Background: Sources of self-efficacy have been proposed as predictors of swimming self-efficacy and aquatic motor skills, but studies in Latin American populations are needed. Aim: To examine the relative weight of sociodemographic predictors and a set of sources of self-efficacy on swimming self-efficacy and aquatic skills. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was applied to university students from swimming for beginners` courses (N = 233, mean age = 20.26, SD = 5.13, 49% women). Previously validated scales on sources of self-efficacy as well as a on self-efficacy for physical activity were used, and a new self-report scale on aquatic skills was applied. Two hierarchical multiple regression models, one with swimming self-efficacy and another with aquatic skills as outcomes were conducted. In a first step, sociodemographic variables (age, gender, family income) were introduced as predictors. In a second step, proposed sources of self-efficacy were introduced (mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion by others, verbal persuasion by oneself, negative affective states, and positive affective states). Results: No sociodemographic variable was significantly associated with self-efficacy. Only verbal persuasion by oneself (* = .26, p < .01) and mastery experiences (* = .19, p < .01) among sources of self-efficacy were significant predictors. Overall, sociodemographics explained 0.5% and sources of self-efficacy explained 27.8% of variance (*R2s). In the second regression model, with aquatic skills as outcome, the only sociodemographic variable significantly associated was income (* = .24, p < .001). The only significant source of self-efficacy on aquatic skills was mastery experiences (* = .54, p < .001), but negative affective states were close to statistical significance (* = -.11, p = .05). Overall, sociodemographic variables explained 12.2% and sources of self-efficacy explained 31.3% of variance (*R2s). Conclusions: The findings suggest that sources of self-efficacy, particularly mastery experiences and self-directed verbal persuasion, are relevant correlates of swimming self-efficacy, while mastery experiences appear to be strongly associated with self-reported aquatic skills. No causal inferences should be done based on cross-sectional data and self-report measures, as those used, may suffer from some recall and social desirability bias. Future studies could examine longitudinal effects or use an experimental design to get stronger evidence for causal inferences.
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