Tami Nixon is the heart behind Makai Swim School, Napa Valley’s original private swim school. She’s been in the water since she was a toddler in Hawaii and started teaching swim lessons at just 12 years old with the American Red Cross. With a background in early childhood education, Montessori teaching, dance, and Pilates, Tami brings a creative, whole-child approach to teaching swimming.
Since founding Makai Swim School in 1989, she’s helped thousands of children (and their families!) learn to swim safely and confidently. Today, Makai serves over 2,000 families a year with a staff of 20+ instructors—all trained in Tami’s signature style focused on safety, confidence, and fun.
In 2023, Tami launched a new venture: Floatie Friends—a brand inspired by her decades of experience helping kids fall in love with the water. Whether she’s training new instructors, building community around water safety, or designing her next floatie concept, Tami’s mission stays the same: make the water a joyful, safe place for every child.
