Swim franchise Big Blue splashed down in the Peninsula recently in Midway District with opening ceremonies at the Vons shopping center.

A family fun day was held at the new state-of-the-art swim school at 3645 Midway Drive next to Chase Bank on March 30, with a grand opening ribbon-cutting the next day on April 1.

One of the nation’s fastest-growing swim school franchises, the opening of its Point Loma school was Big Blue’s second California location, the other being in Huntington Beach. It is the 32nd national swim school for the company that was founded in Chicago.

Referring to its programming as “The Big Blue Difference,” the new regional swim school in Midway empowers kids ages 3 months to 12 years with the skills they need to feel confident in the water.

“After spending years swimming competitively, I have a passion for sharing my love of swimming and the importance of swim safety,” said Tom Dolan, two-time Olympic gold medalist and Big Blue’s president of corporate pools. “We are thrilled to serve the community in Point Loma, and to provide opportunities for local families to have fun and swim safely.”

Big Blue emphasizes teamwork with its professional, adult instructors getting into the water with swimmers and adapting lessons to revolve around each individual. Level-appropriate, engaging lessons are led by professional instructors who receive 70-plus hours of instruction to become company swim associates.

Big Blue Point Loma offers weekly, year-round 30- to 45-minute swim lessons for children beginning at 3 months old, seven days a week.

Additionally, Big Blue’s mobile app gives parents the ability to conveniently schedule and coordinate classes for multiple kids simultaneously while tracking their swimming progress.

Poonam Patel, Big Blue Point Loma’s vice president of operations, talked about the Big Blue difference. “Our mission is to teach kids swimming so they can unlock their full potential in the water while learning how to swim safely, a vital life skill for any human,” she said noting, “And that’s what we aim to do. We run year-round and one of our biggest selling points is our flexibility.”

Patel pointed out patrons can stop and start swim lessons at any time. Big Blue also works with parent’s schedules, allowing free makeup lessons for their children. Lessons can be canceled right up until their scheduled times. Free trial lessons are also available.

Big Blue’s baby swim school caters to children ages 6 months to 3 years, focusing on skills like breath control, back floating, and learning to push off the wall, readying each child for parentless participation.

In the swim school for toddlers, kids between ages 3 and 5 learn balance, kicking, and more, all through fun games, songs, and stories that make them excited to come to class.

For kids 6 and up there are two programs, Bold Blue and Big Blue, catering to different skill levels. Swimmers will progress from learning how to be safe in the water to learning different strokes and building their skills to become proficient, strong swimmers.

For the safety of all students, all children are initially placed based on their age-appropriate level. Students are evaluated at each lesson by trained staff to determine their skill levels. It is not uncommon for swimmers to move up levels quickly if they have previous swim experience.

Class sizes are developed with a small swimmer-to-teacher ratio, depending on the curriculum level, to provide fun, social lessons plus individualized attention. If you would prefer private lessons, availability and price per lesson varies by location.

Big Blue also sets itself apart from other swim schools with 90-degree, ultra-clean water, a comfortable viewing area to keep an eye on swimmers; plenty of private changing rooms, and fall-proof, anti-microbial flooring throughout the facility, along with free Wi-Fi and ample parking.

BIG BLUE SWIM SCHOOL

Where: 3645 Midway Drive

Info: BigBlueSwimSchool.com.