Alecia Kelly

Alecia was born and raised in Northern California, where a lifelong connection to the water began. Starting competitive swimming at the age of ten, she went on to become a decorated swimmer, competing from age 10 to 22. As a high school athlete, Alecia was a four-year varsity swimmer at Bishop Quinn High School, where she achieved multiple California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championships (2001, 2002, 2003). Continuing her passion in college, Alecia swam competitively at Washington and Jefferson College and played water polo for the University of Hawaii. She has remained active in the sport as a Masters swimmer from age 22 to the present.

In 2002, Alecia co-founded the Stingrays Swim Team at the Shasta County YMCA, marking the beginning of a lifelong career in aquatic education and safety. With over 25 years of experience as a swim instructor, Alecia has taught individuals of all ages and abilities—from infants to adults and beginners to competitive swimmers. Her expertise extends to open water swimming instruction (22+ years), snorkeling tours, and special needs swim education (8+ years). Alecia also holds a PADI certification and spent five years working as a snorkeling guide, deckhand, and boating safety expert.

As a community enrichment program assistant at the Waikiki Aquarium (2004–2006), Alecia furthered her commitment to marine ecology, which aligns with her academic background—a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, specializing in Marine Ecology.

Alecia has worked across the U.S., teaching and coaching in states like California, Hawaii, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes individualized instruction, whether preparing students for Junior Lifeguards, refining stroke mechanics for triathletes, or coaching open water swimmers. With a passion for making swimming accessible to all, Alecia has played a vital role in promoting water safety and the sport of swimming alongside her sister, international ultra-marathon open water swimmer Lexie Kelly.

For Alecia, swimming is more than a sport—it’s a way of life. She believes that everyone can learn to swim and is dedicated to creating safe, supportive environments for swimmers of all levels and abilities to thrive.