The Water Whisperer Swim School

Sherman Oaks, United States

4.8

Open now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards
By Appointment Only

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 818-570-1183
Website:
www.thewaterwhisperer.com
Address:
Sherman Oaks, CA 91401
Valley Glen
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.2 miWoodman/Valley Glen Station
0.8 miValley College Bus Stop
0.8 miValley College Station
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
By Appointment Only
Yes

Today

Today 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Open now
Local time (Sherman Oaks) 5:16 PM Monday, July 14, 2025

Business hours

Monday 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Sunday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Welcome to the Wonderful World of The Water Whisperer Swim School, where babies, kids and adults learn to swim in a creative, nurturing, and educational environment. We have an approx 95% success rate getting kids age 3 and up to swim in 10 lessons but we start with babies as young as 5⁄6 months. We specialize in children who fear water. The WW teaches individuals to swim using developmental methods created by educator Emily Cohen who has a Masters in Education from UCLA, Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, CLAD, and years of teaching children both in and out of the water. Not only do swimmers develop water safety skills, but they also create their own swimming style. The WW is a proud member of The United States Swim School Association. CBS listed us at the top of their Best Swim Lessons in Los Angeles List! Feel free to visit our fabulous website and make sure to see the 100 videos testimonials & over 350 written reviews on our site. www​.the​wa​ter​whis​perer​.com

History

Established in 2005.

Evolved from classroom to swimming pool.

Meet the Business Owner

Emily C.

Business Owner

Before becoming a swim school teacher and owner I was a teacher in the classroom for 18 years.

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20 reviews of The Water Whisperer Swim School

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
The Water Whisperer rocks! They were so patient (yet firm), loving and knowledgeable. My son went from screaming and crying the first two days to Jumping off the diving board with glee! He LOVED going to class (after the first two days) and we will most likely be going back for maintenance. Highly recommend!
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
My 3.5 year old daughter was so scared of the water that she never let go of me & screamed the whole time I was trying to practice with her in the water.
I almost gave up on her learning to swim. I thought she will never learn how to swim or it will take her the same amount of pain & frustration I went through to learn how to do just basic swimming.
Until I heard about The Water Whisperer from my sister in law & Facebook.
It was the best thing happened to me & the best choice I made.
I remember the first 2 sessions, I was looking at the other kids who were mostly younger than my child, & wondering if my daughter could «someday» swim like them. Well, that someday was not very far. Just 2 days ago, at her 14th session, she swam the whole length of the pool with couple of head ups!!!
I am amazed at how this worked out.
I have to really thank & congratulate Emily Cohen for designing such genius, wonderful & Successful plan to teach kids at such young age to swim like this in such a short time.
All you have to do is to trust her plan, be patient, & be consistent.
Place rating: 5
El Monte, CA
They are very good with kids. My daughter went in crying her lungs out but within minutes she was smiling and eager to learn. After the second session she has no fear of water and is excited about the class. Thank you guys.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
My son Teyjas 5, has Down syndrome. He has low muscle tone which causes developmental delays. Teyjas loves the water but used to hate getting his hair washed as of a month ago … but at the end of two intensives, he was diving in 7.5 ft of water to retrieve toys! I would not believed it a month ago! Teacher B is absolutely AMAZING! He is fun, compassionate but persistent. He had high expectations for Teyjas despite the initial screaming, yelling and non-​compliance! We are so extremely grateful for this wonderful resources.
Place rating: 5
Glendale, CA
We are so happy with our lessons at the Water Whisperer! My boy/​girl 4 year old twins did the 10 day intensive program which seemed excessive at first (for a working mom, getting my kids to swimming 5 days a week felt overwhelming) but it was totally worth it. My kids looked forward to their lessons every day and went into the pool easily and happily. They had taken lessons last summer but my son was always hesitant to go and had some fears about keeping his head under water. I couldn’t believe on the first lesson with Water Whisperer how my son willingly kept his head under water as he swam across the width of the pool (with the teacher). At the end of the 10th day, my kids have (happily) jumped off the diving board, ventured to the bottom of the «deep end» to retrieve pool toys, swam across the length of the pool with their teacher, and floated on their backs independently. We plan to continue with lessons over the summer to maintain what the kids have learned so far. I’m so pleased with the confidence my kids now have in the water.
Place rating: 5
Woodland Hills, CA
Can’t say enough about Water Whisperer school for swimming! we’ve had Liam there since he was six months old and he loves all the teachers .he’s two now .we go to both the Sherman Oaks club as well as the Woodland Hills… and they have the best teachers so patient… so instructive!!! can’t say enough about this remarkable school! Yea Water Whisperer
Place rating: 5
Burbank, CA
The Water Whisperer has been fabulous for our kids who were terrified to swim. Doing the lessons consistently has been an enormous help. The teachers are great and wonderfully patient. Additionally, the scheduling office has been hugely helpful and accommodating. Highly recommend!
Place rating: 5
Glendale, CA
Very happy with the 10 day intensive program they have here. My kids, ages 13 months and 33 months did so well and are on their way to becoming great swimmers. I am impressed at how much they learned. I wasn’t sure how they would do because they both have separation anxiety, but they were still able to get the concepts down thanks to the creative methods and strategies they use. That, combined with energetic, encouraging, and patient teachers is what I believe worked so well. Even if they were crying their way through the lesson, the teacher didn’t let it affect their patience or demeanor with them, which I appreciated as a parent.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Love this swim school! Their method and teachers are awesome! Our son loves to practice in the bath and we are thrilled he can swim!
I would highly recommend their classes to all ages!
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Before my daughter, Margot, took swim lessons with The Water Whisperer, she was the kind of kid that would run fearlessly into any body of water, but screamed her lungs out when anyone tried to teach her water safety. She simply refused to learn to swim. It was so frightening as I was on high alert near every pool, beach, lake, hotel gathering… We tried a handful of swim teachers — total disaster. I never thought the day would come when she would trust a teacher enough to learn to swim.
The Water Whisperer changed all of that.
There’s something about Emily Cohen’s approach that simply worked for Margot. Margot did the ten day program, following up with maintenance classes. Now, years later, I am happy to say Margot is a Junior Lifeguard, and one of the strongest swimmers on her swim team. I credit Margot’s strength and confidence as a swimmer to Emily’s clear rules and kind yet firm approach to water safety and swimming. Emily gave Margot a safe and strong foundation for a lifetime of swimming. Changed our whole family’s life! Can’t thank The Water Whisperer enough!!!
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Amazing! Did the 10-​day intensive program with my 2 year old daughter and 3.5 year old son. They loved it! They have become so confident in many things, not just in swimming! My son can swim across the pool and loves going all the way under. Before the lessons he hated getting his head wet and going under at all, now it’s his favorite thing! They both were picking up toys down at the deep end! I love their style of teaching and their program is fantastic. Coming from an educational/​psychological background myself I understand why their program works and why kids are so successful and excited about swimming! I highly recommend it to everyone with kids for swimming lessons.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
We started our daughter in the water whisperer right away at 6 months. I
felt confidently in their system, from just research and reviews, and was proved
right. We are particularly found of Rile — a super sweet and patient instructor
who has a lot of excellent knowledge. You don’t get the same instructor each
time which is a little confusing, but regardless she has advanced and grown into
a cute little 13 month old fish! They have a lot of song to accompany lesson,
which is always encouraging and relaxing for kids, and a good structure to the
class where she’s building on what she’s learned before. They keep a pretty
steady pace but do consider if your child isn’t completely with the lesson.
We’ve continued here for 3+ consistent sessions and had a fantastic time
swimming with her this summer! Will recommend and certainly continue.
Place rating: 5
Santa Monica, CA
I am honestly blown away by how well the Water Whisperer’s program works! We just finished the 2-​week intensive session, and my almost-​4-​year-​old is legitimately swimming. Besides the fact that she loves it and has so much fun swimming, it is SUCH a weight off my shoulders knowing that if she falls into a pool, she will easily be able to swim to the side and pull herself out of the water.
I was nervous at first because she was scared and crying at the beginning of the first couple of lessons, saying that she didn’t want to put her head under water, but after the first few days there was no more crying and she was genuinely excited about her lessons. We had a different teacher almost every day, and they were all fantastic. I can’t say enough about this place! I am so impressed by the results.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
We just finished a 2 week session and our kids are SWIMMING! Well, our 4 year old is swimming. His one year old sister is splashing, kicking, blowing bubbles, being submerged and holding her breath, and both are able to go to the bottom and grab an object. Both can kick toward the wall and grab hold of it. I think we’ll need to do maintenance lessons to really turn them into swimmers, but the progress is remarkable.
While both of my kids loved the lessons from the calm, upbeat instructors, there ARE some kids who scream throughout. But the teachers soldier on and at the end, the kids seem to have absorbed the lesson and survived.
Bottom line– it seems to work and we are very pleased.
Place rating: 5
South Pasadena, CA
Omg these instructors are amazing!!! My daughter is on her 8th class and I can’t believe how much she has learned. She is a month shy of turning 3 and is now able to go to the bottom of the deep end of the pool and retrieve toys as well as swim under water. Can’t thank them enough for doing what they do. I will def be recommending as well as continue taking my daughter here. These guys are so patient and great with kids.
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
My 12 month son is in lesson #9 and I couldn’t be happier with the immense improvement! s He is kicking, rescuing toys from the pool and closing his mouth under water. The instructors are great in particular Rosa and Teresa who have worked with my son. I must say I have gone to every class, I observed all the instructors and they are all great!
The only down side. They don’t have changing rooms or tables if you have infants. They only have one changing room.
Otherwise I recommend WW you will get results!
Place rating: 1
Toluca Terrace, CA
Not worth explaining because the owner will get all defensive and I don’t wanna deal
Place rating: 5
Encino, CA
We had a great experience. Victor is fantastic. My son was hysterical the first three days but victor was SO
Kind and calm and my son now adores him. Coach kaylee and Brooke were also great. We liked your techniques. Never believed it actually works but it does!
Place rating: 5
West Hollywood, CA
My wife & I are very happy with the experience at The Water Whisperer. Everyone we encountered, where genuinely nice & great with all the kids. They run a great program for kids & we highly recommend it. Our daughter enjoyed it so much that now, we’re having a hard time keeping her out of the pool. Who knew!
Place rating: 5
STUDIO CITY, CA
We’ve had a great experience with the Water Whisperer.
My two sons 6 and 3 are both swimming after their ten day intensives and they really enjoy coming to the pool and have liked every teacher we have been with. So happy and so appreciative.
I’ve read some of the negative comments here— I have to say, I dont mind the songs, the kids seem to like the routine of it. And there is indeed ALOT of info in the initial email that is sent out, but I also really like knowing what to expect and what is expected of me. It has made everything run smoothly. And I LOVE that :)