There are only two swim coaches in Seattle that I would trust to help me with technique. Pat Hamilton and Kyle Johnson. Pat coached me in high school when I swam for Swim Seattle and is responsible for me being able to continue swimming after (under a different coach) I developed shoulder tendinitis so bad that I was forced to stop swimming for over six months (that's when I started running cross country). Pat has a better intuitive feel for swimming than anyone I've met, and he can coach it just as well, which is a rare combination. I know he was trying to start a group called Eastside Endurance, but I can't find a website. DM me and I'll give you his email.
Kyle is a little easier to find. He coaches Issaquah Swim Team (
http://www.istsockeyes.org/...=new&team=pnsist). Kyle is the best swim coach I've ever met. He doesn't do the meat and potatoes swim workouts that most coaches do, he follows the Milt Nelms (world renowned for swim technique, worked with most of the high end swimmers you've heard of) philosophy that swimming is about body awareness, and being able to control how your body reacts with the water. Kyle has a formula for teaching people that awareness that works with swimmers of all levels. He'll start you off with some seemingly simple drills that will drive you crazy because they're so difficult to perfect. Kyle coached me for every national championships I ever swam at, but I was far from his most talented swimmer. I often wish I'd had more time under him to really improve my swim technique. He does private swim lessons out of some club deep in the east side, but he's worth the drive and the money. I've paid over $100 for an hour lesson with Kyle, and I never regret it - he will make it completely worthwhile.
Brian Davis is a third option. He grew up swimming with Issaquah and he's a great instructor. When I was training with him a couple years ago I would spend one day a week getting technique advice from him. He's living in Seattle proper and would probably bring his Olympian wife, Marijana, to help with the lesson as well. DM me for contact info.
These are the people I learned from, and the only swim instructors in the Seattle area that I would trust. Yes there are other coaches around who have made a name for doing triathlon swim instruction, but the reason they focus on triathletes is because they aren't worth their salt. You'll find a lot of people preaching the same drills you read in swimmers world, telling you to focus on the catch, fingers down, flip your wrist when you exit, do catchup drill, work on rotating your hips... cliche drills indicate that the coach lacks intuition and can't adapt to your specific needs. Most triathletes can improve without hiring the best, but if you're able, you'll get much more from the people I mentioned.
Ben
p.s. the most important thing you can do for your swimming is to take swim lessons, but it's worthless if you don't put the time in on your own to work on improving. The coach is a guide, and will correct bad habits and teach you what to do in order to improve, it's up to you to make the improvements. For every hour you spend doing a lesson, spend 3-5 hours swimming and working on your form. As you progress, you can switch to 45 or 30 minute lessons, but keep going to the pool or you'll lose your feel. Swimming is not like riding a bike.
http://bencollins.org