From growing up in the sun‑drenched waters of Sydney to becoming a Water Babies teacher in North East London, Dana’s life has been shaped by the magic of water. Her story weaves together childhood memories, open‑water adventures, and the deep joy she’s found in helping families feel at home in the water.
As part of our Love the Water campaign, Dana shares how water has grounded her, connected her to the people she loves, and inspired her passion for helping the next generation discover confidence, calm, and freedom through swimming.
Growing Up in the Water
Hello! I’m Dana, an Australian who swapped the sunshine of Sydney’s North Shore for the (slightly cooler!) waters of North East London. I’ve been teaching swimming for 13 years now, although water has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I often joke that I could swim before I could walk, and honestly, that might not be far from the truth.
I grew up completely surrounded by water. My older brothers were competitive swimmers, with one even becoming a world champion. With a backyard pool and the coastline as my playground, water wasn’t just a hobby for me, it was home.
I first trained as a swim teacher through Austswim while living in Singapore and began teaching professionally there. When I later returned to the UK, it felt natural to continue teaching, especially since Water Babies had already been part of my life, my daughter was a Water Baby 16 years ago.
Looking back, I think teaching was a subconscious way of keeping water at the center of my world, even when London felt a long way from the coastlines I grew up with.
From Childhood Lessons to Open‑Water Adventures
As a child, I was always in the water, swimming whenever I got the chance. But open‑water swimming came much later, about three years ago, when my son and I started swimming outdoors together.
He shares the same love of water that I do, and it quickly became a special way for us to spend quality time together. We’ve also found outdoor swimming to be incredibly beneficial for our mental health. We usually swim in a lake in Beckenham, and when we’re there, it feels like the city completely fades away.
Diving Into Competition
Two years ago, my son and I took part in our first open‑water swimming event: the Serpentine Swim. He was just 11 at the time, but he chose to swim to raise money for the Ruth Strauss Foundation after my cousin was diagnosed with stage‑four lung cancer.
It had a huge impact on our family, and swimming became his way of honoring our loved ones while helping others. He raised over £4,000 – something I’ll always be incredibly proud of.
Why I Love Open‑Water Swimming
For me, it’s the sense of peace and the equality. Once you’re in your swimsuit, everyone is just a person in the water. There’s no pretense, no pressure.
Being outdoors brings a calm that nothing else quite matches. And cold‑water swimming? That’s a different kind of magic altogether. The way it wakes you up, makes you feel alive, and clears your mind, there’s nothing quite like it.
Why I Became a Water Babies Teacher
Teaching little ones to swim is one of the most connective experiences a parent or caregiver can share with their child.
In Singapore, I worked closely with a cranial osteopath, supporting babies who had experienced difficult or stressful births. Water offered those babies, and their parents, comfort, movement, and calm in a way that simply isn’t possible on land.
I also worked with children who needed extra support, and seeing how water opened up an entirely new world for them is something I’ll never forget.
Watching a parent grow in confidence after a challenging start, and seeing the bond they form with their baby, is truly incredible. Nothing compares to witnessing a baby’s first underwater swim, a nervous caregiver beam with confidence, or the pride when a little one holds onto the pool edge or jumps in fearlessly and comes up smiling.
Those moments? Pure joy. Every single time.
Inspiring a Lifelong Love of Water
When I teach, it feels like I’m sharing the best secret in the world – that water is a place of freedom, joy, and connection.
Whether it’s a newborn experiencing the water for the very first time or a toddler kicking confidently on their own, that spark of wonder never gets old.
Water has shaped my life, from a pool in Sydney, to training sessions in Singapore, to lakes in London, and now to the warm, wonderful world of Water Babies. Teaching isn’t just a job for me. It’s a way to spark passion and help families discover the magic I’ve always found in the water.
If this blog inspires even one person to dip their toes into open‑water swimming, join a Water Babies class, or simply reconnect with the water in any way, then I’m happy.
