Guiding swimmers in the water, around the world or locally in the UK sounds like a dream job, but what does it take to be a swim guide and is it as great as it looks? Ella Foote shares what it is like when swimwear is your workwear

Swimming in the Azores (left)

If you have ever been on a swimming holiday hosted by expert guides and swim coaches or paid for a swimming experience with one of the many experts we have across the UK and throughout the world, you might have wondered how you could do a similar role or romanticised how a life as a swim guide might look. But behind every Insta-perfect image of a group of swimmers in an interesting location there is a whole lot of work that is unseen by many.

Merging work and pleasure can be both a joy and challenge. If your hobby becomes your job, do you still get the enjoyment and escape from the activity when you are not working? We all know the age-old saying about doing what you love and not working a day… but when money is being exchanged, it doesn’t matter what you do, you have a duty to deliver a product or service. Swim guiding is all of these things – full of joy, community, adventure and growth, but it also comes with a huge responsibility. Yes, pursuing your passion can make work feel less of a burden, but even work you love can still involve challenges, effort, stress and burnout – especially if not balanced with other aspects of life.

WHAT IS A SWIM GUIDE?

Dan Coyle aka - Dan The Merman - coach and wild swim guide, Scotland

In simple terms, a swim guide is a person who leads or supports others in open water swimming experiences like oceans, lakes, or rivers with a focus on safety, navigation, and enjoyment. As outdoor swimming has become increasingly popular, there have been huge developments in products, services and expertise on offer. Like with other popular pursuits, as an industry grows, so do the people in it. There is a blend of psychological, social and economic forces in action when something becomes fashionable and people don’t just rush to participate, but they also are quick to teach or guide others.