SI Pool & Herbst Natatorium

I guess I was told it's a good program but not for every one. Definitely lots of entitlement - no place to sit for parents - they make you feel like they are doing you a favor. My daughter didn't pass level 4 after 4 tries because she didn't pass the diving test- instead of trying to rectify and find out and focus on what may have been the case - they just did do the class over and over again and didn't let her pass which shows the lack of attention to detail. When approached - they recommended private classes to solve for the gap. Poor operation/execution at best or rather scripted and yes you are paying top $.

This pool is part of the St. Ignatius preparatory school http://www.yelp.com/biz/st-ignatius-college-preparatory-school-san-francisco but it is open to the public. I usually frequent San Francisco public pools http://www.sfgov.org/site/recpark_page.asp?id=1867 but today was a holiday so I decided to check this pool out since they were open for business.

Your first visit is free which is a nice treat! Drop in rates are totally affordable at only $4 (same price as SF public pools). The pool is nice and clean and divided into about 8 lanes. I had my own lane for most of my swim which is a very nice change from sharing with anywhere from 5 to 10 people. I couldn't help but notice that at the end of each lane was a huge cross (about 3x4 feet) made out of blue tiles which really stood out against the white pool. I understand that it's a Jesuit school but it was just so in your face as you go back and forth and back and forth :)

The locker room is also clean but it was extremely cold and a bit small. I love that they have a swimsuit spinner and all in all I really liked this pool. It's a great alternative to SF public pools, especially with both Sava and Hamilton pools closed for renovations.

Average sized city pool with half rec and half lap zones.....
If you are expecting warm waters and sunny skis.....you are at the wrong pool...they haven't adapted the see through skylights/skyline panels yet as far as i could tell...

Rarely is the high dive opened for the public which is a shame cause that would be one thing some of the kids would like about this pool being that it is the main aquatics center away from stones town and 19th ave...

If you want warm water pools: UCSF Panarssus campus...(I'm pretty sure i spelled that wrong)

If you want open aired pools: Prime Time Athletic Club in Millbrae

(Don't even think that "its too far", its only too far if you can't drive or don't understand traffic patterns in the bay area.. If you know how to take bart to SFO then you know how to get there without a car)

But seriously, that diving apparatus can help you stand out from the community instead of just being a pool with swim teams...otherwise its just a cardboard cutout location

Great swim program. My kids have really improved in a short amount of time. Instructors are very encouraging at all swim levels.

I pretty much live here when I'm in the city.

Grew up with swim lessons here as a child, then joined the age group swim team, hammerheads for a few years. Took a two year break, then decided to go back as I entered high school. Swam with the team both during and off season. Lifeguarded and taught lessons here.. It can get pretty crazy on the weekends, though, especially on Saturdays during rec swim on a sunny day.

I still swim here occasionally when I'm back; staff is great. Water can be a tad chilly when you first get in, but after a few hundred yards, you're good to go.

Only complaint is the shower heads. There are probably only one or two relatively "good" showers in the girls' locker room.. the other two are quite weak.

Overall, chill place in a residential area.

I learned how to swim here over a decade ago. Those memories will never leave my mind. Back when level 1 was erased and level 7 was added, it took me forever and private lessons to finish the whole swim program. I ended up swimming with the pre-hammerheads and didn't continue in the hammerheads team. Private lessons are actually really helpful.

I did come for some recreational swimming. The lower diving board isn't intimidating. The high dive freaked the crap out of me, especially since I was less than 5 feet and a youngster back in the day. It felt like jumping off a building a committing suicide without the risk of bloodshed. Ah, fond memories.

The locker rooms are that spacious and there were only four shower heads, at least for the guys.

I basically grew up at this pool. I first took swim lessons here on the weekends and during the summer for about 4 years. Next I joined the swim team for about the next 7 years. My first job was teaching swim lessons and life-guarding here for another 6 years. I would say this pool is the best pool opened to the public and only 2nd to Koret (but to my knowledge they have limited membership) in overal quality. The staff (i myself being one of them) are quite friendly and the prices are reasonable. $4 for drop in and they also sell swim passes. They have good swim instructors including group and private lessons. The only thing I would caution about is that private lessons have to be paid ahead of time and if you miss your lesson there is no refund. I got a lot of unsatisfied customers complaining about this policy, but we have to be fair to the the swim instructors also. So just remember to mark your calender when you sign up for lessons. Although the lockers rooms are small, they do have a suit dryer. If you have any questions about this pool. shoot me a message.