Meet our Guides
Meet the fantastic team of guides who bring your SwimTrek experience to life.
John Mccall
Swim history before SwimTrek
I competed at a national level until I was 20 years old with my best results being 2nd in 200m butterfly and 3rd in 100m butterfly in the Irish Open (2007) with times of 59 secs and 2.05 respectively. After competitive swimming I played waterpolo, competed in surflifesaving, open water swimming and surfed. I still swim for fitness in the pool (to help my surfing) as I surf all year round and when I can in the summer months I do open water swims in the sea (I bought my first swimming wetsuit last year which is a dream come true!).
Most memorable swim moment
Its hard to pick, I have been lucky to have surfed with dusty (the friendly dolphin in Co. Clare) and playful seals but one summer when I was beach lifeguarding in Co. Kerry, Ireland, as I was taking down the flags at the end of the day a pod of pilot whales swam into the bay. I put on my wetsuit and grabbed my googles and swam out towards them. Unfortunately the Bull whale in the pod was sick and had come into the shallows to beach himself, but I approached the pod and gave them plenty of space as I swam up back and forth across the bay with them. I was at a distance where I could only see their fins on the top of the water but as time passed they came closer and I could see the full body of the whales below the water. The cubs stayed close to their mothers but swam playfully breaking the surface of the water from time to time letting off the distinct release of air from their blowholes. I felt blessed that they allowed me to observe them in such a manner.
Top swimming tip
Efficiency! Be like the whales or dolphins when you swim, be streamline. Power doesn't equal speed. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Eradicating unnecessary movements or movements that go against the flow of water will increase efficiency, reduce energy consumption and ultimately allow you to swim faster for longer.
Interesting fact about you
Pioneered river surfing in Limerick city, Ireland. We have a hydro dam upriver from the city and they release water at certain times and at a certain tides there is a standing wave!!
Steve Whitmore
Swim history before SwimTrek
At the age of 10 I completed my life saving badges bronze/silver/gold half drowning my brother in the process and joined my local swim club wellington in Shropshire. I soon became one of the best butterfly’s in the county and midlands due to no one else being daft enough to swim the event. After joining the Army I was able to use my Swim experience to get out of most field manoeuvres much to the annoyance of my fellow soldiers and represent the Royal Engineers in freestyle, water polo, progressing to representing the British Army in triathlons, winning the first British Army of the Rhine triathlon in Osnabruck in what was then known as West Germany. Fortunately only 15 people turned up.
This spurred me on to race in more Triathlons which I loved as at that time they were new and exciting representing GB along the way to marathons, coast to coast endurance events via a spell in the Circus as a trapeze artist. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time and really enjoyed the versatility of training/competing in different environments, with different people. Trying out lots of new sports at a fairly high level to performing Trapeze in front of 4,000 people at Glastonbury’s circus big top opening night. But despite all these great highs and lows I was always drawn back to swimming and particularly swimming in the sea.
At 56 I decided now was the time to achieve one of my own goals swimming the English Channel as part of a 5 person relay team, in 14hours. This has since led me to coach and manage 6 successful England to France and Jersey to France relay teams for Brockwell swimmers. It’s been quite an adventure.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming in the surf off Towan beach Newquay, on a cold winter day with the sun barely visible, enjoying the sea rolling around me!
Top swimming tip
Thoroughly warm up, increase body temperature before entering cold water.
Interesting fact
I was a trapeze artist in the circus.
Claire Parsons
Swim history before SwimTrek?
The water has always been my happy place. I swam competitively as a child, but this dropped off in my teenage years. After running the Edinburgh marathon in my 20s I was injured and the physio recommended I swim. I went to Brockwell lido and vividly remember thinking why did I ever stop doing this and I haven’t looked back since. Around that time longer distance events were opening up and I was lucky to swim the Great North Swim, the Dart 10k and the Henley marathon.
In 2016 we moved to Singapore and there were even more opportunities to swim. I was also able to turn my passion into a career as I became a swim coach. I love being able to share my love of the water and helping others to enjoy it more in whatever form that takes for them. I am an advanced aquaphobia coach and have helped many nervous swimmers overcome their fears and achieve their goals. Now that I am back home in the UK and with SwimTrek, I am excited for the opportunities that the sea will give me going forward, once I get used to the cold again that is.
Most memorable swim moment?
When I swam to Rottnest Island in Perth I was escorted to the finish line by an enormous ray, it was magical. Being Australia I then popped up into a fantastic party atmosphere. One of the best days of my life.
Top swimming tip?
Don’t get hung up on what other people look like in the water. We all have different bodies, strengths and goals. You’ll find the best way for you to move in and enjoy the water. Think about how your movements impact your position in the water. If you focus on moving the water backwards, you will go forwards.
Interesting fact?
I was the first women to swim the 16km around Perhentian Besar (Big Perhentian) off the coast of Malaysia. I also have webbed toes, but having never swam without them being joined I don’t know if it’s an advantage or not, everyone asks me!
Cassie D'Cruz
Swim History Before SwimTrek
I grew up with a deep love for the ocean and swimming, and was always a key part of my fitness routine in my 20s and 30s. Since moving to Australia 14 years ago, surfing has taken centre stage. My bond with the ocean has only grown stronger, through surfing, but whether I’m surfing, snorkelling in tropical waters, or simply enjoying the open sea. My passion for the ocean remains unwavering.
Most Memorable Swim Moment
My most memorable swims are with the majestic humpback whales that visit our Australian waters each year. Connecting with these magnificent creatures is profoundly heart-opening and highlights the beauty and grandeur of nature. I also cherish the moments spent surfing and swimming with playful pods of dolphins, whose spirited presence inspires such a sense of play, freedom and joy.
Top Swimming Tip
Before entering the ocean, I always take a moment to express gratitude. Whether it’s a refreshing plunge, an invigorating swim, or a surf session, acknowledging the ocean’s power and beauty deepens our connection. This practice of gratitude not only honors the ocean but also aligns us with its rhythms, enhancing the experience and fostering a profound sense of harmony and respect. The ocean truly nourishes the soul.
Interesting Fact About You
Not overly interesting but I am a health coach and breath work facilitator.
David Ruiz Amaro
Swimming history before Swimtrek?
Even though I grew up in an inner city in Spain, I would always plead with my parents to bring me to the beach as much as possible. They could see that I was my happiest in the water and I'm thankful for them for encouraging that part of me.
We travelled all over Spain in a caravan during the summers and this gave me the opportunities to swim in many different seas, lakes and rivers from a young age.
As an adult, I found a deep love of nutrition and personal training and decided to pursue masters in both. These both gave me enough skills to improve my own swimming practice and to help others improve theirs. I was lucky enough that my physical conditioning course focused in the aquatic environment and I learned how to coach people in the water. My classmates and I spent many months analizing each others techniques and I learned so much from this experience. I'm very passionate about understanding the body and how each body works best and that has stayed with me in all my teaching moments. I have my pool and beach lifeguard certificates and worked as a lifeguard in Malaga which I loved. I've been living in Ireland the last two years, they have a big open water swimming culture here, and it has been wonderful to be a part of this.
Most memorable swim moment?
I remember when I was on a caravan trip with my family, it was the 08/08/08 at 20:08 and I was swimming in the Lake of Sanabria, I remember it because it was a very curious date but also because I probably felt for the first time how confident and free I was as I did a decent open water swimming for a teenager.
Top swimming tip?
A great swimmer is also built outside of the water. Lifting weights and mobility exercises go hand in hand with improving your swimming.
Interesting fact about you?
I hardly ever use the bus in the city, I rather use my unicycle if I want to enjoy the ride or the rollerblades if I want to get faster. This makes me feel so free.
Estelle Wakeman
Swim history before SwimTrek
Until starting SwimTrek this Autumn, I studied Biomedical Science at Sussex, with a whole array of different jobs and interests in different areas. I have worked a lot in hospitality, in swim, surf and other watersports, in education and in beach lifeguarding and search and rescue. I’m working towards a career in preventative medicine, but for now I’m taking time to do the things I enjoy most, of which one is open water swimming! Having grown up on the Dorset coast and swimming for longer than I can remember, I can’t wait to guide the SwimTrek trips this year.
Most memorable swim moment
My most memorable swim moment was possibly in winter last year on a trip to Morocco I went on with most of my bestest friends. There was an amazing sunset, the sea was really warm and we were surfing and swimming altogether until it got dark. It was probably one of my favourite memories from uni.
Top swimming tip
Enjoy it! There aren’t many sports that cut you off from every thing and every one and every sound around you the way that swimming does.
Interesting fact
Favourite biomedical fact- cold water swimming has the same physiological effect on your body as taking certain antidepressants and various other drugs- it triggers a reaction in the nervous system which causes the body to pump out adrenaline, noradrenaline and endorphins. Altogether, this cocktail of hormones create a sense of excitement, alertness, euphoria, natural pain relief and thus overall feeling of wellbeing and positivity, often overriding feelings of anxiety and depression for a good part of the rest of the day.
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