Meet Dory

Hi, I’m Dory — the heart and hands behind Swim With Dory in Noordhoek, Cape Town.

I’m a swim school owner, professional coach, and survival swimming instructor with over 28 years of experience in the water. I’ve spent my life teaching children and adults not just how to swim — but how to understand water, respect it, and feel safe inside it.

My work goes far beyond strokes and laps. I specialise in:

• Learn-to-swim for all ages
• Water confidence and fear recovery
• Survival swimming and drowning prevention
• Stroke correction and adult beginners

I also proudly volunteer with the NSRI Survival Swimming Programme, helping bring life-saving water skills to communities that need them most.

At Swim With Dory, we don’t rush. We don’t shout. We don’t push children past their emotional readiness.
We build confidence first — because confident swimmers learn faster, safer, and with joy.

Every lesson is personalised. Every swimmer is met exactly where they are.
Some children need gentle trust-building. Some need structure. Some need courage. I’m here for all of it.

My teaching style blends:

• Patience – for nervous beginners
• Encouragement – for growing confidence
• Structure – for real, lasting skill

Because I believe something deeply:
Every swimmer deserves to feel safe, strong, and capable in the water.

And that’s exactly what we build here — one small victory at a time.