Meet our Guides
Meet the fantastic team of guides who bring your SwimTrek experience to life.
Ciara Murray
Swim history before SwimTrek
I swam competitively as a child, peaking at the ripe age of 12. I then took a bit of a break from swimming in my mid-teens, but got back into it when I started working as a beach lifeguard. I lifeguarded for 4 summers in Galway, and trained with the Galway Surf-lifesaving team. I also spent several years teaching swimming and lifesaving, and have recently been swimming with my college swim team. During the pandemic, I really fell in love with the sea and went for a swim or a dip almost every day. I organised a student sea swimming group during this time and we joined the wonderful community of sea swimmers at Blackrock Diving Tower. As a medical student, I tend to be very busy, but I always try to find the time for a swim in the sea. It’s a fantastic way to clear your head and improve your mood.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming across Galway Bay with a group of my closest friends.
Top Swimming Tips
Get a group of friends together, it’s so much easier to get out if you have someone else holding you accountable. Also, wear your togs under your clothes so you can’t back out when you get there!
Interesting Fact
I once dislocated my knee while surfing, popped it back in, then continued surfing.
Jason Brandt
Swim history before Swim Trek:
I became a strong open water swimmer about 10 years ago. After seeing my children become regular fish in the water, I dedicated myself to taking lessons and coaching with masters swimming to learn to swim efficiently. Now swimming is one of my favourite sports! It also opened the door to triathlon where I’ve now completed over 10 full distance Ironman Triathlons. I’ve also become an advanced open water scuba diver. And finally, I discovered SwimTrek and the joy of combining swimming and vacation with two trips as a guest to the Galapagos and Baja Mexico.
Most memorable swim moment:
Completing the Alcatraz Swim in San Francisco, CA! Alcatraz prison was said to be inescapable due to the cold water, strong tides and shark infested waters that would surely prevent an escapee from making it to mainland. While that may be lore, it was very cool to swim with good friends and be cheered on at the finish by my wife.
Top swimming tip:
Be comfortable bilateral breathing. Open water swimming presents its own challenges with waves, sunlight and pack swimming. Being comfortable breathing on both sides makes for a more enjoyable experience. Oh and treat yourself to new goggles before an event or trip.
Interesting fact (about yourself):
My son and I love mountain climbing and just recently summited Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Rebecca Lodge
Swim history before SwimTrek
My mum was a swimming teacher and taught me to swim from a young age, I was never a competitive swimmer growing up but always attended her swimming club, learning the four strokes, water safety, achieving distance badges etc. Around the age of 15 I followed her into open water swimming with our local triathlon club (after much disgust and resistance at the prospect) and instantly loved it. Something about swimming outside in fresh, clear water was just magic. Eventually I got sucked into doing full triathlons and have competed for a number of years including in a few age group world championships. After quitting a PhD in 2019, I am now a swim coach and teacher, and live in Snowdonia where I have both the sea and an abundance of mountain lakes to explore to my heart’s content! Me and my mum still make time to do an open water event together every year.
Most memorable swim moment
Swimming with sea lions in Argentina! They were so incredibly inquisitive and playful, just wanting to chase and be chased. You’d come up to breathe, find yourself nose to nose with one, and then chase it around in circles under the water.
Top swimming tip
When in the open water, take the time every so often to pause, take in your surroundings, and enjoy your situation.
Interesting fact
My other favourite pastimes are climbing and mountaineering!
Sarian Harcombe
Swim history before SwimTrek
I had an incredibly fortunate childhood initially swimming in the lakes of Wales, and then in the Caribbean and Indian oceans. When I had to start work I initially got into hotel and catering, but I quickly realised that my geeky ability with computers was in demand. Since then I’ve spent a chunk of my life working for large organisations doing IT. The one constant is wherever I’ve worked I’ve taken every opportunity to swim in any available body of water. Many moons ago I dabbled in triathlons up to Olympic distance. I now prefer to run and swim without the cycling (I fell off too many times), and prefer slightly longer swim distances. I’m more at home in open water as I tend to get too hot in most pools!
Most memorable swim moment
This is such a difficult question as there are so many and it’s difficult to compare. One particularly memorable event happened when my husband and I were camping at Porpoise Bay in New Zealand between Christmas and New Year. We decided to go for a very early morning swim and ended up swimming with a playful group of Hector’s dolphins. They were surfing in the waves with us and it was completely awesome. And then we got chased out of the water and quite a way up the beach by an aggressive sea lion. Possibly one of my fastest swims, ever.
Top swimming tip
I like to find something to enjoy about every swim e.g. sometimes it’s a swim where everything comes together and you’re whooshing along and everything’s speedy; sometimes it’s about enjoying the moment with friends; sometimes it’s about experiencing nature. If I’m swimming in open water I’m always very aware of the environment and how I feel - and adjust my swim accordingly.
Interesting fact
I also love horse-riding and fell-running
Alessandra Masala
Swim history before SwimTrek
In my life I have always cultivated my two greatest passions with great enthusiasm: one for swimming and one for Art. I have been swimming since I was 4 and have certainly spent more time in the water than out. I was a professional swimmer at national level, with experiences in international competitions. I am a swimming teacher and lifeguard since 2005 and after finishing my university career with a Master Degree in History of Contemporary Art, I spent my days working in museums and teaching in the swimming pool. Since 2007 I work as an Open Water swimming guide and I organize swimming trips for children, adolescents and adults. My goal is to transmit, through knowledge, respect for our greatest friend, the sea. I am very sensible in humanitarian and environmental issues and I am part of the Legambiente Onlus, the most important Italian non-profit environmental association. I am a passionate lover of the sea and everything that concerns it. Since 2018 I have been organizing and promoting events, training courses and workshops on Yoga, Freediving, Swimming Technique, Marine Biology, First Aid, Safety at Sea and Environmentalism related to Open Water Swimming. I love to practice many sports and in recent years I have been dedicating myself to improving my freediving skills.
Most memorable swim moment
It's still printed in my eyes. It was on the Asinara Island, North-West Sardinia. I was leading a group of children on a swimming exploration along the coast. A giant ray comes to meet us. I try to show it to the whole group but many of them failed. I invite everyone to put their heads under the water again… maybe the ray will come back. At that moment a line of six giant rays are swimming towards us and, to close the group, the smallest and cutest of them tried to swim as fast as possible to keep up with the group. The guys and I didn't speak for a long time, incredulous for the wonderful scenery we've witnessed.
Top swimming tip
Breathe deeply, clear your mind and enjoy the sensations your body has in the water. Remember we are marine animals. By listening to our body we can rediscover the deep connection we have with water - our primordial environment.
Interesting fact
I live according to my instincts and I follow with all my strength what I love most. I like to observe the sea and learn from it.
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!
Chris Janes
Swim history before Swim Trek
I cannot remember ever not being able to swim, and growing up near the sea in Cornwall I’ve swam more in the sea than a pool. It’s always been a place to go, rather than a sport and I’m far more comfortable in water than on land. Now working as a beach lifeguard I’m lucky that I can spend my working days in the water too.
Most memorable swim moment
One would be off Syracuse’s Swimming Platforms on Ortigia Island in Sicily.
Top swimming tip
It doesn’t always have to be a training session or a race.
Interesting fact
My other passion is art.
Isobel Roche
Swim history before SwimTrek
Ive been a competitive swimmer from a young age! I compete in both the pool, open water and surf lifesaving. My interest in open water swimming comes from working as a beach lifeguard the last few summers. It was great especially during lockdown where I really took advantage of the sea! I teach all different levels of swimmers, from water babies, beginners, adults and club swimmers.
Most memorable swim moment
I was Chairperson of my university swimming club for 3 years. At Intervarsites in my last year of college, my team won the Female Overall Trophy for the first time ever! I was also so proud to win the 50m freestyle myself.
Top swimming tip
‘Its not how fast you swim, its how you swim fast’. A quote my coach always used to say, good technique is how you get faster.
Interesting fact
Studied Marine Science in University
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.
Emily Clarke
Swim history before SwimTrek
I have been swimming competitively since I was about 10. In 2019 I was thrilled to became part of team GB as an open water marathon swimmer and I went to the European championships in 2022 to swim the 10K. As a pool swimmer, my main event was 1500m and 800m freestyle and I have won gold medals in these and a couple of other events at the British national championships. I have also enjoyed doing some part time work as an assistant coach at my club before I came to uni. I have lived by the sea my entire life and have spent most summers at the beach or on a boat, water-skiing and paddleboarding.
Most memorable swim moment
There are so many amazing experiences to choose from but I think coming out of my first international open water race takes the top spot. I had only just become a part of the British team and had never swam 10K before in a race. I was so proud to represent my country and that I had managed to swim so well with not much experience in this event. I will never forget the sprint to the finish board, fighting against two other girls, and realising I had placed so high, it was amazing.
Top swimming tip
My top tip for swimming is to relax, lengthen your stroke and slow things down. Easier said then done I know, but the more tense you are the less your stroke will flow and you end up wasting more energy. I find I actually swim quicker when my stroke rate slows down. Also, add a bit of rotation to your freestyle, it keeps the body high and gives you a longer reach.
Interesting fact
I have no sense of smell, I lost it when I was about 14 and haven’t smelled anything since.
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