IMPACT

The mission of the Centro Acuático Nosara is to create a culture of aquatic knowledge and recreation for everyone who resides in Nosara, regardless of race or income.

About us:

Centro Acuático Nosara (CAN) operates under the umbrella of Fundación DMA and features a 6-lane competitive-size swimming pool located adjacent to Del Mar Academy in Nosara, Costa Rica.

CAN Swim began in early 2021 as a community initiative offering free swimming lessons to children from local public schools. The program was supported by local businesses that open up their pool for classes,  while community members helped fund instructor salaries. It quickly became clear that there was a strong community need for access to a swimming pool, especially for families who did not have one at home.

With the support of a generous donor who funded the construction of the pool, and later the Cooper Matthews Foundation, which contributed the construction of the changing rooms, bathrooms, and office space, the vision for a community aquatic center became a reality.

Through community fundraisers, the outreach programs continue to fund instructors for the Learn to Swim Program, while memberships and classes help sustain the operation of the pool.

As of 2026, 85 children from public schools are currently learning to swim for free, and more than 130 children have already learned this life-saving skill through the program.

Over time, CAN Swim has grown to include additional programs that serve the broader community. These include:

• Free Aqua Yoga for local senior citizens

• Training access for Nosara lifeguards

• Physical education swim programs for local private schools

• Community memberships

• Prenatal swimming

• Junior Lifeguard Program

• Swim Team

Centro Acuático Nosara was founded with three core goals:

• To teach swimming as a life-saving survival skill
• To build on that foundation to develop athletes in aquatic sports
• To serve as a hub for aquatic education, training, and recreation in the Nosara community

Programs at CAN Swim are available to Del Mar Academy students, the general public, and free of charge to students from public schools in Nosara through the Learn to Swim Program.

The Community Outreach Program is one of the main pillars of the Centro Acuático Nosara. Where local children of Nosara can learn how to swim for free.

The Centro Acuático Nosara supports: