Testimonials

Best place to get your kids to learn how to swim and enjoy the water. Phenomenal staff and instructors ever.

- Mohamed A.

August 21, 2024

Jose Molina is my son’s Mateo’s instructor. My son went from being scared to go in the water to: “Mom I can’t wait for friday”. Jose is great, he encourages him to do better in a fun and respectful way and takes his time explaning every lesson. Thank you Jose, I will forever grateful

- T T.

August 20, 2024

(Translated by Google) Excellent! (Original) Excelente!

- Debora D.

August 13, 2024

Good to learn swimming

- Rola S.

August 11, 2024

I waited a whole a year to write this thorough review because I felt that many parents on here are expecting to see their kids turn into Olympic swimmers when this is not the case. We joined Goldfish in Jan of 2024 and it’s been great to see my child’s improvement, but also, us taking advantage of the membership is where we saw improvements. They have something called family swim, which I highly recommend because it’s an hour where you and your child can practice what they’ve been doing in class. It’s super important and that’s when I started noticing a difference. The instructors there are great with the kids and I have yet to see one catch an attitude or give an attitude. My biggest annoyance and critic is that some classes do have 3-4 kids to one instructor. I don’t think that’s feasible at all. You do see your kid waiting for their turn and then bam, the class is over and you’re wondering if they learned anything. Again, this is where that family swim time comes in handy. The manager Mona is great and really does take the time to get to know the patrons, even calls us by first name. If you decide to go here, feel it out, and give it a chance. Consider the fact that the area is busy and you have to do more than bring your kid to a weekly 30-min lesson. Four stars from me because they’re still better than shitty YMCA.

- Erika F.

February 13, 2025

My first time joining swim lessons for my daughter at Astoria Goldfish swimming school was in May 2023. My daughter loves it and we are currently taking classes with Aryn, who does amazing work and he tries to really help everyone learn swiming. However, some of the things i wasn’t told when we signed up were the overcrowded lessons which includes always 3-4 students per instructor and our classes being as short as 30 minutes!!!I spoke to one customer service rep over the phone and tried to let them know of my concern and she said this is management protocol and there was nothing she could do. I personally feel the classes are TOO SHORT 30 min, and at 25 minutes they call parents inside the swim pool area to discuss students progress, which leaves you with 25 min per 4 students. If you divide that by 4 than you realize you pay $45 per class ONLY TO GET roughly 7 Minutes swimming lessons!!!! Prior to Aryn we had multiple instructors changed, some were really busy and others had less students like 2/ lane. (Due to absences?)I went to one of the managers, i dont remember her name (very tall and blond) and told her if they can switch my daughter to an instructor that had less students, she acted like she forgot what i said and walked away back to her chair ignoring what I had inquired about. Than there was a parent i spoke to about my concern and she referred me to speak to one of the other Managers, Mona,and let me tell you, this lady is the best manager i ever met anywhere. She went and spoke to one of the instructors with less students that day, and my daughter was pulled out to that lane immediately. We only got one day pass for this due to absences, and all other classes every lane has more students 3-4 per instructor so what big deal was it for the other manager to switch us?thankfully the parents advised me to speak to Mona, and if you ever have any issues she will go above and beyond to make sure your child gets all the help to learn swiming! Additionally , upon registration , we bought the 4 months package and this came with many freebies but no one gave them to us upon attending our first class. Fast forward months into our classes, Mona asked me which package I had bought and she then told me we were supposed to get a free towel and swiming goggles , in top of free classes for parents!!!! we first signed up there was alot of miscommunication happening between customer service and myself, but Mona’s input is very much appreciated and anytime i had a question i knew who will take care of it no matter what issues we have. Att managment: If you want a successful business and no parents rolling their eyes at the pricing per class in ratio to the time students are being thought swimming lessons, than please consider lowering the number of students per instructor! In top of that, please hire pleasant, responsible employees with high qualities. I hope whoever wrote a review saying that manager Mona has been fired, is inaccurate mistake of this parent, and should it be true, you are loosing not just the manager but your whole business will collapse because all other parents i speak to agrees that Mona kept this place running and smoothly and everyone loved working with her! Should any other issues come up, this is also going to be my last package purchased with Goldfish! Happy holidays everyone.

- Esa D.

December 17, 2024

(Translated by Google) I don't like it because when I enrolled my daughter I asked them to give me a schedule that was past me and when my daughter arrives to take the class there are 4, sometimes 5 children and only one teacher. If I put my daughter in school it is so that she learns and she is supposed to learn by practicing not just by watching oh sitting and I don't see that my daughter can learn that way I already went to the office and I have made changes more than 5 times looking for them to give me a schedule where at least 2 children make the change and they tell me that at that time there will only be 2 and I come back again for their class and again 4 children I am so disappointed since I am paying for pleasure (Original) No me gusta por que cuando inscribí a mi hija pedí que me dieran un horario que se sea me transcurrido y cuando mi hija llega a tomar la clase hay 4 a veces 5 niños y un solo maestro si puse ami hija ala escuela es para que aprenda y se supone que va aprender practicando no solo mirando oh sentada y no veo que mi hija pueda aprender de esas manera ya me acerqué ala oficina he echo cambios ya más de 5 veces buscando que me dieran un horario donde por lo menos 2 niños me hacen el cambio y me dicen que en ese horario ya va estar solo 2 y vuelvo otra vez para su clase y otra vez 4 niños estoy tan decepcionada ya que estoy pagando por gusto

- Norma C.

September 21, 2024

We had been loyal members of Goldfish Swim School in Astoria because of the outstanding care and dedication of one person: Mona Harandi. Mona wasn’t just a manager—she was the heart and soul of this location. Our child had always been nervous around water, but Mona’s warm and nurturing presence made all the difference. She went above and beyond, personally encouraging and inspiring confidence in our little one. It was her genuine care and unique ability to connect with kids that kept us coming back week after week. Unfortunately, this past month we learned that Mona was unfairly and unlawfully dismissed from her role. It’s heartbreaking and infuriating to see a business mistreat such an incredible leader who was the sole reason many families, including ours, stayed enrolled. It’s clear this organization doesn’t value the people who make their business thrive, and that reflects poorly on their integrity. We can no longer, in good conscience, support Goldfish Swim School after witnessing such unethical treatment of their staff. Our child is devastated by Mona’s absence, and we are appalled by the lack of transparency and humanity in how this situation was handled. If Goldfish Swim School can so easily discard the people who pour their hearts into our children, how can we trust them with our families? Think twice before enrolling here—this isn’t the kind of environment I want for my child or the community we’re a part of.

- Alireza A.

December 21, 2024

I recently learned of the termination of your manager Mrs. Mona Harandi from the Astoria, NY location and my family is extremely disappointed, especially my children. I want to start off by pointing out that for such a large company, your Human Resources department needs a great deal of work! You have lost one of your best employees and greatest assets to Goldfish ever. The company should be absolutely ashamed to have terminated Mrs. Mona Harandi under such false accusations without ANY proof and without conducting any form of investigation. Without Mona the Astoria location barely functioned and we only continued to come there because of her. She was the sweetest and kindest and most caring person in there. I only ever saw her being attentive and helpful to ALL the families and children that would enter through the door. Without exaggeration, EVERYONE loved her. The accusations are literally appalling and just beyond ridiculous because if one knew Mona a bit better, you'd know she was born and raised into a Muslim family in a Muslim country (Iran). So for her to be accused of being racist towards Muslim families at Goldfish is literally a JOKE. Your Human Resources department is a JOKE. Mona deserves much better treatment than the one she got from Goldfish and I hope she finds it elsewhere because Goldfish did not deserve her!

- Anna M.

December 17, 2024