Dan

You can be sure that his background in safety and rescue training, means that you can be sure you will be well looked after in the water.

Dan started swimming in open water long before it was called “wild swimming”. He is the first NOWCA qualified coach in the country (after the two guys that founded NOWCA). Over ten years of regularly dipping, frequently racing, and often playing in open water has given Dan a deep understanding and a wealth of experience of open water. Dan has worked as a First Aid Instructor, Pool & Beach Lifeguard Trainer Assessor, Powerboat and Safety Boat Instructor, JetSki Rescue Instructor and a Swiftwater Rescue Technician Instructor for various organisations for over 8 years. He currently works on a consultancy basis with several rescue organisations. He is a contributing author to numerous magazines and technical manuals - including the forthcoming second edition of the Handbook on Drowning.

In 2011, he was invited along with Tom Mecrow to present (Presentation)(Abstract)at the World Conference on Drowning Prevention, in Danang, Vietnam.

Dan and Tom are the passionate co-founders of a pioneering water safety and drowning prevention project that runs in Sudan. Nile Swimmers was set up in 2007 after two lifeguard instructors from the UK were asked by the British Council to run a project in Sudan. Since then the project has grown substantially, and is one of the most widly respected drowning prevention projects running in Africa.

Dan enjoys adventure racing, particularly the long distance events. After successfully completing the Terrex Coast to Coast in 2011, he has now managed to find three friends to enter the 5 day (500km) Terrex Sting in Stirling.

To relax he freedives occassionally. Yes, for some reason he finds holding his breath underwater to be relaxing, believe it or not. The answer to your next question, is “nearly four minutes, last time I tried a max attempt”. He also took most of the photographs that appear on this site, having swam (and often provided rescue cover) in every single bit of water that you see - including, Lake Biakal in Russia, White Lake in Mongolia, the River Nile, St Gilles Croix de Vie in France, the English Channel, the River Dee, Bala Lake, and many many more.