Meet our Guides
Meet the fantastic team of guides who bring your SwimTrek experience to life.
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.
Nicole Araujo
Swim history before SwimTrek
I am told I could swim before I could walk, and spent a lot of my childhood in the water. I joined my local swimming club and regularly competed in county galas and club championships. When I was in my teens I joined the lifesaving team and have competed at the RLSS National Lifesaving Championships representing South East England. I spent 4 years lifeguarding at my local pool and qualified as a swimming teacher in 2006. I have taught all ages and abilities, and specialised in teaching nervous swimmers (often adults that had sadly had a traumatic experience in the water), swimmers with disabilities or additional needs. I have also taught diving and water polo as well as setting up a Rookie lifesaving club for children. I have been lucky enough to have travelled a lot and swum in some amazing locations around the world, however I never considered swimming in open water in the UK until covid hit and all the pools closed. I couldn’t believe what I had been missing out on! I immediately joined a sea swimming group and became a level 2 Open Water Swimming Coach.
Most memorable swim moment
A scary close encounter with 2 highly venomous sea snakes off the coast of Ishigaki Island, Japan. I was in shallow water when they slithered past underneath me. Needless to say I swam like the clappers after that!
Top swimming tip
Relax, breathe and enjoy the moment
Interesting fact about you
I have worked as a cowgirl, a painter & decorator, police officer and at one time, in a circus!
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.
Aoife Madigan
Swim History
I've been in swimming club since I was 8 and swam competitively till Covid. Still part of university swimming team but more just for fun. Up till last October I was on the Irish Surf lifesaving team and competed at the 2022 World championships and got to a final. I now teach swimming lessons to kids and a few adult lessons. I also have life guarded on the beaches of Clare the past few Summers, in west of Ireland.
Most Memorable Swimming Moment
Racing in Biarritz and getting absolutely pummelled by waves- came dead last but it was great to experience the power of the sea and come out unscathed. (Some didn’t)
Top Swimming Tip
Keep your head still, if you move it, your body wiggles side to side
Interesting fact about you
My ears are too small to fit earphones and I’ve no bone in my nose.
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!
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