About Swim Surf Survive

Swim Surf Survive was founded by Dawn Kelly after years working as a swim instructor, coach, and professional lifeguard. As demand for Junior Lifeguard Prep in the South Bay grew, she saw how many kids were entering the program without the foundational skills or confidence needed to succeed. What began as a single seasonal offering evolved into a structured, multi-session training program held over the course of three months.

Known for its strong success rate, Swim Surf Survive quickly built a reputation within the community. As word spread, demand for swim lessons grew, creating a natural pathway for younger and less experienced swimmers to build skills early. Today, SSS works with swimmers of all ages and levels — from first-timers to future lifeguards. We're a small, tight-knit team of working water safety professionals. Our instructors are actively certified and bring real-world experience from both the ocean and the pool deck.

Living in a coastal community, we all love the water — but we also have to respect it. Swim Surf Survive was built to give swimmers of all ages the skills to stay safe — whether in a backyard pool or the open ocean.

And along the way, we don't lose sight of what makes this work matter. Watching a child submerge their face for the first time, swim a full lap of freestyle, or earn their place in Junior Guards are the moments that bring us the greatest joy!