Our Story
At Understanding Water, we believe swimming is more than just a sport — it’s a life skill that everyone deserves.
Our founder, Dr. Lucas Salles-Cunha, created Understanding Water after completing his doctoral research on why so many families in Watsonville and similar communities don’t have the chance to swim. The results were clear: most kids want to swim, but barriers like cost, time, and lack of pools hold them back.
That’s where we come in.
Our Mission
We want to create a positive swimming cycle — where parents and kids learn to swim, grow confident in the water, and pass that skill down to future generations.
To make this happen, we sell merchandise, raising funds to:
Provide affordable, effective, and accessible swim lessons for families.
To build pools and aquatic facilities where they’re needed most.
Work with schools and community partners to make swimming part of everyday life.
Why It Matters
Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for young children, and in Watsonville, nearly 8 out of 10 residents can’t swim. At the same time, families say they want their kids to have the chance to learn. Swimming isn’t just about safety — it’s about health, joy, and opportunity.
Our Vision
We dream of a future where:
Every child in our community grows up knowing how to swim at a high level.
Families have safe, welcoming pools close to home.
Swimming becomes a tradition passed proudly from one generation to the next.
At Understanding Water, we’re here to make sure that if you want to swim, you can.