Did you know that drowning is the number one cause of death for kids ages 1-4 and the second for kids ages 5-9?

Many imagine a drowning to take place in an ocean, lake or in the deep end of the swimming pool, but in fact, most happen within six feet of the pool wall when caregivers are not more than a few feet away.

The good news is that…

        Thirteen-year-old Billy remembers when he could only swim three laps of the pool at one time. Now, after taking part in the SCAQ Kids’ program, he can now swim 100 yards (four laps) straight. This is the distance he will need to cover in one-minute, 40 seconds time come this April/May. If he makes the cut, he gets to spend the…

                         After suffering a heart attack six years ago, Jerome Smith’s heart only pumps at 34 percent of a healthy one. But that hasn’t kept the 73-year-old from blasting away at SCAQ Masters swim workouts. And now he plans to compete in his first swim meet in 15 years.

            Smith…

Two coaches, Olympic gold-medalist David Walters and silver-medalist Clay Evans, are leading free ocean swim workouts at 6:15 a.m. Thursday mornings and Friday nights monthly off Santa Monica Beach. Our next evening swim is 5:30 p.m. September 9.

David Walters, who won gold in the 4x200 freestyle relay in the 2008 Olympics, is still the fastest American swimmer…