By SUSAN PARK

If you've ever visited Aqua Dive, perhaps you've met Rob Wallace who wears many hats under the title of aquatics manager.

Wallace has been with Aqua Dive, a Lake City-area health club, either as a customer or as an employee off-and-on since he was in high school at Nathan Hale many years ago. It all began with a love of water and a chance to swim for Hale coach Brock Hugle. After graduating in 1977, Wallace continued to work at Aqua Dive as an instructor while attending the University of Washington.

Wallace couldn't stay away from the water and kept coming back despite a move to southeastern Washington and a promising career in the medical field. In 1996, Wallace came back for good. "I just enjoy the atmosphere of working in a health club," he says.

This spring, Wallace initiated Aqua Dive's first Infant Awareness swim class designed for babies and toddlers ages two-months to four-years-old.

Sound a little fishy?

Not so, says Wallace. He explains that children are naturally drawn to water which can sometimes land them in trouble, "because when they're two, they go anywhere."

This class teaches parents to teach their kids to become acclimated to the idea of swimming and floating and getting their little faces wet. Families are taught in teams of at least one parent per infant. Dads and moms can both participate. Wallace says "We really emphasize safety to parents, such as not leaving kids unattended, not to be so overconfident ... just a healthy respect for the water."

Kids start out just learning to not be afraid of the swimming pool. The first lesson teaches them how to walk down the stairs safely. Children learn everything from how to safely use flotation devices, jump in the water, put on a life jacket, and play-smart with other kids. They even use some clever techniques to encourage kids to actually want to put their heads under water - the precursor to learning to breath properly while swimming.

Wallace says that although a child will not have the physical ability to swim a stroke until they are at least four or five, the class gives them a head start. Classes are also offered in all other age ranges. You can even learn to swim at 100 years-old (or over)!