What is Mermaiding?

​What is Mermaiding?

    In the inaugural episode of my podcast, Making of a Mermaid, we discussed what mermaiding actually is in the first place! Mermaiding is a verb, and according to Wikipedia it is the act of dressing in a mermaid costume, and it often involves swimming as well. However, it is so much more than that! Mermaiding is an excellent form of exercise, artistic expression, and for some, even a profession.

    Mermaiding is related to the sport of freediving, which is a sport which centers around the divers’ ability to hold their breath for the whole dive. There are even competitions where people dive as deep as they can in one breath! If you have ever seen season 3 of the iconic mermaid show H20: Just Add Water, the character Will is a freediver. Before getting into mermaiding, this was my only exposure to freediving! Mermaiding incorporates a lot of aspects of freediving, like equalizing and breath holding, and because of these similarities, some would even categorize mermaiding as a sport! However, freediving and mermaiding are two different things. 
    Mermaiding differs from freediving in that it is more focused on performance than athletic ability. Merfolk are people who participate in the hobby in part because of the allure of transforming into a mythical creature, and performing as a creature of fairy tales is an intrinsic part of mermaiding. Every mermaid tail, while also being a piece of diving equipment, is also wearable art. Many merfolk enjoy the character building, costuming, and even drag aspects of mermaiding!
    Some mermaids are professionals, and while it is rare, there are those for whom mermaiding is a full-time job. The invention of the profession of mermaiding is largely credited to Hannah Fraser, a freediving model and activist who makes her own sequin mermaid tails. She has swam with a wide variety of sea creatures, including manta rays and whale sharks. 

    Another famous pioneer mermaid is Mermaid Linden, who has been mermaiding since the early 2000s. She also has swam with a wide manner of wildlife, including in a lake full of jellyfish! Linden also created one of the most safe and versatile mermaid monofins on the market today: the Linden monofin. The fin fits fabric tails from two major tailmaking companies, the Mertailor and Finfolk Productions, and includes a safety release strap to easily free yourself from it in case of an underwater emergency.

    Finally, I couldn’t discuss mermaiding without bringing up Raina the Halifax Mermaid. If you can’t tell by her name, she is a mermaid from Canada who started her own business performing as a mermaid. She has been doing it for well over ten years now, and was the first customer of the now highly sought after Merbella Studios tail company. She literally wrote the book on how to start a business as a professional mermaid! The book, called Fishy Business: How to Be a Mermaid, is a helpful guide on how to get your mermaid career started. She’s a huge inspiration for me, and I don’t think the mermaid community would be what it is without her contributions.

     So yes, you can become a professional mermaid, but it is not as magical as it may first sound. It involves a lot of hard work and training, and even some certifications! Some companies, like PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) offer classes to certify you in mermaiding, which are often essential as you level up in your mermaid career. Many professional mermaids have other jobs which help supplement their income, as it is very hard to make a full-time living as a mermaid. 
    Many mermaids simply do it for fun, or to participate in the community!   Mermaiding is fun even without monetizing it. There is nothing comparable to the feeling of wearing a tail and gliding through the water! Mermaiding, as long as it is done safely, is an excellent way to exercise and gain new skills while fulfilling your magical dreams!

To Learn More Click the Links Below:
Hannah Mermaid : www.hannahmermaid.com/
Mermaid Linden : mermaidlinden.com/
Raina the Halifax Mermaid : https://www.mermaidraina.com/ 
PADI Mermaid : ​https://www.padi.com/courses/mermaid