Encinal Swim Center

The pool itself is wonderful. But the instructors aren't all equipped to deal with teaching adults how to swim. When I mentioned my concern to the manager I was told I should've said something. Maybe I should've of. Or maybe be more in tune with the skill set of your instructors.

This is such a hidden gem. I pondered hard on whether I should share this, conclusion, why not.

This swim facility has been a god-send during Covid, the pool is beautiful and provides a variety of depth for different swimmer. Also it's a salt water pool, a first for me!

The facility and staff are amazing, the signup can get challenging: high demand. Cadence is as follows: Signup starts Saturday at 3pm for the following week. The open slots gets filled quickly, how fast? within (I kid you not) 3 mins.

Cost:
$6 for non Alameda residents
$5 for alameda residents
There's also a discounted senior price

Pool overview:
heated and kept very clean!
7-8 lanes (around 5 time slots per day) - pls verify on their official site provided below.
Depth varies from shallow all the way to 11ft+ (love it)
Always a Lifeguard on duty

COVID restrictions:
Pre screen prior to entry
No use of locker rooms
Prep before arrival, so you can directly head to the pool and start ur swim.
Everyone is allowed their own lane.
Mask is required when out of water

Lastly,
please honor your registration, only sign up for time slots you'll attend so we can keep this pool accessible and available for everyone.

Thanks you to the alameda aquatics department, this is truly such a gem in Alameda.

Details are available here. https://www.alamedaca.gov/Departments/Recreation-Parks

I'm surprised there isn't many reviews for this place since swimming classes are so popular but here goes mines. Signed up my daughter for swim classes after getting the Alameda Activities magazine that gets mailed out to residents and was 17th on the waitlist but miraculously she got in for the class. The place seems old but upon entering you can check in at the desk and there is separate locker rooms for boys and girls. Its seems clean enough and nothing really to complain about. The pool area is nice, 2 swimming pools with one large lap pool and the other a kid sized pool. The pools are heated too so thats pretty awesome! The instructors and life guards were are very friendly and did their best to teach the kids. I'm glad we have a community pool like this where its open to the public and kids can sign up for swim lessons.

I've been really pleased with my son's group swim lessons here (he's taken in both the spring & summer.) The small pool is perfect for becoming confident with swimming, as it's only about 3-4ft deep. Some teachers are better than others, but I've been impressed overall with their ability to remember my son and keep him engaged and learning new techniques. The cost is very affordable (thank you, ARPD!) and the pool stays plenty warm. I do wish there was more shade coverage on the side to make it easier to watch your kid(s) without baking on the turf. Locker rooms need an update, but serve their purpose. Open swim is limited, but fun during the summer. Parking is never an issue for us, either. We love Encinal Pool!

A decent community pool. It's not nearly as pristine as the pools at nice private gyms, but it's heated to a nice, comfortable temperature and has convenient hours after work for lap swimming.

The locker room doesn't contain actual lockers, and the showers resemble what I'd imagine prison showers to be like, but it's clean enough for me.

My only wish is that more lanes were open for lap swim, but I find most people to be super considerate. Like most places in Alameda, it has that nice hometown feel.