Good swimming pool games for a non swimmer?

[BelfastSmile]

I'm currently trying to teach DS (8) to swim. He's (currently undiagnosed, but likely) ASD and he hates getting water on his face or really being splashed at all. There's no way he'd cope in regular lessons.

So far my approach has been just to get him used to the water. He uses 2 pool noodles (will not let go at all) and has goggles. I've shown him some strokes and he's happy enough floating around on his noodles and kicking his feet and waving his arms a bit, but he's getting a bit bored of that. We're nowhere near the stage of doing lengths or anything.

I'd like to introduce some games that we can play in the water, just to get him enjoying being in it and to get him more used to it. Any suggestions? It can't involve him putting his face under the water. It's in a public pool, so not too much splashing around either.

Throwing a ball between you? We used weighed things things that I would try and dive under the water to catch. Using pool bouy between the knees, can he drop it to his feet or pick it up from the bottom with his feet? Games using floats like trying to pass them between feet and hands or pass to your feet under the water?

Thanks @PandaOrLion - those are great ideas!