Meet our Guides
Shelli Whitfeld
Swim history before SwimTrek
At five years old I joined my first swim club in Satellite Beach Florida, the Cape Coast Swim Team. If I wasn't in the ocean, I was in the pool. For the next fifteen years, I was a member of eight different swim teams crossing the United States from Florida to California back to the steps of the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Swimming highlights include at the age of 12 I broke the minute mark in the 100m freestyle, and stormed on from there to qualify for the US Olympic Trials in the 50 and 100m freestyle. I never made it to Seoul or Barcelona but I have swum with many exceptional people who did. My professional, competitive swimming career ended when I graduated from High School and decided to focus on education. In the past five years I started competitively swimming again, training around the world with teams such as 'the Bold and the Beautiful' in Australia and competing in races such as the Eton Swim at Dorney Lake, the Great London Swim in the Royal Victoria Docks, and the local Swim Around the Pier in Brighton. I recently spent 6 months travelling in South America and have been through, over and under waterfalls as well in glaciers. I am currently living in Paris researching the amazing pools and waters here.
Most memorable swim moment
Keeping swimming pace at the side of a whale shark for 15-20 minutes (or a good mile) off the coast of the Isla del Espiritu Santo in Baja, California.
Top swimming tip
Always pace oneself for the distance (and make sure that you can see it with excellent goggles). The challenge of a natural sprinter like me is that we like to be bold and go for it at the beginning. Keep the adrenaline and excitement in check. It makes for a better swim result and overall experience.
Interesting fact
I am a fully trained and qualified Body Therapist specialising in Relaxation Massage.
Sian Williams
Swim history before SwimTrek
I re-found my love of swimming and open water when I did my first triathlon some 12 years ago. 6 Ironman distance events later, looking to improve my own technique and help others, I qualified as a swim coach and teacher.
Locations guided on
Montenegro, Croatia Dalmatian coast, Croatia short swims, St Kitts and Nevis, Lithuania, Burgh island, River Thames, Greek Activity week, Greek Cyclades, Greek Sporades, Crete escape, 10k training camp, LDT, Tenerife, Milos Explorer, Crete Discovery and Slovenia
Most memorable swim moment
This should probably be landing on the rocks in France after my Channel crossing! Other special moments include enjoying the peace, tranquility and beauty of nature in the River Dee. Spending lots of quality father-daughter time as my father kayaked for me on many of the BLDSA swims. Crying in to my goggles during the Zurich crossing when I was convinced I wasn't making any progress and of course night diving with Mantas in Hawaii
Top tips would be
Set yourself a goal to keep you motivated to train
Stay safe! I love my red float for open water swimming
Record your progress
Interesting fact about you
My first language is Welsh. I love cooking and have a passion for locally sourced ingredients. In the winter months i work as a ski chalet manager for Reach4theAlps based in both Morzine and Les Gets.
Simon Emm
Swim history before SwimTrek
Back in the day I was a double British National 5k Open Water Champion and represented Great Britain and England in open water events. In my quest to reach the top, I swam in many locations all over Britain, competing in races from 5k to 25k and also briefly visited France as a member of an English Channel Relay team. I had a break from competitive swimming while working in London and bringing up a young family but I never lost the love for open water swimming. I often travelled for work and used to hunt out locations to swim to get my daily fix. I spent many hours in Lake Zurich with the Alps as my backdrop. These days I swim outdoors all year round be it in a pool or in open water. I now compete as a Master, anything from 50m to 10k and hold numerous county and regional records, national titles and have medalled at the Europeans and World Masters in 200m Butterfly. In 2018 I turned my back on my corporate life with the aim of simply spending more time in, on and around water. I have achieved this aim and now take great pleasure in teaching children and adults to swim. I also coach and provide water safety at events. I am passionate about swimming and I love my new life; in, on and around water all over the world.
Locations guided on
Tremiti Islands
Most memorable swim moment
One very special moment was crossing the finish line first at the National trials for the 5k and, as a result, being selected to represent Great Britain at the European Championships in Vienna. These days, more memorable moments include spending time with a great group of friends in the River Deben in Suffolk; the cold, the warmth, the laughter, the sheer joy of open water.
Top swimming tip
Listen to your body, relax and enjoy!
Interesting fact
I used to be suited and booted, working in the 'Gherkin'.
Simon Murie
A solo English Channel Swimmer and swim coach, he still guides on some of the tours himself. Continuing his swimming adventures around the world, in 2009 Simon swam across the River Volta in Ghana and broke the Australian record for swimming across the Gibraltar Straits; in 2010 he swam to the Isle of Wight. He spends a lot of his time now scouting for new SwimTrek locations.
Simon founded SwimTrek, after spending many years organising open water swimming trips for himself and others. Originally from Australia, Simon lives in the UK and prior to SwimTrek, was working overseas in the mining industry.
He was introduced to open water early by both his mother and father. His most memorable open water swim was the Hellespont in Turkey, which he first completed in 2000.
Susan Reynolds
Swim history before SwimTrek
I took up open water swimming when I was 13 years old in the lochs in Scotland and represented my country as a junior. After having had a break from swimming for a few years I began working as a beach lifeguard, renewing my love of the water and gaining a new found love of the sea and other water sports including surfing, stand up paddle boarding and surf life saving. I am also a National Tutor for Surf Lifesaving GB
Locations guided on
Gozo, Malta Dalmation Coast Croatia Lake Bled, Slovenia Greek Cyclades Hellespont Burgh Island River Thames Sardinian Emerald Coast Mallorca training camps Sicilly
Most memorable swim moment
Dawn swim from Bay Bridge to Aquatic park in San Fransisco. We started the swim just before light broke and watched San Fransisco wake up from the water. Thank you to the ladies at SERC's for taking me on this journey.
Top swimming tip
Any time spent in the water is good time, so don't get disheartened if your swim isn't going to well. Approach it from a different angle and instead of forcing yourself to do the 4 km you were planning change it to a time goal or focus on your technique.
When open water swimming always always always know what the water is doing before you get in!! This will help you to plan your route and help to keep you safe.
Interesting fact
I have delivered calves and lambs, hatched chickens and ducks and been in a stand off with a bull!
Tasmin Powell
Swim history before SwimTrek
I started swimming in the sea with the Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club (JLDSC) at 8 years old, gradually spending more and more time in the sea around the stunning beaches of Jersey. My first taste of open water swimming came at 12 swimming around Jersey in a relay, then moving onto a solo swim 3 years later. In between I also swam Lake Coniston and the English Channel in another relay.
The next couple of years was spent crewing for a number of English Channel swims, including a successful double Channel, round Jersey and Jersey to France swims, spending a lot of time in a kayak. Then in 2015 I also swam from Jersey to France, with what appeared to be half the worlds population of jellyfish standing between me and the French beach.
Most memorable swim moment
My most memorable moment has to be during a particularly tough hour of my Jersey to France swim one of my crew fell spectacularly into the water while handing me a new set of goggles.
Top swimming tip
My top tip, having taught children to swim, take it back to basics, if you’re not blowing bubbles you’re not breathing right.
Interesting fact
I have a Fine Art Degree and love to knit and crochet.
Tellervo 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.
Tim Whitefield
Swim history before SwimTrek
My deep connection with the ocean began as a young kid growing up on the beaches of Durban, South Africa. Endless summers spent surfing or being hurled about in the shore break has left an indelible mark on me and as a result I have spent most of my life either in the sea or on it. I work as a RNLI beach lifeguard as well as operating a water sports adventure company, based in Cornwall.
Locations guided on
Cornwall, Outer Hebrides and Greece Cyclades.
Most memorable swim moment
There’s a lighthouse in Cornwall which has a cave that runs through it. Only accessible at spring low tides, it’s home to packs of seals, almost pitch black with a very small underwater hole as an exit. To return to the shore you have to beat the racing tide or be swept down the coast…epic!!!
Top swimming tip
Relax and enjoy the ride.
Interesting fact about you
If I could surf everyday, I would.
Vicki Linton-Crook
Swim history before SwimTrek
Competed from a young age at national level and progressed into Masters in the last 8 years. I have been consistently ranked in the top three in freestyle and backstroke events over the last few years. Now a GB records holder in 800m & 1500m freestyle, World record holder in 4x100m ladies freestyle relay, GB record holder in 4 x 50m ladies freestyle relay. 3 times European record holder in 4 x 200 ladies relay. Once I tried open water swimming, I got hooked wining the 1500m Windsor River swim and Adur River swim, but there is nothing better than a chilled swim with friends. In 2015 I swam the Gibraltar Straits clocking the 3rd fastest female. It was an amazing swim. In my spare time I love to coach, my aim is to help each individual achieve what they want to achieve with their swimming.
Locations guided on
Croatia, Greece, Malta, Thames, Jurassic Coast, Burgh Island, Loch Ness!!
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming in Lake Garda. Every time I breathed to one side I could see the view down the lake and the amazing mountainous setting, it was magical. A special time as I was swimming with all my friends and my husband was in the safety kayak.
Top swimming tip
We’re all different, find the things you need to work on to make the most of your swimming. Mine are to breathe out and hips up!
Interesting fact
When not swimming or swim coaching I might be found on a mountain bike.
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