Your Orca swim trainer

Each Orca Swim Trainer arrives with six float pads. Five pads are used in the back pocket and four in the front pocket. An additional pad is included as a spare in case one is lost or damaged

 

Steps to follow when using your Orca:

 

Step 1: Familiarisation Phase

This phase allows the swimmer to become familiar with how the Orca feels in the water.
An adult should remain close, either holding hands face-to-face or supporting gently from the side with hands positioned under the arms. Staying low in the water helps the swimmer remain connected to the surface.

During this phase, swimmers are often upright. This allows them to move their arms, legs, and body freely while adjusting balance and orientation. This exploratory movement helps them begin to understand how their body responds in the water.

Hand-holding offers reassurance and can be gradually reduced as the swimmer shows readiness. If excitement leads to splashing or water entering the mouth, returning to hand support and pausing briefly can help restore calm before continuing.

Let them hold your hands. This will give them the invitation to let go when they gain the confidence. You may hold hands for some time to help them with their balance and increase their core strength - this is great. They may choose to let go of one hand, if so encourage them to paddle with that hand. At first they may get all excited that they are doing it by themselves and perhaps get some water in their mouths. If this happens go back to them holding your hands to reassure them if needed. Please stop and let them gather themselves before you carry on.

 

Step 2: Exploration Phase

As support reduces, swimmers often begin to explore movement more freely. Splashing with the hands and cycling actions of the legs are common at this stage and are part of early movement discovery.

This phase benefits from time and patience. Encouragement and calm reassurance help swimmers explore how their movements affect direction and balance without being rushed.

Please do not rush this phase as the magic will start to happen. Lots of encouragement and reassuring words will help move the phase along. 
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Step 3: Transition Phase

Over time, many swimmers naturally begin to move into a more horizontal position closer to the water’s surface. This often signals readiness to explore breathing games, such as blowing bubbles, and longer arm and leg movements under guidance.

Spending time in the earlier phases supports comfort and familiarity with the water, which can make this transition feel calmer and more controlled.

At this stage, it is recommended to keep float pad support consistent.

Do not take out any float pads during this phase.

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Step 4: Consolidation Phase

This phase allows swimmers to consolidate their experiences. They may be comfortable placing their face in the water, changing direction, and moving with intention.

Allowing time here supports enjoyment, familiarity, and confidence in movement, while maintaining close supervision at all times.

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Step 5: Float Pad Removal Phase

Once the swimmer appears comfortable and controlled with movement, float pads can begin to be removed gradually, starting with one pad from the back pocket.

A slight change in buoyancy is expected. If movement becomes tense or reverts to earlier patterns, this may indicate that pad removal happened too soon. In this case, replacing the pad and revisiting earlier phases is appropriate.

This phase offers opportunities to focus on breathing games and light, relaxed kicking patterns.

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Step 6: Graduation Phase

When all float pads have been removed, swimmers may be able to move through the water without buoyancy support, using coordinated arm and leg actions and a developing breathing rhythm.

This marks a transition point where the Orca is no longer required for supported movement and other learning experiences can continue without it.

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If practising supervised poolside safety skills, float pad pockets can be removed to simulate reduced buoyancy, always with close adult support.

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Top Tips

• Do not rush through any of the phases. Also when you start taking the float pads out - please keep them, just in case you need to use some of them again.

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• If you have a period of time where you have been not using the Orca, you may have to put some of the float pads back in to boost  your child and repeat a particular phase again.

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• Do not take two or more float pads out at a time - it's a progressive system so one at a time is advised for the system to work at its best.

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• Always stay in front of your child when they are moving - this is to watch their mouths so they don't take in too much water. Otherwise this could potentially hinder the whole process.

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• The all-in-one Orca suit is designed so you do not need to wear anything underneath it, but it's a personal preference and what feels comfortable to your child.

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How to put your Orca swim trainer on

Put your suit on when dry - it's easier. If wet make sure you push the leg section up the thigh first then pull up either side of the float pad section before closing the shoulder straps.

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Use the straps around the torso to create a snug fit - these are the most important straps as they keep the float pads in the correct position around the body. If the velcro is to it's maximum and you still have room then you need to go down a size. The costume should NOT ride up towards the chin when in the water.
 

The shoulder straps do not need to be done up too tightly (you have done them too tight if the material looks stretched).

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