Mermaid Classes
In Collaboration with Catalina Island Mermaids, we offer PADI Mermaid Classes and Mermaid Photoshoots on the beach! We have an activity for everyone! All ages, sizes, and abilities are welcome here! Join us to discover a whole new world, Mermaiding!
Discover Mermaid - NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY
For those who want to learn how to swim in a mermaid tail for the first time, this class is for you! The Discover Mermaid™ experience, offered Memorial through Labor Day, introduces simple mermaid activities in a place with pool-like conditions, shallow enough in which to stand. It is designed as a flexible, informative, enjoyable, and controlled experience centered on letting you discover what it’s like to mermaid dive. When you are a mermaid, you just don't feel like a visitor anymore, the ocean feels like home! To enroll in a Discover Mermaid experience, you must be at least six years old. You need to be in good physical health and comfortable in the water.
Participants with health concerns will be asked to have a physician sign a medical waiver before attending class.
About the Discover Mermaid Class:
The Discover Mermaid Class takes between 60 and 90 minutes to complete. Participants are outfitted with a Mask, Snorkel and Mermaid Tail and give a safety briefing with a PADI Mermaid Instructor. This class is taught on Middle Beach in Avalon. The "Meet-Up" point is the Via Casio Arch next to step beach in Avalon, this is where your instructor will pick you up before class. Please arrive ready to get in the ocean, with your bathing suit on! This class happens in groups of 4 or less, larger groups should book back-to-back time slots, but arrive all together. Larger groups will take turns getting in the water.
This class happens in calm water, shallow enough to stand.
After learning all your new mermaid skills there will be an opportunity to have pictures and videos taken via a GoPro. Pictures and videos are included and will be offered in an online gallery.
There are no lockers, personal items left behind will sit on the beach with our clothes, so please come prepared with only the items you want to bring in the water or leave sitting on the beach.
Reservations are required.
Pricing:
$95 per person, including all necessary equipment.
PADI Mermaid & Advanced Mermaid Bundle
The PADI Mermaid™ course includes knowledge development and at least two water skill sessions that develop more dynamic mermaid skills beyond Discover Mermaid™, including many skills that make mermaiding an underwater self-expressive art, separate from other types of diving. (Note that the PADI Mermaid course includes Discover Mermaid, so you can start with PADI Mermaid – there is no need to take Discover Mermaid separately.)
In the PADI Advanced Mermaid™ course, you’ll build on your PADI Mermaid™ certification and apply it to the open water environment. You’ll learn the basics of how the open water environment differs from a pool or confined water (larger, deeper, more variable conditions) and be introduced to open water mermaid techniques. You’ll also learn about aquatic life – what to expect, how it can affect you, and how you avoid harm.
To enroll in the PADI Advanced Mermaid course you must be 12 years old or older and have a PADI Mermaid certification (or a qualifying certification from another mermaid organization). You need to be able to swim at least 100m/320ft without swim aids, able to float comfortably at the surface for at least 10 mins and in good physical health.
This class takes place in Avalon over a two-day period. Come to the island for the weekend and practice your mermaid skills! Bring your tail and freediving gear, or rentals are available at an additional cost. This class prepares you to free-dive in open water as a mermaid and is the prerequisite to becoming a PADI Mermaid Instructor.
PADI Mermain & Advanced Mermain class 2023 schedule:
April 8-9 (Sat/Sun) May 6-7 (Sat/Sun) June 24-25 (Sat/Sun) July 15-16 (Sat/Sun) August 7-8 (Mon/Tues) August 19-20 (Sat/Sun) September – December TBD.
This class is appropriate for kids and adults ages 12 and older, who have moderate/experienced swimming skills and are in good general health. Participants with health concerns will be asked to have a physician sign a medical waiver before participating.
About the Mermaid Bundle:
The Mermaid Bundle takes two days to complete between 9AM and 3PM with breaks for lunch. Participants are outfitted with weights, weight belt, and Mermaid Tail. This class is taught on Middle Beach in Avalon on Day 1: followed by Day 2 at Casino Point Dive Park in the kelp forests of Catalina Island. The “Meet-Up" point is the Via Casio Arch next to step beach in Avalon, this is where your instructor will pick you up before class. Please arrive ready to get in the ocean, with your bathing suit on! This class happens in groups of 4 or less, Larger groups should call ahead, you will take turns getting in the water.
This class happens in calm water, shallow enough to stand on Day 1, followed by water up to 30ft deep on day 2!
After learning all of your new mermaid skills there will be an opportunity to have pictures and videos taken via a GoPro. Pictures and videos are included and will be offered in an online gallery.
There are no lockers, personal items left behind will sit on the beach with our clothes, so please come prepared with only the items you want to bring in the water or leave sitting on the beach.
Reservations are required.
Pricing:
$650 including all necessary equipment and eLearning
Mermaid Photo Shoot on the Beach
Meet us on the beach or on scenic rocky areas for a photography session as a Catalina Island Mermaid with a professional photographer. This includes an online gallery with 6 professionally edited images, as well as all of the RAW images. Starting at $150 for the first mermaid, and $75 for each additional mermaid up to 6 per session. Offered daily. Mermaid tail rental included, please bring your top of choice. Sizes available for kids and adults up to size XXXL, or size 26.
In this experience participants do not swim, or get in the water, but be prepared to get splashed or have waves splash you. We suggest wearing leggings or a swimsuit underneath the mermaid tail and having a change of dry clothes.
There are not lockers on the beach, but we can keep our things within sight at all times. Please arrive in your bathing suit, ready for your photoshoot as there are no changing rooms at the beach.
Mermaid Tail Upgrades are available in most sizes. Shell bra upgrades are available in most sizes.
Reservations are required, but please call for same-day bookings as we can sometimes accommodate you.
About Mermaid Photoshoots:
The Meet-up point is at the famous Casino Building underneath the Mermaid Mural. This tour is appropriate for groups large and small, people of any age, or any size, and any mobility. We pride ourselves on being inclusive. If you have mobility challenges, please send us an email prior to your photoshoot and we will make a plan that works for you. Mermaids come in all shapes and sizes!
