Last Saturday marked the successful conclusion of Get Grenada Swimming’s 12th annual national swim week, a milestone made possible only through the coordinated effort of site supervisors, certified instructors, corporate sponsors, community volunteers, and local supporters who have sustained the program for more than a decade.
Now a beloved community tradition, this year’s initiative expanded access to free swim instruction across the entire island nation of Grenada, opening 15 separate teaching locations that spanned from the northern town of Sauteurs along the main island’s Grand Anse Beach all the way to the island of Carriacou. Unlike many paid aquatic programs, Get Grenada Swimming opens its lessons to all interested participants aged five and older, welcoming both children and adults to build critical water safety skills at no cost.
As the program’s major corporate partner this year, Silversands Management reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to the initiative. “Naguib Sawiris and Silversands are delighted to continue supporting Deb Eastwood and the entire Get Grenada Swimming team as they carry out their exceptional work teaching children to swim and stay safe in Grenada’s waters,” a representative from Silversands shared. “Over 12 years of this life-changing program, their work has likely saved countless lives by equipping young people with the competence to enjoy our beautiful coastlines confidently. We are deeply grateful to the entire team for this essential, community-focused work.”
Program director Deb Eastwood highlighted the collaborative problem-solving that allowed the initiative to overcome an unexpected logistical hurdle in Carriacou this year. Just 48 hours before the start of swim week, more than 30 additional participants registered for lessons, leaving the island with only one assigned instructor to serve a surge in demand. In a show of cross-island community spirit, two volunteers from mainland Grenada quickly arranged travel on the Osprey ferry to Carriacou to lend their support for the full week of instruction. The last-minute teamwork paid off: the 2026 Carriacou swim week taught 55 total participants, marking the highest local participation number in the program’s history.
Setting this year’s event apart from previous iterations was a new, added component: a hands-only CPR training workshop hosted at Camerhogne Park. The interactive session was met with enthusiastic feedback from both younger swimmers and adult participants, who valued the opportunity to add another life-saving skill to their knowledge base.
Eastwood emphasized that none of the program’s 2026 milestones would have been achievable without collective community and corporate investment. She extended special thanks to major sponsor Silversands, alongside additional supporting partners including Budget Marine, True Blue Blue Resort, Ting/Star Malt, Spice Island Marine, Acado, Flow, Pure Grenada, and Waggy-T.
Looking ahead, the organization has already opened registration for its next Learn to Swim Week, scheduled to run from July 6 through July 10, with sponsorship from Sandals. Interested participants can sign up today through the program’s official website, www.getgrenadaswimming.com.
Beyond the annual week-long intensive events, Get Grenada Swimming continues to offer free weekly swim lessons every Saturday at 11 accessible locations across Grenada and Carriacou. Current weekly locations and local contact information are as follows:
– Birchgrove – St Andrew (Mello’s Complex): Contact Lovell Alexander at 416-1226
– Cabier Beach – Crochu, St Andrew: Contact Abigail Fletcher at 449-6091
– Carriacou – Paradise Beach: Contact Sophia Ireland at 535-6992
– Grand Anse – Umbrella’s Restaurant (9 am–11 am): Contact Deb Eastwood at 404-5237
– Grand Mal Beach – Across from SOG (10 am–12 pm): Contact Kevin Phillips at 421-1835
– Grenada Marine, Corinth at 9 am: Contact Catherine John at 459-2393
– Grenville – Telescope Beach: Contact Francis Williams at 449-3773
– Gouyave – St John, near Fish Market (12 pm–2 pm): Contact Sharm Ashton at 422-9893
– Paraclete – Lime House: Contact Kester Roberts at 403-6358
– Sauteurs – St Patrick Breakwater (9 am–11 am): Contact Nixon Edwards at 537-3035
For more details on upcoming events, registration, or opportunities to volunteer or donate, visit the Get Grenada Swimming official website at www.getgrenadaswimming.com, contact Deb Eastwood directly by phone at 404-5237, or send an email to info@getgrenadaswimming.com.