Dolphins of the Desert Swimming Academy
Dolphins of the Desert Swimming Academy is a swimming instructor serving Tucson, AZ.
About Dolphins of the Desert Swimming Academy
Dolphins of the Desert Swimming Academy is a Tucson swimming instruction business founded on the principle that people of every age, level, and ability can become better swimmers. The academy focuses exclusively on private swimming lessons, giving each student one-on-one attention while working toward individual goals. Its instruction is designed for a wide range of swimmers, from beginners learning to blow bubbles to experienced athletes preparing for triathlons, Olympic Trials qualification, lifeguard testing, or law enforcement swimming tests.
Private lessons form the core of the academy's approach. The staff works with students at different stages of development and remains focused on each swimmer's progress, whether the goal is water familiarity, completing one length of a pool, improving technique, or preparing for competition. The academy's website emphasizes that instruction is informed by extensive swimming experience and coaching expertise, with lessons intended to help students progress efficiently while addressing their particular needs.
Dolphins of the Desert also offers Masters and triathlon swim training for adults. Its U.S. Masters Swimming team provides six pool workouts a week for adults of all abilities. The academy states that it is the only swim school in Tucson officially certified by U.S. Masters Swimming to teach adults how to swim. Additional offerings and resources listed on its website include clinics, marathon swimming, an e-workout, and information connected with S.W.I.M. Tucson and S.W.I.M. Greeley. The academy also includes Safe Sport information among its online resources.
The academy was co-founded by Geoffrey S. Glaser and Jeff Commings, both of whom bring extensive competitive swimming backgrounds to the organization. Glaser is identified as a U.S. Masters All-American, a former World Aquatics Masters relay world record holder, and the number one swimmer in the 1500-meter freestyle in the World Aquatics Masters world ranking listed on the site. His background also includes multiple World Aquatics Masters top-10 rankings, participation in the 1987 Colorado-Kent Friendship English Channel Relay, and receipt of the 1987 Garnet-Martin Relay Trophy from the Channel Swimming Association.
Commings is a U.S. Masters Swimming certified Adult Learn-to-Swim Instructor and Level 4 Coach. He competed in the 100-meter breaststroke at three U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, in 1992, 1996, and 2012, and holds multiple Masters Swimming world and national records in the backstroke, breaststroke, and individual medley. His listed achievements include World Aquatics All-Time number one rankings in the 50-meter breaststroke, 100-meter breaststroke, 100-meter individual medley, and 100-meter backstroke, as well as multiple all-time top-10 rankings. He was also part of the NBC Sports coverage of the 2024 Olympics that received a 2025 Sports Emmy.
Students and families in Tucson can review the academy's private lesson, training, clinic, and safety information online before getting started. The website invites prospective students to use its Contact Us section for questions or requests. Visitors can expect an individualized swimming program shaped around the swimmer's current ability and goals, with instruction available for beginners, adults, competitive swimmers, triathletes, and people preparing for required swimming tests.