Diploma system
The Zwem-ABC Diploma Program: 2024 Edition
In a country known for its extensive canals and open waters, mastering swimming skills is essential. The nationally recognized Zwem-ABC program ensures that learners, especially children, acquire critical swimming and water survival skills—ranging from basic strokes to ice rescue techniques. At Your Personal Swim Coach, we extend this program to adult learners as well.
Progressing through each swimming diploma involves mastering skills in a logical, step-by-step manner, building on previously acquired abilities. The National Platform Zwembaden provides a comprehensive list of requirements for each diploma level, with examinations leading to official Diplomas A, B, and C.
Earning each diploma is a moment of pride and celebration. These diplomas are internationally recognized, come with translations, and never expire.
- A-Survival Diploma: Holders are regarded as ‘successful novice swimmers.’
- B-Survival Diploma: Recipients are recognized as ‘successful advanced swimmers,’ capable of endurance swimming and assisting in rescues.
- C-Survival Diploma: Holders are acknowledged as ‘successful accomplished swimmers,’ fully prepared for diverse water scenarios.
Our customized lessons
We guide students through each level, focusing on the four main strokes and essential safety skills. Intermediate swimmers typically need 5-10 lessons to join the A group, followed by an additional 15-20 lessons to earn their A diploma. Our coaches carefully teach and rehearse all exam requirements to ensure students feel confident and prepared.
Clothing is an essential aspect of the lessons. Sessions often begin with swimmers fully clothed to simulate real-life scenarios, where wet clothing adds resistance, mimicking the challenge of swimming under distress. Proper-soled shoes are emphasized, and goggles are not permitted.
Self-rescue and water safety are emphasized throughout the curriculum, preparing swimmers to handle unexpected water situations. Training at the A, B, and C levels focuses on readiness for real-world emergencies.
Our diploma events, held twice a year in each town, offer a chance to celebrate achievement and build camaraderie. Participants engage in exam-focused swim sessions leading up to the event, ensuring they are fully prepared. While failure is possible, it is rare, as coaches only nominate students when they are truly ready, with progress tracked online.
This shared journey fosters a sense of community and mutual support, motivating individuals of all ages to push beyond their limits. A nominal participation fee of €11.50 covers administrative costs and adds to the sense of occasion and accomplishment.
FAQ Diploma Swimming
What do I wear at the diploma event?
Each level starts with swimming fully clothed.
During the lessons prior to the event date, your personal swim coach will ask you to bring the right clothing. Bring a plastic bag too to carry it all back home. The rules have been renewed since 2023
- A level: Short-sleeved t-shirt, long trousers and shoes.
- B level: Long-sleeved t-shirt, long trousers and shoes
- C level: Long-sleeved jumper, long trousers, shoes and a jacket.
- Shoes A/B/C:
The shoes must be completely closed on the front, sides and back, and should be enclosed on the feet with laces, velcro, a little belt, or elastic. The sole must be sturdy.Our advice: wear the type of shoes that you also wear in your daily life!
What are the costs of the exam?
The diploma exam takes place during a normal lesson. In case this is not your regular lesson, we place based on one make up lesson. If you do not have any, make up lessons left, we send you an invoice for this single lesson. The costs of the diploma event are € 11,50 in addition to a regular lesson fee. This invoice will be sent by our office prior to the event.
The diploma date does not suit me
The diploma dates are planned, check out the dates for the coming months here.
In case this date does not work for you, you are most welcome to pick another date in another pool. The drill is completely the same. If it helps, you book an extra lesson ahead to get familiar with the pool first
What is the value of this swim diploma
The diploma dates are planned, check out the dates for the coming months here.
Your Personal Swim Coach follows the ENVOZ Survival diploma program, hence on top of the regular skills there are several exercises regarding survival skills included. The diploma is printed in several languages. Some professions like fly attendant and police officer demand a swim diploma. We have trained several professionals from scratch.
My future job demands an swim diploma.
Several jobs demand a swim diploma. Throughout the years, we had the pleasure to train airline stewards, policemen and marechaussee . The B and C program are a perfect training for those who are in search for the right preparation. The diploma will be handed out ( hard copy) right after the event. It is an official ENVOZ document , acknowledged by the global Institute International Federation of Swimming Teachers Association.
Why should i go for an A diploma
After all the hard work, it is simply a must to celebrate at one day and by very proud too. By receiving this official document, you can prove that you are capable to deal with certain circumstances as well as swimming all four basic strokes.
Secondly several activities demand a swim diploma ( B) like when you want to join a aqua sport club like waterpolo or triathlon. Also, activities like renting a sailboat of dive equipment, the organization will ask if you obtained a B diploma in the past. Surely, they won’t ask for it to show it, but who want to jeopardize safety issues and mutual trust.
At last , public and private pools and waterparks demands childeren to have a B diploma minimum in order to get in. It goes without saying that this applies for adults too.
who determinded the levels ?
The levels of all diploma's are determinded by the set standard for international swimming safety.
During the last weeks before the diploma date, the coaches will go through the special skills and clothed parts of the level. The rest of the year will be more about general swim technique.
Can I wear my swimcap and goggles ?
The diploma event is a simulation of reallife situations, hence no goggles and caps allows. Do you wear glasses, wear them here too.
Still have a question? Don’t hesitate to contact us.
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Our learning process
Swimmers at any level are welcome to get started. In order to find the best matching level, we divide our swimmers into three levels Beginners, Stroke Improvers, and Advanced swimmers.
Our adult swim classes
Your Personal Swim Coach will help you become a more confident you, a stronger, fitter and healthier you, a happier, care-free you and ensure your success in learning to enjoy and feel safe in and around water!
Water introduction
Are you unable to swim or are you afraid of water? Have you taken lessons before and failed? Or it has been a long time ago? Then join us at ground zero in water introduction!
Stroke introduction
If you comfortable in water but are not able to swim the 4 basic strokes, this level is for you. Requirements include: passing introduction level, or swim back-crawl, and backstroke (froggy leg).
Intermediate
To join this level you need to be able to swim comfrotably in shallow water, however it is okay if deep water gives you discomfort.
This level requires for you know all the 4 basic strokes.
Advanced
If you have no issues in the deep water and you are able to swim more than 100m without getting exhausted this level is for you!
You want to become fitter and stronger with swimming as your weekly workout!