Meet our Guides
Meet the fantastic team of guides who bring your SwimTrek experience to life.
Mike Sapounas
Swim history before swimtrek
I grew up in the east suburbs of Athens/Greece where the closest beach was a five-minute walking distance from my house. As a result, swimming was a daily activity in my life from a very young age. In 2012, I joined a triathlon team and since then I have participated in 4 local triathlon competitions. The last few years, I find great joy and fulfillment in swimming all year round with friends who share the same passion as me!
Most memorable swim moments
Swimming in the winter at the north side of Crete and looking at the magnificent snowy White Mountains in every breath!!
Top swim tip
Keep calm, Breath, Glide, Enjoy!
Interesting fact
Skydiving once wasn’t enough for me – I have to do it again!
Cian Ó Súilleabháin
Swim history before Swim Trek
I have always remembered being involved in ocean and water life. Swimming competitively with Ennis swimming and lifesaving club from a young age I was fortunate enough to make national finals and swim in some international meets. I played water polo with the University of Limerick and Guinness water polo club in national and international events during and after university. I spent 5 years teaching in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where I started a swimming club for adults and coached high school swimming teams there. I competed in many triathlons and adventure races in SE Asia. I have 10 years of beach lifeguard experience in Ireland and in the US on busy surfing beaches.
I love getting into lakes, rivers and oceans whenever I travel and I am home at most swimming out beyond big surf and body surfing back in.
I have a lifetime of spending time on, in and around the water and I love it. I’m currently living in the west of Ireland teaching in a secondary school. I spend my time swimming, surfing and spearfishing in the Atlantic. I am a member of Clare water safety and volunteer as a rapid response lifeguard during the winter months in the locality.
Most memorable swim moments
Last summer I got to swim alone out in the middle of Spanish Point Bay with a 20ft basking shark while wearing my free diving fins and snorkel. It was amazing swimming alongside such a gigantic creature.
I travelled to the bottom of New Zealand so I could swim and be geographically as far away from my hometown as possible on this round planet we live on. I’ve a pipe dream to make it to Campbell Island as it's the furthest land mass from Ireland. I loved following my friend Chris to international open water swimming competitions in China, Hong Kong, and Barcelona. I spent 6 nights aboard a live aboard lost on small islands in the Philippines swimming and free diving among reefs, shipwrecks, and fish…. eating great food, sleeping on tidy islands, hosted by individual families. Seeing the stars every night, with no service on my phone. Magical.
Top swimming tip
It is always worth jumping in for a swim, even just a dip. Stop thinking, just get in.
Interesting fact
The Moken people of many islands on the Andaman Sea have an eye adaptation where they can make their pupils smaller and alter their lens shape to such a degree that makes seeing underwater much more possible. Seals and dolphins have a similar adaptation, It is from spending generations living on the ocean. Moken children can see twice as well as their European counterparts.
Kaja Simonsen-Brickley
Swim history before swim trek:
I have been lucky enough to have grown up always being near open water and would love to keep it that way. I have spent many summers swimming in the fjords of Norway with family alongside winter trips to the Canary Islands. Although I love the summers, I also enjoy cold dips in the sea in the winter as long as there's a warm shower near! I was a competitive triathlete from age 7 upwards competing in the National Series, travelling across the UK for races. This included plenty of early morning swimming sessions and racing in a lot of gross murky lakes. I have competed in open water events such as the river Arun 3.8km swim and more recently competed in the Byron bay classic swim in 2022. I have been an assistant swim coach for junior swimmers from learners through to those competing in national competitions. Providing technical help and patience, as well as ensuring a love and passion for the water.
Most memorable swim moment:
I am yet to swim with dolphins but I have swam in a lake with a crocodile in Australia.
Top swimming tip:
Hold the water, minimal extra movement for efficiency.
Interesting fact:
Aged 8 won a hula hooping competition on the ferry to Denmark.
Arnaud Gonzalez
Most memorable swim moment:
Since my childhood, I Always enjoyed been in the water and doing water sport related activities. I had the chance to be able to move to Bali in 2002 and still live there since this time I have been a scuba diver Instructor since 2003 and a Free diving instructor since 2016 so spending most of my days in the water from the last 20 years. During the last 3 years I pick up on swimming alternating on pool session and ocean swimming because i needed a bit more exercises and because I live five minutes away from a very nice house reef as well it to help me improve my paddling technics for surfing and endurance.
Most memorable swim moment:
One of the best memory I have swimming is when i was a little boy probably around 7 years old my uncle anchor his small boat of the coast of Mallorca and swim me until the shore it was a kind of magical moment and even if the swim was challenging at this time it always left me with a sense of a great accomplishment and boosted my trust in my capacities and my self-esteem.
Top swimming tip:
One of the best swimming tip I got was try to splash as little as possible and to be aware of the hydrodynamic of your movements to avoid wasting energy for nothing.
Interesting fact:
Water is the driving force of all nature.
Ant Jacobs
Swim history before Swim Trek
I grew up in Cape Town. Living by the ocean swimming, water polo and surfing were a big part of my lifestyle and development.
I combine my technique based front crawl and open water coaching with detailed video analysis which I’ve being doing for 8 years.
I am an experienced and passionate open water swimmer.
I also played Provincial Water-Polo in South Africa and enjoy open water swimming, mountain biking and kayaking. Locations guided on
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean in Cape Town with a pod of dolphins, and seeing a Cormorant metres in front of me underwater catch a fish, whilst swimming in Spain
Top swimming tip
Swimming for me is about maintaining head spine alignment (body position) relaxed breathing and good technique.
Interesting fact
Surfed big waves off the South Eastern coast of Madagascar (Ifaty) Scary, but fun.
Rosie Smith
Swim history before SwimTrek
Growing up in Devon, UK I spent a huge amount of time in the water; from squad swimming through school, to surf lifesaving and life guarding full time on the beaches, and racing triathlons too. I migrated to warmer climates after University, living in Western Australia ever since and working in various water related jobs including swim teaching, and kayak tour guiding, amongst many many others!
Most memorable swim moment
A 10km open water swimming race between two remote tropical islands in the company of turtles, dolphins and friendly sharks!
Top swimming tip
I find it really helpful to practice breathing every 3, 5, 7, and 9 strokes in training (only if your happy doing that!) - I find it makes me more comfortable in rough/choppy seas, if I miss taking a breath or two due to the waves. And also enjoy yourself out there! Smile at yourself swimming!
Interesting fact
I once got an award for ‘Rock Running’ the furthest distance underwater, and I’m currently working on perfecting my bubble ring technique!
Maia Brundage
Swim history before SwimTrek
As the daughter of a swim-obsessed father, it's no surprise that I fell in love with swimming! While my earliest career aspirations of mermaid/marine-biologist have yet to come to fruition, I've continued honing my skills for that future! From a young age, I began competing for my local team in Arizona. When I finally got sick of the sun, I moved to Canada to experience rain, snow, and cold water swimming. Whilst in Vancouver, I had the honour of competing for the University of British Columbia and coaching their master's team. Throughout my life I've lifeguarded, taught swimming lessons, and coached folks of all ages! My recent decision to move to Brighton to complete my teacher training was 100% based on Brighton's proximity to the sea.
Most memorable swim moment
In the pool: Competing in a 3-generation relay with my Dad, Grandad, and Aunt at US Master's nationals in 2016! In the sea: Playing tag with a friendly seal during a swim up Indian Arm in Vancouver!
Top swimming tip
To help with your head position, think about the water line being even with where your swim cap sits on your head. It should feel a little like you're swimming downhill.
Interesting fact
I've had pizza for dinner every Thursday for as long as I can remember!
Thomas Oliver
Swim history before SwimTrek
Growing up by the sea I have had an obsession with the water for as long as I can remember. I swam competivtly as a child, since transitioning to a love for open water swimming through my active involvement with Brighton's Surf Lifesaving Club. This lead me to working as a beach lifeguard on Brighton Beach for 5 seasons, where I ran lifeguard training sessions and use these skills to train up the next generation of guards at the local Surf Lifesaving Clubs. I aim to share this knowledge and passion for swimming with other like minded individuals and with a keen eye for photography a dream of mine is to travel the world capturing the beauty below the surface.
Most memorable swim moment
My most memorable swim moment was in Cebu in the Philippines. I got up early to go for a morning sunrise swim before a hectic day of travel and just 100m offshore I was greeted by a pod of whale sharks. My heart was in my chest as the huge dorsal fin sliced through the water towards me, only to be greeted by the gentle giant cursing through the water by my side!
Top swimming tip
My top swim tip is to slow down. When you stop worrying about being the quickest in your lane or the fear of the person behind you tapping your toes your swim becomes much more enjoyable and reminds me of why I got into swimming... the weightless feeling of being in the water, when you stop fighting it you learn to love it.
Paul Fallows
Swim history before SwimTrek
I have been swimming from a very young age, I remember too well the early morning swim sessions before school and then the hours training after school. I enjoyed swimming competitively and spent most weekends at some kind of swim meet. In my later life I have discovered open water swimming and all that it offers. I have been so lucky with the places I have swum, the warm waters of Australia, the marine life packed waters of the Maldives, swimming in Oman with Dolpins and stingray! And closer to home swimming the length of Windermere when the lake was like a millpond with the sun on my back.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming the length of lake Windermere. On the morning of the swim there was a mist on the lake and we couldn't see very far ahead, as I swam up the Eastern side of the lake I could see the sun creeping over the hilltop and burn off the mist. Once the mist cleared we had the most incredible conditions on Windermere, the water was like glass, so smooth and beautiful.
Top swimming tip
Relax! Stiff bodies don't swim well especially if you are swimming long distance in open water. Relax the neck and shoulders, relax the legs, gentle kicks from the hip and enjoy!
Interesting fact
I used to own a pub!
Andrea Harvey
Swim history before SwimTrek
I was lucky enough to grow up in Cornwall on the beach. I learned to swim and joined my local surf life saving club as soon as physically possible. When I went to university in Dublin I joined the UCD Swim team to focus on pool swimming and fitness. Since then I’ve entered Biathlons and SwimRun and enjoyed my own pool training alongside sea swimming at every opportunity.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming into a sun fish, a very strange experience.
Top swimming tip
Optimizing the glide as much as possible when doing under-water swim testing.
Interesting fact
Decaffeinated coffee isn’t ‘no-caff’, it’s just ‘less caff’.
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