Meet the team
Calvin – Director
Calvin has been teaching children and adults to swim for 23 years. Since the moment he was pushed into the pool with the sink or swim motto of his swim teacher he has been passionate about teaching children and adults to swim in the correct way, instilling confidence and a love of the sport in all he teaches.
Calvin holds an SQA Level 3 Early Years Swimming qualification, an ASA Level 1 and Level 2 swimming teacher qualification as well as a RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard qualification. In addition Calvin is also a RLSS UK Trainer Assessor.
Lucy – Director
Lucy has been actively involved in swimming since she was 3 months old. Little did her mum know that first visit would result years later in Lucy opening her own swim school.
Professionally Lucy holds a SQA Level 3 Early Years Swimming qualification, in addition to her UKCC Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications. Although Lucy is able to deliver to any ability group her specialty and first love is preschool teaching.
And if teaching swimming wasn’t enough for Lucy, she is also works full time as doctor for NHS Lothian. She will be taking a back seat from the day to day running of Big Blue from August 2021 when she starts speciality training, however you will no doubt still see her at our venues occasionally covering a class or checking up on us! Lucy is Big Blue’s child protection officer and holds all relevant child protection qualifications and registration with Swim Scotland.
Amy – Instructor
Amy has been swim teaching since 2007, having previously been a competitive swimmer for both her school and local swim club at many competitions. After volunteering with her swim club as an instructor Amy soon realized she had a passion for swim teaching. She has continued to deliver lessons with the same passion and commitment. She holds UKCC Level 1 and Level 2 swim teaching certificates. Amy is one of our most experienced teachers both in and out of the water. Her preferred classes to teach are improver 2 and advanced, but she is comfortable with all levels and is often found coaxing our non-swimmers into the pool.
She has recently completed her STA teacher training qualification and will be taking the lead with the training of all Big Blue staff as well as running courses for new teachers.
Amy is a qualified primary school teacher and marine biologist. She is currently a full-time mummy to her boys Noah, Eli and Theo.
Susan – Instructor
Susan has been swim teaching since the 90’s after spending years chauffeuring her own children from swimming competition and weekly training she decided to make the move from parent to teacher.
In addition to swim teaching Susan is a full time child minder and is nicknamed “the child whisperer” by the swim team - there is yet to be a child that Susie cannot win over!
Susan holds an ASA Level 1 qualification. She also has experience in working with children with additional needs and has an ASN CPD qualification.
Kaitlin - Instructor
Kaitlin is from Aberdeen having moved to Edinburgh to study for a degree in business marketing at Napier University. She is currently undertaking her masters degree. She holds a UKCC Level 2 and is an experienced teacher with years of teaching behind her now. She also holds a RLSS National Rescue Award for Teachers and Coaches. She enjoys teaching the improver and advanced classes.
Max - Instructor
Max swam for a local swim club before becoming part of Big Blue. He has a UKCC Level 1 swim teaching certificate and is currently working towards level 2. He is a firm favourite among our youngest swimmer and teaches a number of preschool classes throughout the week. He is currently studying for an engineering degree with the open university.
Leo - Instructor
Leo has a UKCC Level 1 qualification and has been teaching with us for a few years now. He enjoys teaching the younger classes and working with the preschoolers. He swims competitively for Inverleith swimming club and is at college doing a course in sports science.
Katie - Instructor
Katie holds a UKCC Level 1 and 2 and joins us from Wales. She enjoys working with our younger swimmers especially the preschoolers and has been a fantastic addition to the team. Her new found love is teaching our adult swimmers on a Tuesday night. She has recently completed a language degree at Edinburgh University and will start a post-graduate law degree in September 2023, allowing us to keep her swim teaching skills in Edinburgh for another 4 years!
Robyn - Instructor
Robyn is one of our new UKCC Level 1 instructors. She will be working at Queensferry High and Royal High School over the weekends. She is currently studying medicine at Edinburgh University.
Jessica N - Instructor
Jess is one of our fantastic weekday instructors at Energize and Oaklands. She holds a ASA level 1 and 2. She is currently studying at Edinburgh University.
Iona - Instructor
Iona holds a UKCC Level 1 and 2 swim teaching qualification. She is a firm favourite among our preschoolers and has a special interest in working with children with additional support needs. She will be undertaking the ASN swim teaching qualification in the near future.
Jo - Instructor
Jo holds a UKCC Level 1 and 2 qualification.