Instant answer: what is Swimming Skills 1-3?
After diploma C, your child is "water-safe", but the learning curve does not stop there. With the Swimming proficiency diplomas 1, 2 and 3 children deepen their technique, fitness and self-reliance - even outside the pool.
| Diploma | Core elements | Additional clothing | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZV 1 | School & backstroke refinement - 50m breaststroke | Shirt + shorts | 150 m |
| ZV 2 | Header start - butterfly kick - rescue bobbin throw | Long trousers + shoes | 225 m |
| ZV 3 | Underwater orientation 9 m - 4-beat combination set | Jacket + shoes | 300 m |
Average trajectory duration: 20 weeks (1× pw) or 12 weeks (2× pw).
Why continue studying after diploma C?
Maintaining & deepening technique
The Mulier Institute shows that children who quit after C within a year ≈ 30 % of their technique. Swim skill keeps strokes sharp and introduces chest crawl improvements and butterfly kick.
Safety in open water
Underwater orientation, longer distances and clothes swimming from ZV 3 reduce the risk of panic in puddles, lakes or sea.
Gateway to new sports
After Swimming Skills, children can enter snorkelling, survival routes. See the complete overview at other swimming lessons.
A trial lesson first? Book a free trial lesson and discuss goals with our instructor.
Requirements per diploma - checklist
Swimming skill 1
- 150m total - 75m breaststroke, 50m back, 25m breaststroke
- Picking up ring at 6m and back up with eyes open
- Clothing: swimwear + shirt + shorts
- Time limit: 5 min
Swimming skill 2
- 225 m - additional 50 m breast crawl + 25 m butterfly kick with snorkel
- Head start → breaststroke
- Rescue bobbin 8 m casting & donning
- Clothes: long trousers + sneakers
- Time limit: 7 min
Swimming skill 3
- 300 m - incl. 50 m butterfly stroke
- Underwater 9 m under raft
- Combi test: backward jump → 30 s water kick with hands high → 25 m back crawl
- Clothing: jacket + long trousers + shoes
- Survival: 60 s float in HELP position
Sample lesson structure & schedule - 20-weeks
- Week 1-4: repeat C technique, start chest crawl arms
- Week 5-8: build-up to 100 m, first snorkelling exercises (ZV 2)
- Week 9-12: clothes swimming complete, rollover starts, rescue bobbin throw
- Week 13-16: butterfly-kick, underwater 6 → 9 m, fitness circuit
- Week 17-19: mock exam & video analysis
- Week 20: NRZ exam + diploma party
Accelerate? Take 2 lessons a week, book private swimming lessons or choose a combo other swimming lessons; shortened to ± 12 weeks.
Swimming skills vs snorkelling/survival certification
| ZV 3 | Snorkel 1 | Survival | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | All strokes + safety | Breathe & equalise | Clothing survival open water |
| Entry requirement | C-diploma | B-diploma | C-diploma |
| Lesson duration | 20 weeks | 6 weeks | 10 weeks |
See all options on our other swimming lessons-page.
Success factors & common mistakes
Common mistakes
- Legs sag due to weak core
- Incorrect breathing in breast crawl
- Too little rest
Success tips
- 2× 10 min plank + superman per week
- Breathing exercise: blowing out 10× underwater
- Plan an extra lesson in the school holidays
Experiences & results
Emma (9): "After six weeks of feedback, butterfly stroke became my favourite; in 13 months, I achieved all three diplomas."
Daan (11): Combined Snorkel 1 and ZV 2; both certificates in 8 months.
Flow-through Swim Club ABC: 82 % achieves ZV 1-3 within 25 weeks (group ≤ 8).
Summary & next step
- ZV 1-3 Deepens technique, fitness and safety - see other swimming lessons.
- Pathway 12-20 weeks, depending on lesson frequency.
Ready to swim on?
With Swimming Skills, your child will continue to grow in technique, confidence and enjoyment with every swimming adventure.