Institute of Aquaphobia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7 February 2026
Millions Living in Fear of Water: Experts Urge Action on International Aquaphobia Awareness Day
Nearly 13 million people in the UK are unable to swim and are scared of water — and for three million, that fear is so severe they cannot shower or bathe.
As International Aquaphobia Awareness Day is marked today, water safety experts are calling for greater awareness of a condition that often goes unseen but profoundly affects daily life.
Aquaphobia — the fear of water — can develop in childhood or later in life and is commonly linked to trauma, learned behaviours, or long-held misconceptions. Despite its prevalence, many people do not realise that aquaphobia is a recognised condition — or that it can be successfully overcome.
Safety Training Awards (STA) has partnered with the Institute of Aquaphobia (IOA) to highlight the reality of water fear and promote proven methods that help people rebuild confidence and safety in the water.
“Many people believe they’re ‘just bad with water’ or that their fear is something they should be able to push through,” said a spokesperson for IOA. “In reality, aquaphobia is real, deeply personal, and incredibly common — but with the right approach, it is possible to change someone’s relationship with water.”
A Gentle, Evidence-Based Approach
IOA works with specially trained Angel Coaches who support participants through a structured 12-stage programme built on empathy, understanding, and gradual exposure.
Unlike traditional swimming lessons, the programme often begins away from the pool, with a one-to-one conversation exploring a person’s history with water. Each participant completes a Personal Ability Range (P.A.R.) assessment, allowing coaches to tailor support to individual fears, triggers, and needs.
For some, the first challenge is stepping into a pool. For others, fear begins much earlier — even packing a swimming bag can trigger anxiety. Progression is always led by the participant, never forced.
Why This Matters
The scale of the issue is significant:
13 million UK adults are scared of water and cannot swim
3 million avoid bathing or showering due to fear
The figure is equivalent to twice the population of London
The programme was developed by IOA founder Mike Burman, a former swimming teacher who observed consistent success using compassionate, step-by-step methods long before scientific research later explained why they work.
Today, those methods are helping people prepare for holidays, feel safe around their children, access hydrotherapy, and even approach water births with confidence.
“Overcoming a fear of water isn’t about speed — it’s about safety, trust, and dignity,” added the IOA spokesperson. “Every small step forward is life-changing.”
Supporting Inclusive Water Safety
STA and IOA are also encouraging professional swimming teachers to undertake specialist aquaphobia training, enabling them to offer inclusive, trauma-aware support to those who would otherwise avoid water altogether.
ENDS
Institute of Aquaphobia
Website: www.instituteofaquaphobia.com
[email protected]
Media Enquiries:
Safety Training Awards
Website: www.safetytrainingawards.co.uk

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What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone afraid of water?

Excellent message from Swim England.

Achieving these four competencies is essential, but for a significant number of children, fear and anxiety are the real barriers.

At the IoA, we’re proud to champion trauma-aware, inclusive approaches that help all children - especially the most nervous - reach these vital safety standards.

Swim England continues to strongly recommend that parents and guardians keep children in swimming lessons until they have achieved all four water competencies 🏊

Find out why ➡️ bit.ly/CompetentSwimmer-SB

💥 CASE STUDY 💥

Lauren’s 41-Year Journey to Overcoming Aquaphobia

Meet Lauren - a clinical hypnotherapist who spent most of her life unable to go near water after a traumatic swimming lesson at age 11.

For over four decades she avoided pools, couldn’t put her face under a shower and felt that familiar panic every time water splashed near her.

But just before her 50th birthday, Lauren decided she’d had enough. She wanted to prove to herself that fear didn’t get the final say.

That’s when she found Tom Glover at Glovers Swim School and began one-to-one ALP swimming lessons. With patience, safe-breathing techniques and sessions tailored to her emotional state, Lauren slowly began to rebuild trust in the water.

Even cancer treatment and multiple breaks didn’t stop her from returning.

“Tom was amazing. He never rushed me, he listened, he adjusted every lesson to where I was that day. I panicked every week - but I kept going… and he kept believing in me.”

Now Lauren swims every week - and loves it.

Her story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to face your fears - and the right support can change everything. 💫

Blog - The IOA Blogs

📣 New partnership announcement 📣

We are delighted to announce we are working to deliver training for Mobile Pools UK.

Their temporary above ground pools are transforming access to school swimming - and with our trauma-informed training, their teachers will be able to support anxious, neurodiverse and SEND pupils too.

Mobile Pools UK will become the first provider of its kind to integrate our Certificate in Teaching Aquaphobics (CTA) into staff training, helping create safer, more inclusive swimming experiences for children who need extra understanding around water.

With too many children leaving primary school without vital water safety skills, this partnership is a powerful step forward.

Read the full press release below 👇

Blog - The IOA Blogs

Did you see this fantastic BBC News story yesterday about a primary school in Peterborough installing a temporary pool so pupils don’t miss out on vital water-safety skills?

With sadly more pools closing across the UK, creative solutions like this are becoming essential.

Every child deserves the chance to learn to swim - and every teacher needs the tools to support children who are nervous or fearful of the water.

That’s why the Institute of Aquaphobia is working hard to upskill teachers nationwide and ensure no child is left behind.

What do you think?

Peterborough primary installs 'pop-up pool' to encourage swimming The temporary pool has also helped boost attendance in Year Five and Year Six, head teacher says.

Being afraid of water is nothing to be ashamed of - you are far from alone.

In the UK, an estimated 12.8million people feel the very same. From avoiding holidays to even taking a bath, the impact on the individual's quality of life can be significant.

This article by Harvard University explores how to overcome these fears, one step at a time.

For more support, check out the resources we offer here: https://instituteofaquaphobia.com/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/overcoming-fear-of-the-water

overcome your fear of water Join us to overcome your fear of water with expert guidance. for Public zone. Aquaphobia fear of water help overcome phobia water swimming pool institute best

Sometimes the biggest barrier to learning to swim isn’t ability - it’s fear.

At the Institute of Aquaphobia, we believe every child deserves the chance to feel safe, calm, and confident in the water.

With the right approach, anxiety around water can be gently transformed into trust and joy - one small step at a time.

If you work with swimmers who experience water worry, or you're simply passionate about supporting confidence in the pool, we’d love for you to stay connected with us and help spread the word.

Together, we can help more children build a positive lifelong relationship with water.

Services to Overcome Aquaphobia | Expert Guidance Explore tailored services at the Institute of Aquaphobia to help you overcome water fear and achieve comfort in aquatic settings.

We are deeply concerned to learn that 21 swimming pools have closed across the north west of England since 2014 - the highest number in the UK.

Learning to swim is a vital life skill, not a luxury. Yet it’s estimated that 30 per cent of Year 7 children cannot swim 25 metres confidently - a statistic that should worry us all.

Every child deserves the chance to learn to swim in a safe, accessible, and inclusive environment.

That’s why the Institute of Aquaphobia is proud to be training thousands of swimming teachers nationwide through our specialist Aquaphobia Coaching Programme. Every learner should feel safe in the water. 💙

📣📣Thousands of children across the UK are benefitting from a new approach to swimming lessons - thanks to our innovative training programme.📣📣

Read our latest press release below 👇 👇

Thousands of children across the UK are benefitting from a new approach to swimming lessons, as Everyone Active, in partnership with the Institute of Aquaphobia (IoA), introduces specialist training for its swimming teachers.

Through the Aquaphobia CTA 1 certification, developed by the IoA, teachers are trained to identify signs of water-related anxiety and adapt their sessions to meet the emotional and physical needs of each swimmer.

The aim is simple but transformative - to help more children feel safe, confident, and happy in the water by teaching them the key foundation skills that form the basis of aquatic understanding. These skills allow individuals, at any age, to be in the water without fear. This creates a clear pathway to learning swimming strokes with good technique, free from stress and anxiety.

Alison Sutherland, Aquatic & Sport Training Manager at Everyone Active, said: “We are seeing many children in our lessons, both in our learn to swim schemes and school programmes, who have a genuine fear of water. I believe that ensuring teachers complete the Aquaphobia CTA 1 certification gives them the skills to both recognise that fear and adapt their lessons to suit the needs of every swimmer.”

The certification forms part of the wider Aquaphobia Learning Programme (ALP), created by IoA founder Mike Burman, which offers a structured and compassionate pathway to overcoming fear of water. With Everyone Active’s network of more than 2,000 coaches now undertaking the training, the reach of this initiative is truly nationwide.

Gerard McGuire, from Individuality Swimming and Fitness, one of the IoA’s Centres of Excellence based in Bournemouth, said: "We have been following the IoA programme for a number of years now. The core ALP programme — the 12 stages taught in the water - are the foundation of all swimming. We use these principles in all our lessons for children, regardless of whether they are fearful or not.

He added: "There is no doubt that there’s a much higher number of children displaying signs of stress and fear around water, something that has been amplified since Covid. The Aquaphobia Learning Programme really does address these needs, whether a swimmer is four or ninety-four years old.”

Swimming teacher Shelley Whitehead said: "Aquaphobia training will support any swim teacher to help them deliver inclusive school swimming sessions.

"By having an awareness of how fear can inpact on a child's learning in the pool environment, a teacher can support them through activities before their swim sessions start, familiarisation of the centre and what happens in school swimming lessons and then through the small step approach confidence can be built and swim skills developed at the swimmer's pace."

Mike Burman, founder of the Institute of Aquaphobia, added: “Aquaphobia affects an estimated 12.8 million people in the UK. Make no mistake, children who suffer from a fear of water when they are young can easily grow into adults with full-blown aquaphobia. What may seem a small issue at four years old can develop into a major phobia later in life unless it’s identified and treated professionally, with understanding, empathy and the correct type of aquatic teaching.

The ALP system addresses those needs by quantifying the problem and then planning a series of in-water activities designed to help each child gain control, feel safe, and build confidence. Removing the fear first and then teaching the key foundation skills creates a solid platform for learning to swim with good technique — while feeling happy and relaxed in the water.”

"There is no doubt that there’s a much higher number of children displaying signs of stress and fear around water."

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