Christine and Mason Bailey have been the owners of one of North County’s most sought-after swim schools for more than 13 years. Located in Encinitas, SwimWorks Swim School is a fun and nurturing place for children, and adults, to learn swimming fundamentals and to hone skills.
Christine is our latest North County Meet a Mom. It’s a pleasure to share the following conversation with this outstanding entrepreneur. I learned a lot and know you will, too!
Tell us about your family’s background in swimming and how SwimWorks Encinitas came into being.
Swimming has always been at the heart of our family’s life. My husband, Mason, has been a competitive swimmer since he was six years old. He swam for Arizona State University and continued his love of the sport long after college through daily Masters swimming, open water races across California, and even competitions abroad. These days, he and our 18-year-old son, Mitchell, often compete together in San Diego’s open water events, so we truly are a swimming family.
When we first saw the SwimWorks technology and teaching environment, we immediately knew it was something special. It was clear to us that this was not just another swim school. It was a unique, innovative facility that could truly serve San Diego families in a different way — from children learning water safety for the very first time to competitive swimmers refining technique.
What really stood out to us was how safe, calm, and effective the environment is, especially for children who are hesitant or fearful in the water. We have seen so many children thrive here who struggled in more traditional swim school settings.
Why was it important to you and your husband to establish such an innovative swim school?
It was important to us because we believed families deserved something better — a swim school that combined strong teaching, real water safety, and a uniquely supportive environment.
From the beginning, we wanted to create a place where children could learn proper swim technique and essential safety skills, while also feeling comfortable, confident, and cared for. Our facility is especially helpful for children who are nervous around the water because the setting is warm, calm, and far less overwhelming than a large pool with many classes happening at once.
We knew this could be a place where children not only learned to swim, but truly gained confidence for life and a love of the sport.
When did you launch?
We opened our doors in September 2013, and it has been such a rewarding journey serving North County families ever since.
For more than 13 years, it has been an absolute honor and privilege to work with families in this community. One of the things we are most proud of is how often families come back to us again and again — first with one child, then with younger siblings, and sometimes over many years. That kind of trust means everything to us.
How is your approach to teaching swimming different than others in the area?
Our approach is different in several important ways.
First, we teach proper legal swim strokes right from the beginning, while also building strong water safety skills. We want children to learn how to move correctly through the water from the start, not just “get by.”
Second, our instructors are a huge part of what makes SwimWorks special. We hire coaches who have real swim backgrounds, a passion for water safety, and a genuine love for working with children. Our team brings both technical knowledge and heart to every lesson.
We also have a proven swim progression that all of our instructors are trained to follow, which creates consistency in our teaching. Families can trust that there is a thoughtful method behind how their child is learning and progressing.
How many SwimWorks locations do you operate?
We currently operate three SwimWorks locations. In addition to Encinitas, we opened our second location in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2020. It is a larger facility and has been thriving. Our third location is an outdoor facility in Peoria, Arizona.
How many swim instructors do you employ?
We currently have 15 instructors on staff.
Because we have a proven swim progression and all of our instructors are trained in that system, families can expect a consistent teaching approach across our team. That consistency is very important to us.
Please share your instructors’ approach to teaching swimming.
Our instructors combine strong swim knowledge, hands-on coaching, and a genuine connection with children.
We only hire coaches who have meaningful swim experience and a real passion for both swimming and water safety. They are trained to teach with consistency, patience, encouragement, and clear progression.
We also believe children learn best when instruction is individualized. Some children need a gentle, confidence-building approach. Others are ready to be challenged more quickly. Our coaches are very good at meeting each swimmer where they are and helping them move forward.
What age groups do you teach?
We teach swimmers starting at just 4 months old, all the way through adults.
One of our favorite offerings is our Parent-Tot program for babies ages 4 to 6 months, who swim free in those lessons. It is such a special opportunity for parents to bond with their little one while also helping them become comfortable and acclimated in the water from an early age.
We truly teach all ages — babies, children, teens, and adults.
Tell parents what they can expect during a typical lesson both for kids and while parents observe lessons.
Parents love our facility! Our lobby features comfortable seating and large viewing windows, creating a welcoming environment where parents can easily watch their children swim.
Also – each of our pools has multiple cameras, and the lesson feed is shown on large TV monitors in the lobby. That means parents can get an up-close view of what is happening during the lesson, which they really appreciate.
Our lobby is designed to be just as welcoming for families as our pool space is for swimmers. Siblings love our large Lego table and train table, and many moms linger after lessons while their little ones play and they enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee from our coffee bar. It has become more than just a waiting area — it is a space families genuinely enjoy spending time in.
After each lesson, our swimmers take advantage of our spacious shower area, complete with complimentary “Tri-Swim” body wash, shampoo, and hair conditioner, as well as Johnson & Johnson babywash products. We also have several private changing rooms, making the post-lesson routine easy, comfortable, and family-friendly.
Do you offer group lessons? If so, what can parents expect their kids to experience?
Yes, we do offer group lessons.
Our beginner group lessons have up to three children in the class, which allows our coaches to spend a meaningful amount of hands-on time with each swimmer.
Group lessons can be wonderful for many children. Some kids learn especially well by watching other swimmers, trying the same skill, and feeling encouraged by the group dynamic. The lessons are still personalized, but they also bring a fun social element that many children enjoy.
How are private lessons set up?
We offer three different types of private lessons.
We have one-on-one private lessons, where one swimmer works directly with one coach. We also offer semi-private lessons, which are great for siblings or friends and can work well even if the swimmers are at different levels. In addition, we offer three-person private lessons, which can be a wonderful option for siblings, cousins, or friends who want to create their own little swim group.
Our private lessons are available in both 30-minute and 20-minute formats. We have found that 20-minute private lessons can be especially effective for younger children whose focus may not quite last the full 30 minutes. It can also be a more cost-effective solution for families whose child does best in a private setting.
How do you make very young children feel comfortable if they have a fear of water?
Children who are fearful of the water often do especially well in our pools because our setup is so unique.
Our tanks are above ground, the water is very warm — around 90 degrees — and the child swims against a gentle current. To many little ones, it feels more like a big warm bathtub than a traditional pool.
Because the environment is smaller, calmer, and less stimulating than a large pool with lots of activity, it can be incredibly comforting for children who are nervous. Our coaches also take a very gentle approach. It is all about connecting with the child, gaining trust, and moving at the pace that feels right for them.
We have seen so many children with fear grow into confident swimmers in this environment.
How long does it take for kids in your lessons to begin to feel comfortable in the water if they’ve first been fearful of it?
Every child is different, but one of the best ways to help a fearful child become comfortable is consistency and frequency.
When families are able to do so, we often suggest attending lessons several days in a row, or as frequently as possible, especially in the beginning. That repetition can make a tremendous difference. It helps the child build trust, familiarity, and confidence much faster.
The biggest key is a gentle pace, a calm environment, and positive repetition.
What do you feel is the best part of the swim instruction you offer?
One of the most unique benefits we offer is our visual teaching technology.
Each tank has a large TV monitor above it, and multipe cameras record the lesson so it can be displayed back with a slight delay. This allows coaches to actually show swimmers what they are doing in real time.
Many children are visual learners, so this is incredibly powerful. When a child can see what they are doing, hear the coach explain it, and then physically feel the coach guiding them through the movement, it creates a very effective learning experience.
We really do believe our swimmers learn faster because of this combination of innovative technology, hands-on coaching, and instructors who truly care about swimming and water safety.
Does your swim school offer spring break and summer camps? If so, please tell us about them.
Yes — we offer swim camps during holiday breaks, spring break, and throughout the summer.
These camps are extremely popular, and we work hard to make them both fun and productive. Because children are swimming every day for up to 45 minutes in an instructed setting, we often see great improvement in a short amount of time.
Many swimmers who have completed our regular program also come back at the start of summer for a weeklong refresher camp, which is such a great way to rebuild skills and confidence before the busy swim season begins.
Many moms love the idea of dads taking some time to bond with their kids during a swim session. Tell us about your Daddy-and-Me monthly swimming opportunities.
Our Daddy-and-Me Parent-Tot lessons have been incredibly special!
For many families, dads do not always get as many dedicated bonding activities with a new baby, so seeing dads get in the water with their little ones has been so rewarding. It becomes meaningful one-on-one time while also teaching water safety and building comfort in the water from the very beginning.
We have even had groups of dads do lessons together with their babies, and it turned into its own wonderful community. One group of dads started a regular Monday night lesson and continued it for five years. What started as swimming with their babies became a standing weekly tradition and social time for a group of college friends as their children grew up.
It was really something special to watch.
Do you offer swimming lessons to children with special needs?
Yes, and it is truly one of the highlights of our program.
Our coaches are trained in adaptive aquatics and have worked with children across a wide range of needs, including autism, Down syndrome, physical disabilities, and children with varying levels of sensory sensitivity and support needs.
There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a child with special needs feel that sense of pride and accomplishment — whether it is learning to float on their back, becoming comfortable in the water, or progressing into more advanced skills like side breathing.
Our warm-water tank environment has been especially comforting for many autistic children. The smaller space, calmer setting, and steady flow of warm water can feel very soothing and peaceful. We love partnering with families to provide a meaningful, supportive, and effective swim experience, because water safety is essential for every child.
Tell us about some of the feedback you’ve heard from parents (and their kids) about your SwimWorks program.
The feedback we receive is one of the most meaningful parts of what we do.
Some of our families started with us with their first child and then came back with younger siblings over the years. That kind of long-term trust is such a wonderful testament to the relationships we build and to the confidence families have in our program.
Parents also really value the support systems we provide — including flexible scheduling, multiple makeup lessons each month, monthly swimmer evaluations, and progression skill cards that show how their child is improving and what they need to work on next.
We want families to feel informed, supported, and excited about their child’s progress every step of the way.
Because our North County Moms really want to know…
Where are you from? And if not from North County, what brought you here?
I am originally from Boston, Massachusetts.
I moved to California in October 2001 to be with my husband — who was my boyfriend at the time. We met on a blind date and had a cross-country long-distance relationship until September 11th changed the world. Then we both knew we could not keep flying back and forth every weekend, so I moved to California on October 30, 2001, and I never left.
Tell us about your life as a North County Mom.
North County is so special to us. We live in Leucadia, and we absolutely love the small-town feel. We have lived in the same home for 22 years, and it has been such a wonderful place to raise our family.
We have loved experiencing North County through every stage of our children’s lives — from the early years to the teen years. It is a beautiful place to build a life and raise a family.
What are some of your favorite North County family destinations?
There are so many.
When the kids were younger, we loved places like Quail Gardens, Legoland, the library, and the Flower Fields. As they got older, summer camps at the YMCA became a big part of life, and Encinitas Jr. Guards was a true rite of passage here in North County.
We also love the playground at Moonlight Beach and, of course, sunsets at Beacon’s Beach. There are just so many special family memories tied to this community.
Where’s your favorite staycation in San Diego and in SoCal?
One of our very favorite staycations is the Omni La Costa Resort.
The pools and waterslides are so much fun for the family, the spa is my personal happy place, my husband loves the golf, and the food is always such a treat. It is one of those places that feels relaxing and fun for everyone.
Do you have a favorite North County restaurant and a favorite restaurant in downtown San Diego?
Our favorite North County restaurant is definitely Q’ero, the Peruvian restaurant in downtown Encinitas.
We have celebrated many special occasions there over the years. For my husband’s 40th birthday, we even took over the whole restaurant, and Monica, the owner, created an incredible family menu for all of our guests. My husband lived in Peru for five years, and he says the food at Q’ero is genuinely authentic. Monica is from Cusco, and it shows in every dish!!
What’s your favorite item on the menu, and why?
At Q’ero, my favorites start with the Amici Greens salad and a handmade empanada. My favorite entrée is an incredible chicken dish called Ají de Gallina — and I can honestly say it tastes exactly the same as the same dish I have had in Cusco, Peru!
And you absolutely cannot skip either a pisco sour or a glass of their sangria. Finishing with their famous tres leches cake for dessert.
Clearly, I am a fan!
How do you relax after a long day?
My favorite way to relax is just to be with my family .. enjoy dinner together and maybe take a walk up to Beacon’s Beach to watch the sunset.
SwimWorks Swim School offers kids’ classes and camps. SwimWorks is one of our outstanding TNCM Camp Guide for 2026. Be sure to check out the guide and register!
By Maria Felicia Kelley
Founder & Publisher of The North County Moms
@thenorthcountymoms | @1MariaFelicia
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