Private, custom swim instruction for all ages.

Lynchburg, VA & Chapel Hill, NC

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The Private Swim Experience

One-on-One Attention

Built Around Your Child

No waiting for a turn or trying to keep pace with a group.

Instruction adjusts to personality, confidence, skill level, and how they best learn.

Consistency That Builds Confidence

A reserved weekly lesson creates rhythm and gives skills time to stick.



Session Pack

Fall 2026 Session Now Open

10 private 25-minute lessons

Twice weekly for five weeks

Private 1:1 instruction at your pool

A consistent time reserved for your swimmer

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My Teaching Philosophy

I believe learning to swim should be gentle and empowering. My personalized approach weaves play-based learning with water exploration and growth in and out of the water. I meet each child where they are and help them build a strong foundation of swim skills and the confidence to use them.


“Aby was such a god send! My daughter can be very risk adverse and was always a little hesitant of the water. Not only did Aby help build her swimming skills, she helped Cara navigate her fear of the water. Thanks to Aby, this is the first summer where I feel confident in Cara’s swimming and can actually read a book at the pool!! Aby is phenomenal.”

— Lauren M.

Meet Aby

Hi, I'm Aby!

Like any five-year-old with a favorite color, I showed up to my first summer league swim practice dressed head to toe in pink ruffles. I joined a year-round swim team soon after (with my pink goggles still in tow) and spent the next eleven years swimming with four competitive teams and two high schools. My final year, I was honored to be named the Female All-Conference Champion after placing first in every event at the meet, despite competing through injury and chronic illness.

When I retired from the world of 5am practices and tech suits in 2023, I poured my heart into teaching and cheering from the sidelines. Vessel Swim has become the perfect blend of everything I love: little ones, swimming, creativity, and empowering through intuitive instruction. Over the past six summers, I've taught more than 700 lessons and helped over 90 students learn to swim.

While teaching water safety and swim skills is the goal, the moments I treasure most are laughing at a joke told by one of my swimmers, playing Ring Around the Rosie underwater, celebrating a hard-earned breakthrough, or comforting a little one through a tearful lesson. If a child leaves feeling more courageous and deeply cared for, then I've accomplished exactly what I set out to do.

Outside of the pool, you'll usually find me surfing, hosting friends, writing, exploring local thrift stores, or searching for my next scrumptious matcha.

I hope to see you at the pool!

What Families Are Saying

“Aby was phenomenal with our two girls. Our oldest had the goal of swimming confidently enough to go down the water slide on her own this summer and because of Aby’s amazing instruction she was able to do so! She also had incredible patience with our very wild three year old and helped her learn to take time to breathe and rest as needed and worked on floating. We can’t wait to work with her again next summer!”

— Olivia F.

“Aby has been an incredible swim instructor for our son and daughter over the past three summers. She is kind, compassionate, patient, and incredibly professional. She has a wonderful way of making kids feel comfortable while helping them build swimming skills and confidence. Watching both of our children grow into confident swimmers has been amazing, and we truly credit so much of that to Aby. We couldn’t recommend her more highly to any family looking for an outstanding swim instructor!”

— Lia M.

“Aby is an extraordinary swimming instructor! She worked with our three grandchildren, ages 20 months, 4, and 7, and she adapted her lessons to fit each of their experience and needs. The swimming skills Aby taught them have made them water safe and much more confident. The eldest two are straight-up swimmers now, and the pool is more fun for all of us. We are so grateful!”

— Karen Farris

Common Questions

A few things families often ask before getting started.

Let’s get your little one in the pool!

Have a question or interested in lessons? Send me a message below and I'll get back to you soon.

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Additional Testimonials

“Aby Motteler was such a great swim teacher for Grey! She improved so much, and Aby made her very comfortable in the water. When we first started the lessons, she was a little tentative, and then it became one of her favorite parts of the week!”

— Blair Kelly

“My son started off really scared of pools and by the end of his 8 lessons with Aby he had gained confidence and was able to relax and have some fun with it too. We're looking forward to enrolling him again next summer so he can continue to develop skills and eventually swim on his own!”

— Laura

“She swam out past the rope independently 5 times, just 3 lessons after being afraid to get in the pool!!!!!! She just keeps pushing the bounds now that she got her confidence! I can’t thank Aby enough. Aby, you are so good. Never stop doing what you’re doing.”

— Brooke