Local Certified to Instruct Survival Swimming Skills

By Misty Cryer

In a town like Carlsbad where bodies of water surround recreation areas, one might assume that there is vast interest in survival swimming skills for children. The response to the sessions offered by Joslyne Longoria with ISR Carlsbad confirms that this is true. While her current sessions are full, she plans to hold sessions year-round and encourages interested parties to get on the waiting list.

ISR stands for Infant Swimming Resource, where survival swimming skills are taught to ages six months and up. Joslyne said it basically teaches skills they would need to survive accidents like falling into the water.

Interest in ISR began when Joslyne was pregnant with her daughter. She said she was in the pool at a resort in Houston when she observed a little girl coming into the water, “No floaties or anything.”

Joslyne said she was freaking out and wondering where the toddler’s parents were. “She was about to jump in the water, so I’m watching her,” she said.

Observing the parents just walking up behind the girl real slow, Joslyne said, “This girl just jumps in the water and starts swimming back and forth from the steps, jumping in, doing all kinds of stuff.”

She said she approached the mom and found out the girl was two and a half years old. When she asked where the little girl learned to do that, Joslyne said her mother told her all about it. “I went straight to my phone and googled ISR. I read all about it,” she said.

At the time, Joslyne said the closest instructor to Carlsbad was about three hours away, which started her curiosity about getting certified. “I looked into the certification; I will say it’s not cheap,” she said, adding there was no way she could do it at that time.

When her daughter was about to turn one, Joslyne said she found there was an instructor traveling to Carlsbad from Artesia, and she was able to get her daughter in for lessons. “I think she did three years of lessons, and it was just amazing to see,” she said.

“I saw it firsthand with my daughter; she is an absolute fish in the water,” said Joslyne. “It’s amazing to see their confidence and just the skills that they are able to learn.”

When the instructor from Artesia decided that she didn’t want to travel anymore to teach lessons, Joslyne talked to her about it, and with her encouragement, Joslyne decided to do the training. With her sister living in Lubbock, Joslyne said that helped a lot. “I did the training in Lubbock for seven weeks, and then got certified,” she said.

“I did my first session in March of this year,” said Joslyne. “I’m currently on my third session,” she said.

With the July/August session completely full, Joslyne said, “I have a waiting list about a mile long.” She said she is still working a full-time job, teaching lessons in the afternoon, with plans to go year-round. “I would really love to get everybody in, and I’m hoping that someday I will be able to do that,” she said.

Each session is six to seven weeks long, Monday through Friday, said Joslyne. “My rate is $120 a week—$720—which will cover the full six-to-seven-week session,” she said, adding that the cost is split up into two payments.

The lessons are taught one-on-one, one at a time, with just the student and the instructor in the water, Joslyne said. “Lessons are no more than 10 minutes long.”

With lessons customized to the student’s development, their water history, and their skill level, Joslyne said, “It’s pretty much customized to that student.”

While the ISR website says that lessons are for six months to six years, Joslyne said it is up to the instructor. “We can really teach all ages.” For students over six years old, she said she would ask questions to determine if ISR would still be a good fit for them. “If they have no swimming history or lesson history,” she said, “I would definitely recommend it.”

For information about ISR, Joslyne advises parents to go to the main website (infantswim.com) to learn about it. To be added to the wait list, email joslyne.longoria@infantswim.com. ISR Carlsbad is also on Facebook.

“It is one of the best investments you can give your children—the opportunity to learn those skills, build those skills, and gain the confidence in the water,” said Joslyne. “You know they’re safe so that everyone can have fun,” she said.

Voicing appreciation for all the support that she has had, Joslyne said, “It’s just an awesome thing for the community and all of our kiddos.”