All at sea? Mermaid hype explained
I’m like a fish out of water when not in water. I love swimming, diving, paddle boarding and kayaking. But even I used to be sceptical of the mermaid trend, giving it a wide berth. It seemed too high on the sparkly and too low on the sport factor until I tried it out myself.
I stand shivering by the plunge pool at the international boat show called «Boot» in Düsseldorf. My hair and bikini are already wet from the freediving session I’ve not long finished.
When it comes to mermaiding, I have mixed feelings. While I love being under water, I haven’t yet felt the need to transform myself into a mermaid, unicorn or other mythical creature. «Isn’t this something that’s more for kids?» I ask myself.
As I ponder this, instructor Melli (Melanie Drygalla (site in German) from the Mermaid Kat Academy (site in German) appears in front of me as well as the two other participants in the taster course, also adults.
Transforming into a marine creature
She explains calmly and clearly what we should look out for in the water and the correct way to put on our fin. This happens in a sitting position, as the monofin joins both feet together. It’s not at all suitable for walking and standing on land.
All that’s missing now is the tail – that colourful, shimmering piece of fabric that I pull over my fins, legs and hips like a pair of tights. Half sitting, half lying down, I awkwardly crawl the few metres to the pool. I no longer feel like a land creature.
But this makes it even nicer to glide through the water with the fin in a wave motion. I’m no longer aware of the hustle and bustle of the trade fair around me. It’s like taking a brief excursion into another world where mythical creatures roam. I’m totally relaxed and enchanted.
I find it easy to dive with the fin, which will likely be down to all my previous apnoea (temporary pauses in breathing) experience. «It’s great for people who love water,» says instructor Mellie, who often runs courses for adults, including team events, corporate parties and birthdays. But it’s not just mermaids that are taking more and more to the water. There are also increasing numbers of mermen, i.e. men, cavorting in the water.
What surprised me was that people who are phobic of water can also book a mermaiding course. «For many people, having a photo of themselves as a mermaid acts as motivation to overcome their fear, even if they have their eyes closed in the photo underwater,» explains Mellie.
Even diving associations are embracing the trend
The allure of mermaiding seems to be spreading far and wide. As well as children aspiring to be Ariel, it’s also increasingly captivating adults from very different backgrounds. Merman Andy is an Instagram hit with more than 100,000 followers and one of the stars of the Netflix documentary series Merpeople.
It comes as no surprise that the fantasy world of mythical creatures also brings in cold hard cash. According to calculations by market researchers Business Research Insights, sales of the shimmering nylon or silicone fins reached around 180 million USD (163 million CHF, 173 million EUR) in 2024. By 2032, this figure is expected to reach 330 million USD (298 million CHF, 317 million EUR).
The US currently has the largest market share, but Europe is catching up. In Germany, France and the UK, demand for mermaid fins is set to increase significantly in the coming years.
Entry-level fins with tails are available for less than 100 francs. But more elite mermaid fans spend several thousand francs, euros or dollars on elaborate silicone models made to measure.
Source: Shutterstock
The fact that even major diving associations Padi (site in German) and SSI offer mermaiding courses also shows that diving with glittering fins has extended beyond a small niche.
Mermaiding and modelling require mental and physical strength
Even if I don’t quite understand why I’m so excited about floating through the water in a mermaid costume, on an emotional level, I’m hooked. And I soon realise that it’s quite challenging, especially when you add photos into the mix. There’s not a great deal of exercise but loads of glitter.
Holding my breath, diving down, throwing myself into a pose where my arm doesn’t cover my face, keeping my eyes open and looking towards the camera is challenging enough. Moving so slowly that your hair doesn’t slosh forward and cover your face is even harder. And modelling underwater is a completely different kettle of fish.
Source: Shutterstock
Julianna (Julianna Girg) can confirm this. She works as a mermaid and underwater model. «You have to be really fit in apnoea diving and be able to control your breathing and heartbeat,» she says. The 25-year-old trains several times a week in the pool or in open water.
She practises yoga intensively for mental energy and flexibility. In terms of strength training, she relies on deadlifts, bench presses and squats with weights in the gym.
Teamwork for the perfect picture
You need physical as well as mental fitness to master the challenges of underwater modelling, as she explains to me in an interview at the boot trade fair. This includes factoring in cold temperatures, because unlike apnoea divers, models don’t wear neoprene.
Currents are also difficult to handle, requiring a high degree of body control to stay in place in zero gravity. Not only that, you get stinging eyes from salt, chlorinated water and sand as well as unavoidable but unpleasant water up the nose, which gives models a lot of bother.
Making everything look easy and relaxed despite the many challenges requires experience and constant training. So, why does she still love it? «When I see the pictures, my heart starts pounding,» Julianna answers without hesitation.
The models are usually seen solo in the photos, but there’s teamwork behind the shots. As well as the model and underwater photographer, there’s at least one safety diver, one or two snorkellers for safety on the surface, a coordinator and a boat driver.
Mermaids also dive in Swiss lakes
While mermaiding usually starts in swimming pools, you can increasingly find these creatures in open water. For example, Cindy Guyot, founder of Métisphère, offers courses in apnoea diving and mermaiding in Swiss lakes.
Back in the pool, my taster session has now come to an end. I got a tiny insight into the world of merpeople. And I never thought I’d be so enthusiastic about mermaiding. I’m sure this won’t be the last time I go underwater with a shimmering fin and bated breath.
If you’re interested in mermaiding, you can find a selection of monofins and mermaid tails in our range. Here are three models I particularly like.
Header image: Jens Drygalla
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Siri Schubert
Senior Editor
Siri.Schubert@digitecgalaxus.chResearch diver, outdoor guide and SUP instructor – I love being in, on and around water. Lakes, rivers and the ocean are my playgrounds. For a change of perspective, I look at the world from above while trail running or flying drones.
