Meet The Team
Our coaching team brings together a diverse range of experience from competitive swimming, high-performance sport, and athlete development. Each coach at Edge Aquatics is passionate about helping swimmers grow in confidence, skill, and enjoyment in the water.
Josh Barry -
Head Coach
With a background in elite swimming and military service, Josh Barry brings structure, discipline, and a strong performance-driven mindset to Edge Aquatics. His coaching focuses on building confidence, refined technique, and long-term consistency in the water.
• Trained and competed alongside world-class swimmers
• Exposure to sprint-specific programming and scientific performance methods
• Advanced plyometrics, resistance training, and swim-specific weight-room work
• Performance-based nutrition strategies
National Swimming Achievements (South Africa)
• 2× Olympic Trials Qualifier (2012 & 2016)
• Top 10 National Finisher for four consecutive years
• 6× National Invitational Qualifier
• 18× Midmar Mile Finisher
Military Service
• Served 4 years in the Royal Marine Commandos (2021–2025)
• Inter-Services 100m Freestyle Champion (Army, Navy & Air Force) – 2024
• Royal Marines Championships Overall Winner – 2024
• Royal Navy Championships Overall Winner – 2023
Lifesaving Achievements
- World Lifesaving Championships, Australia (2018)
- Silver – Rescue Tube Rescue
- Bronze – Manikin Relay
- Top 10 – Surf Race
- South African Lifesaving Nationals (2018)
- 1st Place – Male Surf Swim
- Awarded Protea / National Colours
Cliff Lyne -
Consultant Coach
Cliff Lyne brings decades of elite swimming and coaching experience to the pool deck, with a career that spans international competition, Olympic representation, and long-term athlete development. Beginning his swimming journey at a young age, Cliff progressed through national and international ranks before competing at the highest level. Today, he combines this extensive experience with a deep understanding of performance swimming, mentoring athletes from grassroots to elite levels with a focus on long-term growth, discipline, and excellence.
• Began competitive swimming in 1978 with Queens Park Swimming Club
• Broke the South African U10 200m IM record in 1980 (world-leading time at the time)
• Finalist at South African Senior Nationals in the 200m & 400m IM at age 14
• Set South African Men’s National Record – 200m IM (1987)
• Set British National Record – 400m IM Relay (1988)
• Narrowly missed selection for the British Olympic Team – Seoul 1988
• Selected for the South African Olympic Team – Barcelona 1992
• Broke South African National Records in the 200m & 400m IM (1992)
• Full swimming scholarship to Southern Methodist University (SMU), Dallas, Texas (1988–1992)
• Achieved All-American Honours
• Conference Champion – 200m IM
• Founded Action Swim Academy in 2008
• Coached in partnership with Alisdair Hatfield and Debbie McLeod (2008–2018)
• Developed swimmers who progressed to provincial, national, and international teams
• Athletes went on to compete at Olympic Games, World Championships, and earn U.S. university scholarships
• Coached Clifton High School and Primary School swim teams (2021–2024)
Leah Lachman - Assistant Coach
Leah Lachman is a Crawford College La Lucia alumna and experienced competitive swimmer who brings energy, discipline, and a strong technical foundation to Edge Aquatics. With a background in senior national-level swimming and provincial representation, her coaching focuses on confidence, correct technique, and purposeful training across learn-to-swim, junior, and senior squads, creating a supportive environment where swimmers are challenged to grow at every stage.
• Senior national-level swimmer
• KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) swimming representative
• School and KZN swimming captain
• Junior & Senior Victrix Ludorum award winner
• Learn-to-swim, junior, and senior squad coaching experience
• Assisted coaching at technique-focused workshops (breaststroke & freestyle)
• Experience working with swimmers across multiple levels and age groups
• Community and charity learn-to-swim coaching initiatives
• Trained under multiple high-level coaches and academies
• Strong focus on stroke technique, strength development, and structured training
Coral Davey -
Learn To Swim Head Coach
Coral Davey is a highly respected learn-to-swim specialist and the founder of Coral Swimming Academy. With over 17 years of experience teaching babies, children, and adults, Coral is known for her gentle, patient, and confidence-building approach in the water. She is passionate about helping swimmers feel safe, capable, and joyful at every stage of their journey, whether it’s a first splash or achieving a long-held personal goal.
• International accreditation through FINA
• Certified with the Canadian Red Cross
• 17+ years of learn-to-swim experience
• Learn-to-swim (babies, children & adults)
• Water safety and confidence development
• Foundational stroke technique
• Nervous beginner support
• Building lifelong swimming foundations
• A trusted reputation within the Durban North community
• A calm, encouraging, and supportive teaching style
• Strong emphasis on safety, skill development, and confidence
• A passion for making swimming accessible at every age
Jayden Michaels - Video Analyst
Jayden Michaels is part of the Edge Aquatics performance team, supporting coaches and swimmers through video analysis and technical review. With a background in IT and digital systems, Jayden helps turn training footage into clear, practical insights that assist coaches in refining stroke technique, efficiency, and race preparation. Working closely alongside the coaching staff, he plays an important role in strengthening the technical side of the programme and enhancing each swimmer’s development
• BSC in Information Technology
• Background in IT systems, cloud technologies, and digital infrastructure
• Experience working with technical systems, data organisation, and secure digital environments
• Strong understanding of system setup, monitoring, and structured workflows
• Experience using programming tools and software to manage, organise, and support technical processes
• Detail-oriented approach with a strong focus on accuracy, reliability, and consistency
• Professional filming of training sessions and students in order to make stroke corrections
• Reliable preparation and organisation of footage for coach review
• Strong technical support to ensure smooth performance operations
• Helps coaches deliver more precise, evidence-based feedback to swimmers
