Meet Monica Barbu | Swim Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Monica Barbu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Monica, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My name is Monica Barbu and swimming is my passion. I have been swimming since I was 4 years old. After 15 years of swimming professionally and reaching the highest level of performance as part of the Romanian Olympic swimming team throughout high school and into my collegian career, I decided to turn my passion into a profession. I have been teaching swim lessons in the US for over 15 years. I am a Certified American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor, and I have worked with 6 months old babies to 14 years old kids. I also have experience training adults, both the fundamentals of aquatics, as well as refining stroke technique at the advanced level. In addition, I have coached professional swimmers ages 14-19 years old.

My vast professional experience in the aquatics field has provided me the opportunity to interact with people from all walks of life with a wide variety of cultural backgrounds. Furthering my education is the US and graduating from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, gave me the opportunity to better understand the importance of finding the proper approach for each student, depending on their personalities and abilities.

I decided to create “Safe Swim Academy” due to my deep passion for the sport of swimming and because of my strong belief that swimming is more than just a sport – it is an important life-saving skill that will not only keep people safe during all water activities but will also enrich their lives forever. After years of developing my own unique teaching technique, my goal is to offer my students a safe, fun, and unparalleled aquatic experience.

It is my honor and privilege to share with our community all my success and accomplishments as a former Olympic team swimmer. My absolute mission is to lead my students to success and help them achieve their swimming goals in a safe, fun, and interactive environment.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Safe Swim Academy is the premier swim school in San Diego. We offer private swim lessons for swimmers of all ages and abilities. We also offer semi-private lessons dedicated for siblings or friends of similar age and abilities wanting to be in the same class, promoting motivation and playful competition. Being together with their friend or sibling is a great way to introduce children to swimming without feeling like all eyes are focused on them solely.

Swimming is one of the most important skills you can teach an individual. I believe that being safe in and around the water is a priceless gift. Safe Swim Academy strives to provide swim lessons of the highest quality and safety. We pride ourselves on being one of the best in the industry with our well-trained Olympian-level founder, as well as creative, enthusiastic, and highly professional instructors. It is my vast professional experience in the aquatics field, and the opportunity to interact with people from all walks of life with a wide variety of cultural backgrounds that set us apart from others. Furthering my education is the US and graduating from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelors’ Degree in Psychology, gave me the opportunity to better understand the importance of finding the proper approach for each student, depending on their personalities and abilities.

Starting my business wasn’t easy. Creating my own swim school required a lot more than my passion for swimming. It all started with the fun idea of creating my own logo, and it all evolved into forming my swim school. Every day there are challenges I need to face, but just like anything I have ever done, I always seem to be able to get through the tough times. I learn new things every day, and I couldn’t be more grateful of what Safe Swim Academy has become today.

Swimming is my passion, and I am excited to share my love of the sport with others. I enjoy teaching because I love seeing my students progress in their skills, and their confidence grow, as well as piece of mind for parents. The most rewarding aspect of my profession is being among children, contributing to their safety in and around the water, watching them develop and improve, and being part of their joy when they learn to swim. My absolute mission is to lead my students to success and help them achieve their swimming goals in a safe, fun, and interactive environment. I am excited to share my knowledge and experience in the swimming field with kids and families. I look forward to meeting new people and providing focused and outstanding service to people all ages who need help learning to swim!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love San Diego and I believe any activity would be fun to do! I actually had a very good friend of mine that visited me recently, from New York. She came with her husband and her new born baby. We went to Mission and Coronado beach, my two favorite beaches in San Diego, walked in Balboa and a few other different parks, and we ate really good italian food in Little Italy, and great mexican in Old Town!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to say thank you to my parents for always supporting me, guiding me, and being there for me! I would also like to thank my grandmother, that was there for me in my first years of life, and took me to and from swim practice every single day, and made sure that I have everything I needed to be able to focus on school and my swimming career. There will never be enough words to express my love and gratitude to my entire family. I would also like to thank my first swim coach, who introduced swimming to me, and made it a wonderful life-lasting memory. I also appreciate all my other swim coaches, educators, teachers, professors that have helped me become the person I am today. They have taught me a vast number of invaluable things. I will forever be grateful for all of the roles that everyone have played in my life. Last but not least, I would like to thank my two wonderful employees, Kai and Tyrell, that have helped Safe Swim Academy become the wonderful swim school that is today!

Website: www.safeswimacademyusa.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safeswimacademy/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SafeSwimAcademy

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/safe-swim-academy-san-diego