of the staff to parents or children. No directions or expectations shared. No summary of assessment/consultation and next steps. Lack of professionalism. Lifeguard not trained/negligent and did not seem natural with our children. It’s clear they have a successful business with many customers who value their service. We hope that Wayne, Leslie, Emily, and the staff at Aqua Culture can thoroughly discuss what happened today in order to learn from it and improve on their communication with new, potential customers who have no experience with swim lessons." Read my full review on Facebook, Yelp, or BBB.
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Opening Hours
| Sunday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Monday | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 4:00 – 8:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
| Thursday | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:00 – 8:00 PM |
| Friday | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:00 – 8:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
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