The Aitutaki Aquatics Club (AAC) has kicked off its community focused eight-week Learn to Swim Programme. DANI ADENDORFF/25022406
The Aitutaki Aquatics Club (AAC) has kicked off its community-focused, eight-week Learn to Swim Programme, making a splash in the island’s pristine, world-class lagoon.
Almost 50 swimmers per day participated in the first week of the programme that was delivered across three days last week.
Since its formalisation in 2024, the Aitutaki Aquatics Club has been making waves in the world of swimming development, having competed successfully in local and international competitions.
The club strives to broaden the swimming community on the island by offering the programme which is funded by the New Zealand High Commission.
Held at O’otu beach, it is aimed at the entire community from infants to the elderly mamas and papas.
The programme offers five different squads that cater for the various skill levels from Mums and Bubs and Beginners, to the Intermediates and Elite, as well as an adults squad.
“We (AAC) believe swimming truly is for everybody,” said Aitutaki’s qualified swimming coach Dani Adendorff, a competitive swimmer herself and owner of the local FuncFit Araura Gym.
Young kids join in the Aitutaki Aquatics Club (AAC) community focused eight-week Learn to Swim Programme. DANI ADENDORFF/25022407
“This programme aims to equip as many locals with a valuable life skill that not only teaches individuals skills to navigate water safely, but also basic swimming technique and practises like floating, and treading water. Ultimately, this aims to reduce the risk of potential drownings in our lagoon,” Adendorff said.
“For our more experienced swimmers, our programme is focused on building on their existing swimming skills and working on their fitness and endurance in the water.
“We’ve had a very positive turn out in our first week averaging almost 50 swimmers per day, which is so encouraging to see.”
Adendorff says they are blessed to have an ideal location in O’otu where it is accessible, sheltered and safe.
She said this programme is also a great opportunity to bring the community together.
“For me it makes sense to foster the development of water sports here because after all, we do have the best setting for it with our beautiful lagoon,” Adendorff said.
“It has been a really heartwarming experience to witness mums and their babies as young as eight months old join in, alongside the papas of 78 years of age which proves that you are never too young or too old to swim.”
The beginner and intermediate swim squads included children from four years of age to 10, supported by their “amazing” parents.
Adults join in the Aitutaki Aquatics Club (AAC) community focused eight-week Learn to Swim Programme. DANI ADENDORFF/25022408
“Swimming is also a great alternative for those with injuries or physical limitations as it’s a very low impact sport,” she added.
Besides the obvious cardiovascular health benefits, Adendorff said this programme is also focused on discovering and developing new swimming talent on the island.
In 2024, Aitutaki Aquatics Club identified and trained six youth swimmers who went on to compete in Australia in the School Sports Australia Swimming meet on the Gold Coast. The team also picked up a number of medals in the Cook Islands Games, proving that Aitutaki definitely has an abundance of talent just waiting to be discovered.
“If we can achieve that in just six months, I’m very excited to see what we can do this year, 2025.”
On behalf of the Aitutaki Aquatics Club, Adendorff said they are grateful for the support from the New Zealand High Commission, which recognised their efforts to develop swimming in Aitutaki.
“Without their support this programme would not have been possible,” she said.
