Meet our Guides
Meet the fantastic team of guides who bring your SwimTrek experience to life.
Daniel Coyle
Swim history before SwimTrek
I’ve been swimming in outdoor or open water throughout my life. I grew up in North London so had regular access to council run outdoor cold water lidos and wild swimming meccas like Hampstead ponds. My parents are from Ireland so I swam regularly on holidays in the sea in Donegal. I rediscovered my love and talent for wild swimming more recently in the last few years, living in Scotland. I am a cold water addict and enjoy challenging myself on swims near my home on the west coast of Scotland and the Hebrides. I'm a qualified Open Water Swim Coach with an additional qualification in Open Water Rescue and Lifesaving across a variety of contexts from freshwater lochs to the open sea. When not on board with SwimTrek, I coach and guide open water swimmers across Argyll in "the adventure coast" of Scotland.
Most memorable swim moment
I’ve been on so many poignant swims that have been life affirming moments. Too many to mention so I’ll go with two swims I’ve been on recently near my home in Argyll. I went for a swim in December 2021 off the Knapdale coast to a deserted island with a friend. It was a misty day but as I got my head down to swim I marvelled at the stunning underwater realm of undulating reefs beneath me which was crystal clear and full of life. I observed as the marine life carried on, regardless of my presence and in that moment I felt like I belonged. A living creature of the sea. I was on equal terms with the natural world around me. The second swim was just off the coast of Gigha recently. I was swimming in turquoise water and a pristine beach. It was November but a sunny day, for a moment you’d think it was the height of summer. I was captivated by the colours of this majestic environment even at the start of winter!
Top swimming tip
View the "swim" as starting before you get into the water - make sure you are well nourished, hydrated, well rested and calm. Taking this approach will enable you to be at your best in the wild water off the west coast of Scotland.
Interesting fact
I'm a volunteer Marine Mammal Medic for the British Divers Marine Life Rescue. I'm on call for the Argyll and Lochaber area and recently rescued and successfully re-floated a stranded porpoise off the west coast of Argyll. It involved swimming with the porpoise out of the harbour!
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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