Dive Back In: Celebrating National Learn to Swim Day

Remember the first time water felt more adventure than fear? The third Saturday in May invites us all—kids splashing for the very first time, adults who finally took the plunge, and everyone in-between—to relive that moment and pass it on.

Why this day matters

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for U.S. children aged 1-4, yet a single month of formal swim lessons can cut that risk by up to 88 percent. Create Healthy National Learn to Swim Day exists to close that gap before pools open and beach towels unfurl for summer.

The Facts

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in the United States for children aged 1-4 and the second leading cause for children under the age of 14.
One month of formal swimming lessons, which reduces the risk of drowning in children by 88%, can cost as little as $50 for children, and as little as $60 for adults. You can help provide the life-saving skill of swimming to persons of all ages!
More than a third of adults in the U.S. can’t swim the length of a pool.

Flashback: your own first strokes

Close your eyes and rewind.

The chlorine tang or lake-water chill.
Fingers glued to the gutter—or a parent’s arm—until you finally let go.
The instant confidence flooded in when you realized you’re floating.

Sharing that memory with a child (or a still-hesitant friend) is powerful proof that new swimmers aren’t alone.

How to make a splash this year

Action	Impact
Enroll a learner	Book lessons at a local Y, community pool, or with nonprofits like Swim Up Hill Foundation (with athlete Jamal Hill), which offers free instruction in underserved communities. The USA Swimming Foundation, aims to provide the opportunity for every person in the U.S. to learn to swim. Through an annual grant program and by partnering with swim lesson providers and water safety advocates across the country, we help to support swimming lessons, and educate children and their families on the importance of learning how to swim. In January 2021, U.S. Masters Swimming moved its fundraising efforts for adult learn-to-swim programs from its USMS Swimming Saves Lives Foundation to the USA Swimming Foundation. Bringing all learn-to-swim fundraising efforts under the USA Swimming Foundation umbrella creates a greater generational impact by providing swim lessons to people of all ages.
Volunteer or donate	Lifeguards, swim instructors, and program scholarships keep lessons accessible.
Host a “float party”	Invite neighbors for a backyard demo of basic floats, kicks, and safe pool rules.
Spread the word	Post your origin-story photo or video with #NationalLearnToSwimDay and tag @H2OAudio to inspire others.
Model smart swimming	Adults who swim confidently raise the odds their children will learn, too.

Gear that keeps up with the lesson plan

Because you asked, we listened. SONAR 2, our next-gen bone-conduction swim headphone, surfaces in the next two months:

Slimmer profile—no more goggle-strap bulk.
Tuned-up acoustics for clearer music under water.
Same watertight IPX8+ heritage, now with even easier button placement.

Your call to action

On May 17 set aside 30 minutes to do something that turns water from hazard to playground for someone else. Teach a float, fund a lesson, share your story. Those small ripples add up to safer, more confident swimmers—and maybe the next person who falls in love with the water will remember you as the one who helped them kick off the wall.

See you on deck—earbuds in, volume up, and always going Beyond.

—The H2O Audio Team