Heidi has been in Dubai since 2005, originally from Australia – a big island surrounded by water! For Heidi, swimming is her happy place. She loves being on the water, in the water or around the water.

Throughout school she swam – both competitively and for fun.  Heidi was encouraged by her swim coach to complete her lifesaving levels and qualified as a pool lifeguard in high school.  This gives her added confidence around water safety and something else she can introduce to clients for some fun, like teaching rescue techniques and recovery strokes.

As a mum of twin girls, and from a corporate working background, Heidi brings a different personal perspective to her coaching. Heidi has gone on to complete her Aquatic Tutor status teaching new swim coaches in the aquatics industry.

Heidi’s specialty is the learn-to-swim kids and clients old or young and those with special needs (her daughter has Cerebral Palsy).

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2025  STA Aquatic Tutor
• 2024  STA Level 2 Award in Aquatic Teaching – Baby and Preschool Swimming
• 2024  STA Level 2 Award in Aquatic Teaching – Disability Swimming
• 2024  STA Level 2 Certificate in Swimming Teaching
• 2024  STA Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults
• 2024  STA Level 2 Safety Award for Teachers
• 2023  Child Safeguarding in an Aquatic Environment
• 2022  STA: An Introduction to Cerebral Palsy and Swimming
• 2022  PUGGLES: Learn to Swim Course for deaf or hard of hearing children
• 2019  WORLD WIDE SWIM SCHOOL: Water Safety for Over 4’s
• 2018  AUSTSWIM: Teacher of Aquatics Access and Inclusion (Disability)
• 2014  AUSTSWIM: Teacher of Infant and Preschool Aquatics (INF)
• 2013  AUSTSWIM: Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety (TSW)

INTERESTS:

• Heidi loves everything health, wellness and nutrition. She is currently studying Nutrition and Health Coaching.
• Cooking & gardening – Heidi used to grow an array of fruit and vegetables in her garden and run kids food exploration workshops.
• Being near the water – ocean, lakes, rivers or ponds.
• Travelling

Thushara has a great passion for swimming and ensures every child or adult that he coaches is happy, confident and loves to swim.  He has extensive knowledge of modern swimming techniques and works patiently with the swimmer to ensure they understand and perform these for their own speed and inclusion in competitions.

Prior to coming to the UAE, Thushara was the Sri Lankan National Paralympic Swimming Coach and has worked with children and adults – from teaching them to swim through to training and managing high performance swimming squads.

Thushara is a middle distance open water swimmer and surfing instructor, has a great passion for swimming and ensures every child gets a love for the sport. He has extensive knowledge of modern swimming techniques and works patiently with children. Thushara volunteers with Touch Dubai providing swim lessons for People of Determination.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2018  ASCA Level 4
• 2012  ASCA Level 3
• 2015  White Water Rescue
• 2015  Shiftwater Rescue Technician 1
• 2022  STA International Lifesaving Course for Swimming Teachers
• 2023  Child Safeguarding in an Aquatic Environment
• 2023  Swim Angels Level 1 Adaptive Swim Whispers
• 2023  Pool Lifeguard
• 2024  STA Level 2 Award in Teaching Swimming
• 2024  STA Level 2 Certificate in Swimming Teaching
• 2024  International Diploma in Special Needs Education (Level 4)
• 2025  RLSS Lifeguard Tutor Trainer

INTERESTS:

• Surfing and going to the beach
• Gemstones from Sri Lanka

Matt has a love for swimming that shines through in his coaching. He is currently studying Physiology and Psychology which brings a performance mindset to his coaching and helps get the best from his swimmers. As a competitive swimmer and water polo player his fitness and swimming make him one to be watched!

As a competitive swimmer from South Africa, Matt has LIVED swimming. He has been swimming competitively since 9 years old, he is Still Water Lifeguarding certified and also played Water Polo at a regional level. As a coach, he is critical on technique, which makes the difference for swimmers at a higher level. Matt is our Program Leader for Squads developing our swimmers for competition and bringing his passion for swimming to the Urban Swim Squad team.

Matt is currently studying Physiology and Psychology. He is interested in human performance – intertwining the physical and mental aspects of the body. This gives Matt a different mindset with his coaching looking for areas to improve his swimmers performance in and out of the water.

Matt’s speciality is squad coaching, but you will also see him in the pool with some Learn to Swim Classes. Or having fun with the kids and the Water Polo goals!

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2021 – ASCA Level 1
• 2021 – First Aid Level 1
• 2022 – STA International Lifesaving Course for Swimming Teachers
• 2023 – Child Safeguarding in an Aquatic Environment
• 2025 – STA Level 2 Award in Teaching Swimming

INTERESTS:

• Hiking
• Gardening
• Diving
• Cooking

Born in Ohio, United States, Diana grew up with a pool in her backyard. So dedicated to her sport, she would practice at home what she learnt at her swimming lessons and spend hours in the pool.

From 12 years old, Diana was volunteering at the local school and community pool teaching swim lessons to young children and adults. Her love of coaching and swimming extended through high school and University  where she was on the swim team whilst completing a Bachelor of Arts.

Diana competed in mid-distance frontcrawl and butterfly events, and still says her 100m Frontcrawl is her best event. You can catch her in the fast lane three times a week at our Masters sessions.

Adults Learn to Swim is Diana’s passion and speciality. Adults need to know the why behind swimming and Diana is a super patient coach perfect for Adults.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2011 Bachelor of Arts
• 2020 ASCA Level 1
• 2020 ASCA Level 2
• 2020 ASCA Level 3
• 2020 ASCA Level 4
• 2022 STA International Lifesaving Course for Swimming Teachers
• 2023 Child Safeguarding in an Aquatic Environment
• 2023 PADI Basic Mermaid Course
• 2025 STA Level 2 Award in Teaching Swimming

INTERESTS:

• Diving and snorkelling
• Hiking in the mountains of the UAE
• Art and drawing
• Watching endless swimming videos on YouTube

Tanya has always been a water baby. She swam competitively between the ages of 9 and 18 years old, and represented the South African swimming team for many years, on both a Junior and Senior level.

When she stopped swimming professionally she decided to join her love for the sport with her love for children and went into teaching and coaching.

For Tanya there is no greater satisfaction than passing on her love for swimming, and helping children and adults fall in love with the water. She’d like to share her passion with as many people as possible, and to help them grow as much as they can as a swimmer.

With over 14 years of experience in teaching/coaching swimming, Tanya specializes in learn-to-swim and stroke development, correction and technique. As a program leader now for our foundation stage, Tanya brings a wealth of experience to guide junior swim teachers on her amazing approach.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2010 – Elizabeth Smith Instructors Course, Babies
• 2010 – Elizabeth Smith Instructors Course, Elementary
• 2010 – Elizabeth Smith Instructors Course, Intermediate Phase
• 2011 – Elizabeth Smith Instructors Course, Advanced Coaching
• 2011 – Elizabeth Smith Instructors Course, Dryland
• 2020 – First Aid/CPR
• 2022 – STA International Lifesaving Course for Swimming Teachers
• 2023 – Child Safeguarding in an Aquatic Environment
• 2024 – AustSwim, Inclusivity and Managing Challenging Behaviors

INTERESTS:

• Tanya loves the sunshine and the beach
• Tennis
• Social swimming and mountain biking
• Anything creative and musical including piano and bass guitar

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2011 – ASCA Level 1 – The Foundations of Coaching
• 2011 – ASCA Level 2 – Stroke School
• 2012 – ASCA Level 3 – Physiology School
• 2022 – STA International Lifesaving Course for Swimming Teachers
• 2023 – Child Safeguarding in an Aquatic Environment

INTERESTS:

• Enjoys going to the beach
• Snorkelling
• Long distance swimming

A number one priority for Jobelle is water safety, but she always adds so much fun to her lessons. Her classes are often times some of the loudest as you can hear all the kids laughing during their lessons.  Her imagination with water games adding fun but educational elements to her lessons is endless. People don’t realise they are learning while having fun!

Jobelle has been involved in the leisure industry and teaching since 2007 in UAE. She began working as a swimming instructor and has additional experience as a recreation manager. Jobelle then followed her passion for swim coaching to work with Urban Swim Academy full time.

Jobelle specialises in babies and kids but also coaches adults and squads. She really is an all around coach!

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2011 – Swim America Swimming Instructor Course
• 2016 – STA Level 2 Award in Safety Award for Teachers
• 2016 – STA Level 2 Certificate in Swimming Teaching
• 2017 – STA Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults
• 2017 – STA Introduction to Risk Assessments
• 2022 – STA International Lifesaving Course for Swimming Teachers
• 2022 – Baby Swim, Swim Dynamics Instructor Course
• 2023 – Child Safeguarding in an Aquatic Environment

INTERESTS:

• Enjoys sports like playing basketball, volleyball, table tennis, badminton and lawn tennis.
• Jobelle loves singing and karaoke on her days off

Dinesh has been teaching and coaching swimming Dubai since 2010. As an open water swimmer he has done many races and has qualified for Oceanman Swimmming world championship in 2022.He has already completed 5x Ironman 70.3 triathlons in Dubai and many 1.6k, 3km and10km races in both Sri Lanka and the UAE.

He enjoys teaching swimmers of all ages an abilities to improve their swimming skills. He enjoys giving guidance on techniques whatever the ability or fitness level from triathletes to total beginners.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2014 – STA Level 2 Certificate in Swim Teaching
• 2015 – STA Swimming Teaching for Baby & Pre School
• 2016 – STA Certificate in Introduction to Risk Assessment
• 2016 – STA Certificate in Swimming Teaching Tutor Competency Test
• 2017 – STA Certificate in Customer Care
• 2018 – Level 1 Fitness Instructor
• 2019 – Body Position by straight-line swimming
• 2019 – Breathing by straight-line swimming
• 2019 – Motion by straight-line swimming
• 2019 – Nutrition Basics
• 2020 – School Swimming Academy Program
• 2020 – International Learn to Swim Online Program
• 2021- STA Safety Award for Teachers
• 2021-STA Safeguarding Children, young people and vulnerable adults
• 2023 – STA International Lifesaving Course for Teachers
• 2023 – Child Safeguarding in an Aquatic Environment
• 2025 – STA Level 2 Safety Award for Teachers