Daily open-water (coached) swimming sessions in some of the best waters in the world! An amazing coaching experience awaits you!
Herceg Novi is a wonderful place to swim and we've managed to secure some great accommodation in a 4-star Fjord-side hotel with it's own 25m outdoor pool as well as daily sessions for our dedicated technique work in the world-famous Jadran PVK waterpolo pool (shown in the image below), which is just a 12 minute stroll away along the picturesque Pet Danica Walkway that hugs the Bay of Kotor coastline:
Each afternoon you will spend quality 1-2-1 and small-group coaching time (including full video analysis) with two world-class Swim Smooth swim coaches tailored to your exact level of ability in that amazing looking pool right above!
Additional (Premium) Coaching Support:
I will also be accompanied by my most senior and longest-serving Swim Smooth Coach, Sally Scaffidi, who normally runs my Perth program when I'm away on trips like this. However, lucky for you, she has offered to come and support me with this inaugural Swim Smooth Experience which will vastly improve our level of delivery and support for you which wasn't on the ‘table’ for the Greece trip 👍.
All swimmers will get direct 1-2-1 video analysis tuition from Head Coach, Paul Newsome - supported by Perth-based, Coach Sally Scaffidi also.
Why Montenegro 🇲🇪?
Having experienced this amazing place last year and knowing the waters to be safe, clean and clear and with the additional support of a truly fabulous aquatic facility (Jadran PVK) as well as a 25m pool onsite at the hotel and our own 350m open-water swimming circuit right in front of the hotel, it's a hands-down better option.
I wanted to be able to offer you something much more than just one of the ubiquitous swimming holidays out there these days - something of real tangible benefit to your swimming, but equally spread over a long enough period that we can still sit, chill and enjoy sometime together sharing our passion for swimming and beyond. I grew concerned that Sivota, Greece was not going to allow this and be anything different to other run-of-the-mill swimming holidays, so we parked that idea (at least for now).
Yes, yes, I get to miss out on the tsatsiki of my childhood summer holidays to Corfu, Crete and Kos, but I'll just have to save that for another time, and I hope you will too by considering Montenegro instead 🤞.
You can bring your wetsuit or swim ‘skins’, but in either case you can be assured of some amazing pool and open-water swimming experiences in this fabulous part of the world!
Our hotel includes it's own 25m swimming pool as well as a 350m open-water swimming circuit in the Bay of Kotor - perfect for a morning dip before breakfast!
Schedule (subject to modification):
The schedule will remain very similar to the proposed schedule for Greece (though ‘flipped’ so our pool sessions will be in the afternoon), with the notable addition of some boat trips out to key open-water swimming spots like this one:
Swimming through the Blue Cave* - an incredible and totally unforgettable experience
*subject to weather conditions
Day 1, 18 Sep '23 - arrival and settling in. Depending on flight times, there will be the opportunity to have your initial 1-2-1 video analysis 'recording' session conducted on this first afternoon (1-3pm). We will have a social meet-up and drinks on this first evening including a short classroom presentation outlining the week ahead and a few tips to start the ball rolling on how to make the most of your swimming development based on our methodology.
Day 2, 19 Sep '23 - short morning dip (and stretch) in the sea and breakfast together. 1-2-1 video analysis 'recording' session for those who weren't able to attend on Day 1 due to a later arrival (likely at the hotel's 25m pool). Before lunch - group analysis of each of your individual videos including a full recording of this for your records. Following lunch, we'll head to the Jadran water-polo pool and do a group technique session (drills etc) to run over the fundamentals of an efficient stroke. Short (800m to 2,000m) sea swim pre-dinner for those keen.
Day 3, 20 Sep '23 - short morning dip (and stretch) in the sea and breakfast together. Boat trip out to the Blue Cave, Submarine tunnels and James Bond steps with a short dip at each (weather dependent). After lunch we'll head back to Jadran where we'll conduct a technique/endurance session with Sally leading the group and myself picking off each of you individually to refine aspects of your stroke from the video analysis session. This will also be recorded for your future reference and a clever bone-conduction audio coaching tool will be used to guide you through your improvements in real-time whilst you're actually swimming. Time to explore / relax pre-dinner.
Day 4, 21 Sep '23 - short morning dip (and stretch) in the sea and breakfast together. Time to relax before lunch and explore the Herceg-Novi old town (just 16 minutes walk away). Pool 'squad' session in the afternoon introducing you to a harder CSS and/or Red Mist Endurance session. Optional sea swim pre-dinner of 800m to 2,000m or rest up for tomorrow's long sea swim. Guided 'classroom' talk on how to improve your longer-distance open water swimming (i.e. nutrition, pacing strategies, staying focused etc)
Day 5, 22 Sep '23 - short morning dip (and stretch) in the sea and breakfast together. Early departure for a longer open water guided swim with boat support of ~3-5km around Otocic Gospa and Mamula followed by lunch in Zanjice. Optional light pool swim at the hotel with additional tips as required. Dinner out to celebrate!
Day 6, 23 Sep '23 - short morning dip in the sea and breakfast together. Group ‘classroom’ session to set you up with some goals and scheduling to take away for your continued improvement. After lunch we will have a shorter group technique session back in the pool including some dry-land work for your future consideration. Additional video recording might be initiated today on a needs / adhoc basis to demonstrate your progression, followed by a structured open water skills session in front of the hotel (max. 2km) showing you how to really improve your open water ability.
Day 7, 24 Sep '23 - final morning dip in the sea and breakfast together (if not leaving for an early flight), with a little adventure along the coast (weather permitting and max. 3km).
The hotel's 25m pool - pretty spectacular!
Level:
I very much pride myself on my ability to cater my coaching to a wide range of swimming ability levels from learn-2-swim to elite, however, as we will be conducting group swims/sessions in the open water as well as the pool, a minimum standard of swimming will be required for this particular Swim Smooth Experience, notably:
Be able to swim a minimum of 1,000m continuously and confidently in the open water in a time of 25 minutes or better (this can include when wearing a wetsuit);
To have a minimum swimming speed of 2:20/100m in the pool (without assistance) on an example set of 10 x 100m intervals with 15 seconds rest;
I would best describe the standard required for this particular trip as being that of my typical squad swimmer. In a 60 minute squad session my swimmers would cover between 2,300m and 3,600m and at a threshold (CSS) pace of between 1:15 and 2:15/100m as a bit of a guide.
If you are unsure whether your level meets any of these minimum requirements, please just drop me a direct email with your current level, and I'll be able to advise you further 👍.
Right on the Fjord as part of the hotel grounds!
Plenty of tourist opportunities for your non-swimming partner whilst we hit the water!
Availability / Cancellations:
We have a strictly limited availability of 12 people for this 7-day (6-night) Swim Smooth Experience and it is expected to sell-out fast.
As one of the 52 people who kindly expressed a keen interest in this original trip to Greece, First name / friend, we will reserve offering these spots out to the main Swim Smooth database until Friday 14th July 2023, so please don't delay if you plan to attend and snag one of the spots using the appropriate link below.
Given the proximity to the trip (just under 10 weeks away), we will require payment in full to reserve your spot.
Cancellations can be made up until 14th July 2023 for a full refund less a payment handling / processing fee of 100 EUR per person.
Between 15th July 2023 and 31st July 2023 we will offer a 50% refund.
From 1st August 2023 to 17th August 2023 we will offer a 25% refund.
From 18th August 2023 there will be no refunds offered.
Costs:
Option 1: 1,799 EUR for single swimmer participants with a single-occupancy room, half-board (breakfast and dinner) for 6 nights in a 4-star hotel, all Montenegrin local taxes, transfers to/from the airport (✈️ Dubrovnik, Croatia), all your coaching including video analysis and ‘squad’/group sessions, entry fees to the pool, boat trips and safety support and packed-lunches or lunch budget.
Does not include: your flights to Dubrovnik, Croatia* from your normal place of residence and any visas/permits you may incur. Does not include drinks and other non-course activities. All guests are strongly recommended to take out appropriate travel insurance.
*return flights from most European cities are ~250 to 400 EUR for reference.
Option 2: 2,199 EUR for single swimmer participants bringing a non-swimming partner* with a double-occupancy room, half-board (breakfast and dinner) for 6 nights in a 4-star hotel, all Montenegrin local taxes, transfers to/from the airport (✈️ Dubrovnik, Croatia), all your coaching including video analysis and ‘squad’/group sessions, entry fees to the pool, boat trips and safety support and packed-lunches or lunch budget.
*Non-swimming guests are welcome to join us on this trip, subject to availability, however, they are unable to join us during the day for the group activities/coaching. Additionally, for safety reasons, non-swimmers are not permitted on the safety craft which accompanies our swimmers for the open-water swims.
Does not include: your flights to Dubrovnik, Croatia** from your normal place of residence and any visas/permits you may incur. Does not include drinks and other non-course activities. All guests are strongly recommended to take out appropriate travel insurance, including for non-swimming partners.
**return flights from most European cities are ~250 to 400 EUR per person for reference.
Option 3: 3,399 EUR for a couple (both participating in the week)* with a double-occupancy room, half-board (breakfast and dinner) for 6 nights in a 4-star hotel, all Montenegrin local taxes, transfers to/from the airport (✈️ Dubrovnik, Croatia), all your coaching including video analysis and ‘squad’/group sessions, entry fees to the pool, boat trips and safety support and packed-lunches or lunch budget.
Does not include: your flights to Dubrovnik, Croatia* from your normal place of residence and any visas/permits you may incur. Does not include drinks and other non-course activities. All guests are strongly recommended to take out appropriate travel insurance, including for non-swimming partners.
*return flights from most European cities are ~250 to 400 EUR per person for reference.
Contact
Drop us an email with any additional queries.