Hello Irene, Hope you remember me I'm Ken Jenkins and I came on a two day course with you in late February 2008. (I'm the bloke that writes pub quizzes & promotes stand up comedy evenings if it helps to jar your memory)  

You remember that I mentioned during the course that I really wanted to try scuba diving, but first had to pass a swimming test in order to gain my PADI open water qualification.

You gave me so much confidence during my course that I spent lots of time at my local pool (usually daily) building up my technique & endurance to be able to swim an average of 50 lengths at each session (1000 metres) I found it not only a great way to improve my fitness levels, but thoroughly enjoyable & relaxing as well, its changed my life and my only regret is not learning earlier. ( I'm 57 years old)   Last week I went to Dahab in Egypt, on the east coast of the Sinai peninsular to take my PADI open water scuba diving course. I' have to be honest here. although I'd regularly swum much more than the required 200 metres needed for the swimming test, I'd never swum in the sea before but I needn't have worried, once I was in the water, I completed the swim with ease followed by 10 minutes of treading water to pass that particular part of the test.   I then had five days of tuition in scuba diving before I passed all my practical & theory exams to gain my certificate, I can now dive to a depth of 18 metres in open water anywhere in the world. I also completed 2 of the dives which count towards my next qualification as an advanced scuba diver before the holiday was over.

I've returned home absolutely exhausted but really proud of myself after my achievement, I was the oldest person on the course and many other students and qualified divers I met were amazed that in the space of just four months I had, from scratch, learned firstly how to swim then become a qualified diver. It requires you to have a great deal of confidence in the water and many accomplished swimmers with great experience just can't handle the feeling of breathing underwater, but I did it and its just the start of my new adventure. I intend to buy my own equipment and start exploring dive sites all over the world.  

Thanks again for all of your help, it was a really big step for me to admit I couldn't swim but my lessons with you have really paid off  

cheers   Ken Jenkins

 

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Meet Sophie, Swim-Easy's new instructor

Hi, my name is Sophie. I’m married with two daughters. I have been a swimmer pretty much my whole life. I say ‘swim’ but it was more like getting through the water without getting my hair wet! Although I loved being in the water and liked the idea of getting fit, any routine of going swimming regularly soon fell be the way side. After no-more than a few lengths my neck would hurt and I couldn’t face doing any more. I’ve never been afraid of water but can’t actually remember being taught to swim ‘properly’. This is where Irene comes in. She showed me the same techniques she used in her 1-1 lessons in her own private pool that she uses with her non-swimmers. Even as a fairly confident swimmer I was amazed at how the techniques she taught really did make sense. More importantly - they really worked. To say I was hooked is an understatement. ( I showed my husband some of the first exercises and, to his surprise, instead of sinking like a brick he was able to float). I sat in on as many lessons as I could and perfected the techniques. I now confidently swim approximately 50 lengths each time I go to the local public pool and my neck is absolutely fine! ( My hair, however, does get wet!) I did my teaching qualification in May 2007 and have never looked back. I love teaching in the private pool, no distractions, no dive-bombing kids, no embarrassment of others watching. The lessons are tailored fit each persons individual needs which is impossible in a group situation. As we don’t use any artificial flotation aids you learn to use your natural buoyancy and learn to feel in control right from the beginning.