WhoWe Are
John and Christine Wolf
South Bay Aquatics was founded in 2008 by John and Christine Wolf. Growing up in the South Bay, swimming and water sports were integral to their lives as enthusiastic beachgoers and boaters on the Colorado River.
When their oldest child turned three, they searched for swim lessons but were frustrated with the available options. They found that many swim schools either:
- Pre-sold all their spring and summer lessons in January, leaving no openings for new students in the actual spring and summer.
- Were located outdoors with no protection from the hot mid-day sun or cold foggy South Bay afternoons and evenings.
- Were located in local gyms where the water was cold for lap swimming and required walking through adult locker rooms.
- Lacked dedicated parking, requiring parking and walking several blocks on busy streets.
Determined to create a superior swim school for their own children, John and Christine set out to build a facility designed with young swimmers in mind, featuring:
- A warm, inviting environment for both instructors and students.
- Shallow pools starting at 2 feet deep, ideal for lessons and children.
- Warm water, allowing students to comfortably relax and learn to float and swim without shivering.
- Convenient seating next to the pools, where parents can watch and cheer on their kids while keeping an eye on the youngest swimmers.
- Ample clean showers, changing rooms, restrooms, and baby changing stations.
- Monthly scheduling, prioritizing existing students to avoid disrupting their progress with pre-sold classes.
- Free make-up classes that don’t expire, accommodating illnesses and scheduling conflicts.
- A fun, diverse team of instructors dedicated to sharing their passion for swimming with the next generation.
With this vision, South Bay Aquatics was born, serving North Redondo, West Torrance, Lawndale, Hermosa and Manhattan Beaches. In 2011, we opened our second location in Torrance to reach children in Torrance, Lomita, South Redondo Beach, and Palos Verdes.
From the beginning, it has always been our goal to provide the best instruction in a warm, safe, clean, and family-friendly environment. Nearly two decades later, we are thrilled to have some of our former students return as instructors, continuing our legacy.
Our most sincere hope is that every child learns the life-saving swimming skill. We take great pride in our instructors and facility and passionately strive to be the BEST swim school in the South Bay.