About Diego

Diego is a lifelong swimmer and water polo player from Santa Cruz, California, with experience both in the pool and in open water. He grew up competing in swimming with a focus on IM and sprint events, and played water polo from a young age through college.

He’s also spent years surfing, diving, and swimming off the coasts of California and Brazil, which helped shape his comfort and confidence in the water.
 

He started coaching at 15 and has worked with swimmers of all ages since then, from babies taking their first splashes to kids building stroke technique to adults learning how to swim for the first time. He enjoys tailoring lessons to different skill levels and helping swimmers feel more relaxed, capable, and excited about the water.

What Diego loves most about teaching is seeing confidence click. Whether someone is learning a new stroke, improving their breathing, or just realizing they actually enjoy being in the pool, he aims to make every lesson supportive, fun, and encouraging. He is trilingual in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, which helps him connect with a wide range of swimmers and families.

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​Swim Qualifications 

• Red Cross Certified Water Safety Instructor Red Cross Certified Lifeguard Red Cross

• First Aid/CPR/AED

• Bachelor's Degree in Portuguese and Global Studies