Meet our Guides
Meet the fantastic team of guides who bring your SwimTrek experience to life.
Marlys Cappaert
Life before SwimTrek
A very wise professor once advised me to change careers every ten years. It’s a strategy for staying fresh and has another distinct advantage: eventually you will encounter the very best career for your interests and talents. My earliest endeavors were as a taxi-driver, firefighter, sardine packer, and home builder. Later I had longer-term careers as a research plant pathologist and then a software engineer. Throughout, in my spare time, I always had a foot in a lake, a river or a pool. I’ve coached local Masters teams, developed a program for the adult fearful swimmer, and spent time convincing my friends to swim across that next body of water. Eventually I saw my way to SwimTrek, perhaps my final, certainly my favorite career.
Life at SwimTrek
A guide since 2014, I’ve also been working to increase opportunities for SwimTrek in North America. There are two parts to our strategy. One is to work with the marketing team to introduce SwimTrek and open water swimming to a greater audience of North Americans. The other goal is to develop new SwimTrek destinations in the coasts, canyons, and lakes of North America. When I’m not on the road, I work from my remote office in Oregon. Most memorable swim moment There are many, but most recently, I swam Vidösternsimmet, a lake swim in Sweden. It was special for several reasons; Sweden is my ancestral home (where my swimming mother comes from), it was one of my longest swims, I swam with a good friend, and the feed stations had cinnamon buns and coffee! The icy water and dense fog were merely a bonus.
Favourite SwimTrek location or event
Impossible question. Each location has something special or favorite about it. The places we go all offer a way to explore and immerse ourselves in ways that few visitors can. However: the Galapagos is my current favorite. Every day is magic. The diversity and abundance of wildlife are exceptional. Our access to pristine waters that have been only visited by SwimTrekkers is unique. I’ve also found that the people of the Galapagos Islands have an uncommon commitment to conservation and preservation. These folks give me hope for the future of the planet.
Interesting fact about you
I have two conjoined toes—webbed feet!
Why I love working at SwimTrek
The SwimTrek team has a deep passion for creating spectacular adventure opportunities for swimmers. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? Given the 8-hr time difference between my office and HQ, I miss out on a few of the spontaneous office events. But I’ve always felt included and welcome, and just once in a while, I’ll get up at 4 am, so I can share a coffee.
Jamie Jamison
Swim history before SwimTrek
I am a lifelong swimmer although never competitively as a stand alone sport. I come to swimming from triathlon where I excelled at iron distance triathlons and loved the distance and the freedom of no walls. Be it lakes, rivers, oceans and even a giant fish farm tank once (not recommended!), I love the open water. There’s nothing better than a long open water swim with friends followed by a coffee!
Most memorable swim moment
The start of the Ironman World Championship.
Top swimming tip
When working on your stroke technique, pick 1-2 changes and give yourself adequate time to absorb them. Realize that change is a slow process and don’t get frustrated. Remember that swimming is for fun and not frustration.
Interesting fact about you
Once upon a time, I played bagpipes (poorly) in a pipe band.
John Lester
Swim history before SwimTrek
I have worked at various locations as a diver/superintendent, including the Middle and Far East and took any opportunity to swim in these places, such as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia. I qualified as an ASA Level 2 coach in 2000 and coached my local swimming club, also giving one to one lessons to adults in open water. I have competed in masters swimming competitions at local, UK and European level. With the growing popularity I qualified as a Level 2 triathlon coach and co founded our local triathlon club, coaching the swimmers in both pool and open water swimming.
Locations guided on
Mallorca, Oman
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming with the seals around the Farne Islands in Northumberland. Crossing the Firth of Forth as part of a Triathlon and winning 4 gold medals in Alicante at the Spanish Open Masters competition.
Top swimming tip
Practice bilateral breathing, it will pay big dividends in both stroke symmetry and the ability to change your rhythm to suit the sea conditions.
Anna Crampin
Swim history before SwimTrek
I started at my local club when I was 8. It was my favourite thing to do and still is. The club was run by a teacher from school and parents and was about friendship and the enjoyment of swimming with a heady mix of competition. I won enough to feel like I was good at something. Important at any age. I started sea swimming as an adult when I moved to Oman. The camaraderie and sheer pleasure of it made it the highlight of my week. I also started swimming at a Masters swimming club under a brilliant coach to refine my technique and get faster. When I moved to the UAE I found my current swimming tribe and continue to sea swim weekly including through the summer months in some of the hottest seas in the world. I’m also the head coach at a swimming academy here, teaching the squads. My personal goal is to swim the Oceanman 10k in Dubai this year.
Most memorable swim moment
My Masters club was part of the school swimming programme at my kids school. Coach asked if I would swim in the school gala to showcase the club and boost the numbers. I said yes because I wanted my daughter to see me swim and feel motivated to swim herself. Other parents were in the stands, my kids’ teachers were organising and I hadn’t been off a starting block in 20 years. I was dreadfully nervous. That day I made all of the 50m qualifying times for the FINA World Masters Championships. A huge surprise!
Top swimming tip
Enjoy every moment in the water. Oh and prescription goggles if you wear glasses - life-changing!
Interesting fact
I’ve climbed Kilimanjaro 10 times.
Amy Taylor
Swim history before Swim Trek:
I have been swimming regularly from the age of four. As I progressed, I competed at county level. This led me onto volunteering for my club at the ages of eleven to seventeen as a swimming coach. Eventually in 2016 I became a qualified swimming teacher and have since taught a plethora of water activities including swimming, water polo, rookies lifeguarding, snorkelling and kayaking. Additionally, I have completed many open water swims including costal swims in Menorca and Mallorca, Lake Windermere in a time of 5 hours and 38 minutes (in May - freezing!) and the English Channel as part of a relay team and as a soloist. In 2016 at the age of seventeen I advertised on social media, and then recruited and organised a six-man relay team which successfully crossed the Channel in a time of 13 hours and 31 minutes. The following year I successfully completed a solo crossing, in a similar time of 13 hours and 49 minutes. I completed my solo swim in aid of the charity Meningitis Now (Meningitis was a disease I suffered with as a child, resulting in me having to relearn to walk as well as permanent hearing loss in one ear.). With a combination of organising my own fund-raising events as well as the generous donations from family, friends and strangers I raised a total of £4,310.06.
Locations guided on:
Ionian Explorer, Ibiza Hidden Coast, Malta Escape, 10km Mallorca, Channel and Long Distance, The Lizard Peninsular - Cornwall, River Thames
Most memorable swim moment:
It would have to be a tie between the moment a jelly fish got into my swimming costume during my solo English Channel swim or the shear relief of finally arriving on French soil after 13 hours and 49 minutes of continuous swimming.
Top swimming tip:
Swim whenever and wherever you can! (as long as it is safe)
Interesting fact (about yourself):
I attended the Channel and Long-Distance training camp with Swim Trek as a guest for my 18th Birthday, with the intention of training for my relay English Channel swim. During that week was the first ever time I had swam in open water and therefore, I was very apprehensive about the two-hour qualifier. However, I ended up completing a six-hour swim during that week, enabling me to qualify for a solo English Channel swim!
Telle Maukonen
Swim history before SwimTrek
I've been swimming as long as I can remember, but my obsession with open water swimming really started in 2011 when I went on my first SwimTrek trip to the Greek Cyclades as a guest. Skip to 2013 (via two more SwimTrek LDTs, a Windermere swim, a couple of Channel Relays, and a solo English Channel swim) when I decided to devote my life to swimming and qualified as a swimming teacher and SwimTrek Guide. I am from Finland originally but I've been based in the UK since 1998.
Locations guided on
Croatia (Dalmatian Coast & Kornati Islands); Mallorca (Coaching, LDT, & Short Escape); Greece (Cyclades & Milos); Lakes of Lithuania; River Thames; Durdle Door; Lake Bled & the Slovenian Alps; Baja Peninsula, Mexico; The Maldives; The Galapagos Islands
Most memorable swim moment
The final few arm pulls before scrambling onto a dry boulder at Cap Gris Nez.
Top swimming tip
Think up songs in your head that match the rhythm of your swim, and sing them while you swim, it's good fun and it helps to fight the demons that creep out of the cold and the fatigue. I'm pretty sure it's also a jellyfish deterrent, but the evidence on that is merely anecdotal, and really quite patchy, it may just be my singing that scares them away...
Interesting fact
When I'm not in the water, I'm thinking about it. I was also the first Finnish Woman to swim the English Channel.
Alex Balman
Swim history before SwimTrek
I started swimming at my local club at the age of 8, progressing through the squads and achieved over all county/regional age group champion at the age of 14 and became a national open qualifier by 15. I left my club at the age of 17 due to the pressures of college and working life and didn't return to the pool until I'd finished college and settled into a full time job, at this stage I was swimming for pleasure alongside running and rock-climbing. The years rolled on till at 32 I started longing for some direction to training and started looking at open water swimming. I decided to enter the Epic 1 mile swim in Ullswater and managed a respectable 10th in the Male open category, this good result spurred me on and I entered several events over the following years. As some of the events required SASA membership I joined a local club and found myself back in the pool and entering Masters swimming events.
I started coaching swimming in 2013 and now spend a lot of time coaching a local club and progressing my qualifications. I also enjoy sailing with my local yacht club and provide safety boat cover for the Dinghy races with boson responsibilities for the safety RIB.
Most memorable swim moment
Winning a bet with my swimming coach (he said I could never make the qualifying time) and competing in the Scottish Open Swimming championships in 2012.
Top swimming tip
Technique is key when swimming and even more so when training for distance swims. When you start out try to not be so concerned with pushing out the laps and spend some quality time working on your stroke technique. The biggest improvement I see that people can make is getting the catch position just right, your fingers should be the lowest point of your arm followed by your wrist, elbow then shoulder. Aim for this at the start of the catch and keep your elbow high throughout the whole stroke.
Interesting fact
I have a brewery in my garage and grow my own hops.
Dionne Tatlow
Swim history before SwimTrek
Growing up I always gravitated towards water activities and spent the majority of my summers at the lake, and then taking swimming lessons throughout the winter. I began recreationally lane swimming during my undergraduate degree and then started training with a Masters team in Toronto while in Chiropractic College. During my time in Toronto I completely fell in love with swimming and have since immersed myself in all facets of the sport; from treating swimmers, coaching, organizing a local race, and of course, spending endless hours in the water myself!
Most memorable swim moment
Perhaps my first SwimTrek swim! In the Aeolian Islands we swam along the coast of Vulcano and I couldn’t stop smiling. The scenery was gorgeous, the water was unbelievably blue, and the group was a lot of fun. I got out of the water and the only thing I managed to verbalize was “I’m so happy, just so, so happy!” I said it so much that it became a running joke throughout the trip!
Top swimming tip
One-armed and balance-driven drills are very effective. They do a fantastic job of highlighting and correcting asymmetries in strength and mobility while engaging the core; all of which are very important factors for efficiency and injury prevention.
Interesting fact
I live 236km from the nearest pool, but only 30m from a big, beautiful freshwater lake. It makes for a long winter with a lot of driving, but in the summer I can swim home from work!
Edmondo Paciocco
Life Before SwimTrek
I’ve been swimming in the sea every summer since I was a child. I first learned the fundamentals in open water, then refined my technique in the pool, training for two years with a masters swimming group in my hometown of Chieti, Italy. My passion for water and team sports eventually led me to play waterpolo for a Scottish university, where I studied Sport and Exercise Science. During my time at university, I also worked as a waterpolo coach, swim instructor, lifeguard, and Sport Assistant. In 2015, I became an instructor for an Italian open water swimming club, called ASD Swimtrekking. Since then, I’ve guided groups on 9-day swim tours in Ithaca, Greece, alongside another SwimTrek guide, Francesco Cavaliere. While guiding in Ithaca, I swam with the guests every day and fell in love with the rich variety of sea plants and the underwater ruins we encountered along the way. Currently I work as a hiking and mountain bike guide in Abruzzo, my home region, where I help international visitors exploring its stunning landscapes and hidden gems.
Locations guided on:
Tremiti - Sardinia - Sicily - Greece
Most Memorable swim moments:
While swimming near the coast in Ithaca, I didn’t realize at first that a moray eel was hiding in a hole in the rocks just beside me. It was completely still, with only its head sticking out, silently watching me. When I finally noticed it, I froze. We ended up staring at each other for what felt like forever. For a moment, I really thought it might attack me, but nothing happened, and in the end, I was just thrilled by the encounter.
Top Swimming tips:
1) If you are tired, just stop, relax and take some time to explore the surrounding areas near the coast. Never push yourself in the open water unsupervised. We are nothing compared to the power of the dark side of the sea (cit. Darth Vader) 2) If you see a jellyfish it’s ok to scream, but don’t panic!
Interesting fact about you
I’ve been dancing professionally for 3 years. When I was 19 years old I won the gold medal at the Italian National Championships of Caribbean Dance, in Rimini. If I hear the music I can’t stop.
Elodie de Rover
Swim history before SwimTrek
I grew up on the South Coast of New South Wales in Australia and as a result, have loved the open water since before I could walk. I began swimming training when I was seven and competed in Interschool and State Swimming from the ages of eight to sixteen. My main competitive strokes were butterfly and breaststroke and my twin sister’s were freestyle and backstroke! I trained as a Lifeguard in 2015 and patrolled local beaches every season until I left home in 2019. Lifeguarding in Australia means dealing with huge swell, reef sharks, stingrays, hundreds of jellyfish and scorching sun-and that can all be before a morning coffee! From 2016 onwards, I coached and mentored young lifeguards (Nippers) for carnivals and futures on patrol.
Locations guided on
Malta, Sporades and Milos
Most memorable swim moment
I have two: the first one is in Thailand when I was three years old. My mum taught me to swim distance by walking backwards after I’d started. It took me years to figure out this trick! My second is much more recent. May 2019, Brighton: Celebratory swim with old and new guides after graduating from a week of gruelling but incredible Guides Training!
Top swimming tip
Try not to think about the physics of it too much! Technique is a work in progress and you will learn so much by watching others and through experience. If you want to work on technique, pick one aspect and just remind yourself of it every so often. Don’t be too hard on yourself about swimming perfectly all the time otherwise you’ll lose the enjoyment of the swim.
Interesting fact
I can rap.
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