Meet Our Instructors
Coach Markelle
Markelle Pike is originally from Northern California and moved to Los Angeles in 2021. As a child, she took swim lessons for several years, until she had mastered the four strokes and was declared swim team level. She participated in other activities and sports throughout her primary education, including gymnastics, track and field, girl’s football, basketball, and water polo.
In 2016 while in college, she began teaching swimming at her local gym. She taught students ages 5 months to 65 years old. She instilled confidence in her students, taught swimming techniques, taught water polo skill development, and coached the swim team. Most of her swim students were preschool-age, so in 2017 she began working as a preschool teacher, while still teaching private swim lessons part-time. She completed some child development coursework in college, and worked as a nanny for two years, until the Covid lockdown. In 2021 she moved to Los Angeles and started teaching swim lessons full time.
Coach Deontay
Deontay Currie is originally from San Francisco, California. At 6 years old, Deontay almost drowned at a family gathering, which prompted him to conquer his fear of water. Determined to overcome his phobia, he learned to swim and eventually developed a deep love for the water. Over the years, he has found solace in spending countless hours paddle boarding in local lakes and rivers. His passion for aquatic activities inspired him to share his knowledge and skills with others.
In 2020, he decided to pursue a career as a swim instructor, leveraging his own experiences to help others overcome their fears and become confident swimmers. His ability to empathize with their struggles and fears allowed him to connect with them on a deeper level, fostering an environment of trust and support. In addition to teaching swimming, Deontay also utilized his experience coaching basketball to instill discipline, teamwork, and perseverance in his students.