Aquatics
UB Aquatics strives to provide safe, comfortable, and professional aquatic programming for the State University of New York at Buffalo students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.
Swimming and Water Safety are important skills for the members of the Buffalo community. UB Aquatics is determined to ensure that those who live in and around the Buffalo community have the knowledge and skill to enjoy aquatic environments safely.
If you have any questions, please click here to email Nate Bourke, Assistant Director for Aquatics.
Effective 3/5/22, UB has made masks optional for all individuals on campus regardless of vaccination status.
Private Swim Lessons
SUNY Buffalo is a proud recipient of Governor Hochul's NY Swim Grant Initiative for the Spring and early Summer 2025 season. Numerous aquatics courses, including Adult Swim Lessons and various American Red Cross courses will be offered over the next few months at greatly reduced costs.
Enrollment in each course is limited, so register today!
These lessons will take place at the Alumni Arena Natatorium on North Campus or the Clark Hall Natatorium on South Campus.
There is also an option to register with an adult friend (semi-private)
On the registration form, please indicate the name of the additional learner.
If registering for semi-private lessons, the two swimmers' abilities should be similar.
PLEASE NOTE: We do not have a family changing room. Alumni Arena, built as a Division 1 athletics training facility in 1983, and was not designed for children. The pool water is kept at 77 degrees which is ideal training temperature for Division 1 athletics swimming. Our swim lessons generally cater to our adult UB student population. Most pediatricians would probably recommend pools kept between 83 and 86 degrees.
Make up lessons are not available this session.
If you have any questions please Click here to email the UB Learn to Swim Program
All private swim lessons are currently full. Please check back.
ARC Full Lifeguard Course
The UB Aquatics program is introducing the American Red Cross Blended Learning Lifeguarding Program. This course combines online knowledge acquisition and in-person water, first aid and CPR/AED skills training. Building on the same knowledge and skills as our traditional in-person only training, the course trains lifeguards to act with speed and confidence in emergency situations both in and out of the water.
SUNY Buffalo is a proud recipient of Governor Hochul's NY Swim Grant Initiative for the Spring and early Summer 2025 season. Numerous aquatics courses, including Adult Swim Lessons and various American Red Cross courses will be offered over the next few months at greatly reduced costs.
Enrollment in each course is limited, so register today!
LOCATION: Alumni Arena Natatorium, North Campus or Clark Hall Natatorium, South Campus
Lifeguarding Course Pre-Requisites and Fact Sheet
If you have any questions please Click here to email our Aquatics Program.
All full lifeguard courses are currently full. Please check back later.
ARC Lifeguard Recertification
The UB Aquatics program is introducing the American Red Cross Lifeguard Recertification Course. This course combines classroom and practical in-person water, first aid and CPR/AED skills training. Building on the same knowledge and skills as our traditional training, the course trains lifeguards to act with speed and confidence in emergency situations both in and out of the water.
SUNY Buffalo is a proud recipient of Governor Hochul's NY Swim Grant Initiative for the Spring and early Summer 2025 season. Numerous aquatics courses, including Adult Swim Lessons and various American Red Cross courses will be offered over the next few months at greatly reduced costs.
Enrollment in each course is limited, so register today!
LOCATION: Alumni Arena Natatorium, North Campus
Must be available for all class sessions.
Lifeguarding Recertificaion Course Pre-Requisites and Fact Sheet
If you have any questions please Click here to email our Aquatics Program.
Your current lifeguard certificate cannot be more than 30 days past expiration. If your lifeguard certificate is 30 days past expiration, you must retake the full course.
All our Lifeguard Recertification courses are currently full. Please check back at another time.
ARC Lifeguard Instructor Course
SUNY Buffalo is a proud recipient of Governor Hochul's NY Swim Grant Initiative for the Spring and early Summer 2025 season. Numerous aquatics courses, including Adult Swim Lessons and various American Red Cross courses will be offered over the next few months at greatly reduced costs.
Enrollment in each course is limited, so register today!
LOCATION: Alumni Arena Natatorium, North Campus
PARTICIPANT LIMIT: 6 MAX
Lifeguard Instructor Course Pre-Requisites and Fact Sheet
If you have any questions please Click here to email our Aquatics Program.
If this course is out of stock, email aquatics@buffalo.edu to be added to the waitlist.
ARC Lifeguard Instructor Review Course + Base Life Certification
The purpose of the Instructor Review Course is to review materials instructors teach within the Red Cross Lifeguarding, Shallow Water Lifeguarding, Waterfront Skills, Waterpark Skills, CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers, and Bloodborne Pathogens Training: Preventing Disease Transmission courses and/or modules. Instructors also review content within the Junior Lifeguarding, Lifeguard Management, Safety Training for Swim Coaches and Basic Water Rescue. There is also an option for Instructors to test their basic lifeguard skills for recertification.
SUNY Buffalo is a proud recipient of Governor Hochul's NY Swim Grant Initiative for the Spring and early Summer 2025 season. Numerous aquatics courses, including Adult Swim Lessons and various American Red Cross courses will be offered over the next few months at greatly reduced costs.
Enrollment in each course is limited, so register today!
LOCATION: Clark Hall Pool, South Campus
PARTICIPANT LIMIT: 6 MAX
Lifeguard Instructor Review Course Pre-Requisites and Fact Sheet
If you have any questions please Click here to email our Aquatics Program.
Water Safety Instructor Course
SUNY Buffalo is a proud recipient of Governor Hochul's NY Swim Grant Initiative for the Spring and early Summer 2025 season. Numerous aquatics courses, including Adult Swim Lessons and various American Red Cross courses will be offered over the next few months at greatly reduced costs.
Enrollment in each course is limited, so register today!
LOCATION: Alumni Arena Natatorium, North Campus
PARTICIPANT LIMIT: 10 MAX
Prerequisites
- Be at least 16 years old on or before the last day of the instructor course.
- Successfully complete the In-Water Pre-course Session, which includes being able to swim at least at the American Red Cross Level 5 proficiency.
- Successfully complete the online Orientation to the Red Cross.
- Successfully complete the online Orientation to the Water Safety Instructor Program.
Requirements
- All participants must attend every class. (Any participant that misses a class will not receive certification. No exceptions, no refunds.)
- All participants must achieve 80% or better on all written exams.
- All participants must successfully complete all physical requirements with respect to lifeguarding skills.
- All participants must exhibit professionalism at all times during the course. (Inappropriate behavior will result in dismissal of the course. No exceptions, no refunds.)
If you have any questions please Click here to email our Aquatics Program.
If this course is out of stock, email aquatics@buffalo.edu to be added to the waitlist.
All our Water Safety Instructor courses are full. Please check back.
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