Dave Tonge MSc / FHEA is the owner and coach of Heathwood Swimming. He is also a competitive swimmer, open water swimmer, triathlete with over 25 years’ experience teaching and coaching all abilities.
Over twenty five years’ experience teaching & coaching all abilities including 5 years as Head Coach of UWICs Junior Swimming Academy.
8 years as Performance Director for the Student Swim team at Cardiff Met Uni.
8 years lecturing sports coaching (Swimming) Teaching students how to analyse, teach & coach the four competitive swimming strokes
Ex National Performance Squad Swimmer at City of Cardiff Swimming Club under Olympic coaches Dave Haller & John Stout
Vast Experience in Open Water Swimming events & swim trek distance swims
Finished in the top 20 at the Tenby LCW Swim 5 times 2011-2016 (PB 48:18)
ASA Teacher & Coach
MSc Physical Activity & Health
Teaching Fellow – Higher Education Academy
RLSS National Pool Lifeguard Qualification
RLSS Trainer / Assessor
First Aid at work Qualification
First Aid at work Trainer / Assessor
Swimming Pool Plant room Operators Certificate
Award for Most Improved Team 2014 @ Cardiff Met
Coach of the year 2016 @ Cardiff Met
Award for Services to Cardiff Met Student Sport 2019
Royal life saving society uk award service medal for 16+ Years of service 2017
Taught Gareth ‘Alfie’ Thomas to swim in 7 months and helped him complete LCW 2019 & Ironman Wales 2019 in a swim time of 1:24.00 (Watch BBC Documentary HIV & Me)
Completed a 21 mile channel swim in my endless pool for NHS Charities during Covid 19 lockdown raising £5300
Royal life saving society uk award Service Cross for 20+ Years of service 2020.
Official world record - longest wetsuit swim in an endless pool (24 hours) raised £10,000 for Velindre cancer care
