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Available programmes at this location:

baby and pre-school

Baby & Pre-school 0-4 years

swim academy

Swim Academy 4-10 years

pool depth

1-1.5 Pool Depth

free parking

Free Parking

pool temperature 30

Avg Pool Temp 30°C

Classes Timetable

View Holiday Dates

Upcoming Holiday Dates (inclusive)

Starts:  Sat 21 Dec 2024    Ends:  Fri 03 Jan 2025

Starts:  Mon 23 Dec 2024    Ends:  Sun 05 Jan 2025

Starts:  Mon 24 Feb 2025    Ends:  Sun 02 Mar 2025

Starts:  Mon 14 Apr 2025    Ends:  Sun 27 Apr 2025

Starts:  Fri 18 Apr 2025    Ends:  Mon 21 Apr 2025

Starts:  Mon 26 May 2025    Ends:  Sun 01 Jun 2025

Starts:  Tue 22 Jul 2025    Ends:  Sun 31 Aug 2025

Starts:  Mon 18 Aug 2025    Ends:  Sun 31 Aug 2025

Monday

baby and pre school class

Kickers

15 - 30 months

10:00 AM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
baby and pre school class

Little Dippers

30 months - 4 years

10:30 AM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
baby and pre school class

Floaties

0 - 9 months

Floaties classes are for babies from 0-9 months. If your baby is between 6-9 months and had previous swimming lesson experience, you can book into our Splashers class.

11:00 AM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
baby and pre school class

Kickers

15 - 30 months

11:30 AM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
baby and pre school class

Splashers

6 - 15 months

Splashers classes are for babies between 6-15 months. If your baby is between 6-9 months and has no swimming lesson experience, you should book into our Floaties class.

12:00 PM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now

Tuesday

baby and pre school class

Little Dippers

30 months - 4 years

16:15 PM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
baby and pre school class

Kickers

15 - 30 months

16:45 PM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
baby and pre school class

Splashers

6 - 15 months

Splashers classes are for babies between 6-15 months. If your baby is between 6-9 months and has no swimming lesson experience, you should book into our Floaties class.

17:15 PM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now

Friday

baby and pre school class

Floaties

0 - 9 months

Floaties classes are for babies from 0-9 months. If your baby is between 6-9 months and had previous swimming lesson experience, you can book into our Splashers class.

10:30 AM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
baby and pre school class

Kickers

15 - 30 months

11:00 AM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
baby and pre school class

Little Dippers

30 months - 4 years

11:30 AM

£18.00 per lesson

Join wait list
baby and pre school class

Splashers

6 - 15 months

Splashers classes are for babies between 6-15 months. If your baby is between 6-9 months and has no swimming lesson experience, you should book into our Floaties class.

12:00 PM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now

Sunday

baby and pre school class

Kickers

15 - 30 months

10:00 AM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
baby and pre school class

Kickers

15 - 30 months

10:30 AM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
baby and pre school class

Little Dippers

30 months - 4 years

11:00 AM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
baby and pre school class

Splashers

6 - 15 months

Splashers classes are for babies between 6-15 months. If your baby is between 6-9 months and has no swimming lesson experience, you should book into our Floaties class.

11:30 AM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
baby and pre school class

Little Dippers

30 months - 4 years

12:00 PM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
baby and pre school class

Little Dippers

30 months - 4 years

12:30 PM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
swim academy

Swim Academy Level 1

4 - 10 years

13:30 PM

£18.00 per lesson

Join wait list
swim academy

Swim Academy Level 1

4 - 10 years

14:00 PM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
swim academy

Swim Academy Level 2

4 - 10 years

14:30 PM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
swim academy

Swim Academy Level 2

4 - 10 years

15:00 PM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now
swim academy

Swim Academy Level 1

4 - 10 years

15:30 PM

£18.00 per lesson

Book Now

Please note all new bookings require payment for 10 classes upfront. If you would like to discuss other payment options, please contact your local office.

Location & Directions

Novotel Cardiff Centre, Schooner Way, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff, Cardiff, CF10 4RT

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Essential Pool Information

What to wear

Baby & Pre-school: A well-fitting neoprene swim nappy must be worn with a disposable swim nappy or one of our environmentally friendly NappyWraps & Liners underneath if your child is in Floaties, Splashers or Kickers and in other programmes if they are not yet fully potty/toilet trained. Why not buy one of our great value Starter Packs which contain everything you need for your swim lesson?

This pool varies in temperature a little, so we'd recommend babies under 15 months have a thermal layer to keep them warm.

Swim Academy: A swim hat (we'll give your child a Swim Academy hat on their first lesson.  If they'd rather wear their own hat that's completely fine), well fitting goggles and swimwear that doesn't flap about e.g. not bermuda shorts.

Changing Rooms

There are separate male and female changing rooms.  Lockers are available - they require a £1 coin.

Additional Pool Information

I'm afraid the pool doesn't allow spectators during preschool classes.

One spectator per child is permitted poolside during Swim Academy classes.  

Photography is only permitted during Splash Time and only if you do not include other swimmers in your photographs/videos.  Photography is not permitted at any time in the changing rooms.

No food poolside or in the changing rooms please.  

There's a lovely cafe/bar area (The Customs Shed) for a coffee or lunch after you swim.

Baby & Preschool:  maximum 8 adult/child pairs : 1 teacher

Swim Academy (Level 1 and 2): maximum 4 children : 1 teacher (teacher is in the water)

Swim Academy (Level 3 and 4): maximum 8 children : 1 teacher (teacher is poolside)

profile image

Helen Hicks

Contact Details

T: 02922 806242

Registered Address

Greenstones Downside Rd Backwell BS48 3DD

FAQs

  • Parents can bring their newborn as soon as they feel ready - our youngest Puddle Duck was just
    over a week old! We advise to allow the umbilical cord to have healed over to avoid infection,
    but you don't need to wait until your baby has had their jabs.


    We find that babies - as they have spent 9 months in their own watery world - have a natural
    affinity in our carefully selected, warm pools.


    Our programme is progressive, so you can join at any time. Your child can come to Puddle Ducks
    at any age between 0-10 years. We have Baby & Pre-school classes for 0-4 and our Swim
    Academy for primary school aged children up to 10.


    Each of the programmes focuses on nurturing confidence - our teachers know that children
    develop and learn at different rates, so will adjust each activity to get the best out of each child
    and encourage positive progression.

  • If your child is in Floaties, Splashers, Kickers or Little Dippers in our Baby &
    Pre-school programme then yes, you will be in the water with them throughout the lesson, these
    sessions provide a fabulous bonding experience between you and your child and is all about
    building their water confidence.


    If your child is in any of our Swim Academy classes (i.e. they are in primary school) they will be in
    the water on their own, with two teachers in the water and a ratio of 1 teacher:4 children. If the
    pool allows spectators, you will be able to watch from poolside.

  • • If you know that you won't be able to attend before the class takes place, you can let us know via your My Puddle Ducks account on both your Overview page and also your My
    Children page by clicking on ‘Let us know you can’t attend a lesson’ and following the instructions. This will generate a Courtesy Class for you to then use against any lesson where there is space in the next 6 months (provided you are currently in paid-for lessons). Read more in our Courtesy Classes FAQs.


    • If your child has a chest, ear, throat or eye infection they shouldn’t swim until it has completely cleared.


    • Please don’t bring your child to the pool during, or for two weeks after, suffering from diarrhoea.


    • Going swimming is unlikely to worsen a mild cold and will not increase the likelihood of an ear infection unless your baby has a perforated eardrum.


    • Please do not bring your child to a swimming class with anything that could be infectious, such as chickenpox, which is considered infectious until all the blisters have dried up.


    • It’s worth remembering that children are often exhausted after an illness and need some time to recuperate before returning to their swimming lessons.


    • We can’t offer a refund for missed classes, your payment secures your place in your class and the class takes place as usual if you are unable to attend but this is why we offer Courtesy Classes, because we understand life doesn’t always go to plan with a little one!


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