Have you felt like there has been missing something your whole life? Like you were incomplete without a meter-long appendage to propel you around? Are you a fan of seashells, shipwrecks and more than shallow water? Did you once see The Little Mermaid and realize that Ariel was your she-ro and her entire look from fin to flowing locks were style-goals?
Well then, this is the article for you!
There are several mermaid academies around the world for nearly every location and price range while offering up everything from taster courses and photo shoots to full-on underwater experiences for both women and men. If you’ve ever been curious about how to grow a tail for a day or three, look no further than the locales below which span all the way from the Americas to Oceania. Let’s dive in.
ACADEMIES BY CONTINENT
THE AMERICAS
MEXICO
U.S.A.
ASIA
MALAYSIA
THE PHILIPPINES
SINGAPORE
EUROPE
SPAIN
AUSTRIA
U.K.
ENGLAND
FRANCE
GERMANY
GREECE
SWITZERLAND
OCEANIA
AUSTRALIA
recommendations
THE AMERICAS
AQUAMERMAID ACADEMY - WORLDWIDE*
Learn to swim both with and without your new tail in engaging and dynamic 60-minute aqua-fitness classes. They also include training on the proper care for your tail, underwater mermaid games and free-style swimming at the end of each class, all with photography session included.
Age restrictions: 7+; available teen and adult classes
Price: $60USD+/class
Location: Austin, TX, USA; Edmonton, AL, Canada; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Ottawa, ON, Canada; Quebec City, QC, Canada; Montréal, QC, Canada; Nashville, TN, USA; Toronto, ON, Canada; Tulum, Mexico; Abu dhabi, UAE; Dania Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, FL, USA*
DIVINE MERMAID - JALISCO, MEXICO
Learn the art of mermaiding while partaking in gentle to high-intensity physical activities adaptable for individual ability and comfort. Tails come in sizes XXS to XL and the Salt Mermaid Swim School offers 60-minute mermaid fitness classes for adults.
Age restrictions: none; private and semi-private lessons for ages 6+
Price: $25USD/fitness class; swim school registration only available during summer months
Location: Puerto Vallarta, Bahia de Banderas
THE LA MERMAID SCHOOL - CALIFORNIA, USA
Learn how be a mermaid by signing up for Mermaiding 101 and 201, 1-hour classes taught by professional Hollywood mermaids and include tail-on and tail-off drills and skills. Budding mermaids also can test their skills in group mermaid games and progress to more advanced moves like breathing techniques, hair and facial expressions underwater, floats and spins, buoyancy control and group choreography basics.
Age restrictions: 8+ and dependant upon swimming ability
Price: $45USD+/class
Location: Simi Valley, CA
MERMAID SCHOOL & SIREN SCHOOL AT ADVENTURE SCUBA - TEXAS, USA
Learn everything from basic skills to cool tricks that focus on muscle control and exercises to help practice how to do all the right aquatic moves which include surface and underwater techniques such as breath control and proper use of mermaid tails. Upon mastering the mermaid moves, enroll in Siren School where budding mermaids can get familiar with underwater group tricks and games including hula hoops, tag and character development.
Age restrictions: Dependent upon swimming ability
Price: $99USD/2-hour class; tail rental available for $15USD
Location: Plano, TX
WORLD OF SWIMMING MERMAID SCHOOL - MICHIGAN, USA
Learn to focus on advanced mermaiding in Mermaid PerforMER classes such as buoyancy control, underwater performance (like smiling for the camera), breathing techniques and more in group or private sessions. Participants must be able to swim 25 yards without stopping, be comfortable going underwater and be able to retrieve a submerged object to join ongoing sessions and must have feet bigger than 1.5 size due to the size of the fins.
Age restrictions: Dependant upon swimming ability
Price: $115USD/group class; $135USD/private class; fin rental for additional cost
Location: Whitmore Lake, MI
THE MERMAID ACADEMY - FLORIDA, USA
Learn to become a mermaid during 1-hour classes that can be customized to any age and take place on-site at hotel resorts partnered with the academy. Indulge in mermaid games as you take underwater photos and swim in your tail.
Age restrictions: 2+
Price: $30-$50USD/class
Location: Various hotel resorts around Florida (mostly located in the Orlando area)
MERMAID SCHOOL AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORTS - FLORIDA, USA
If staying at any Disney World Resort (such as Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort or Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club), guests can learn to swim like a mermaid with this added summer perk. The 1-hour classes include tail rental and professional instructors to create a magical mermaid experience.
Age restrictions: 4+
Price: $50USD/class
Location: Walt Disney World Resorts in the Orlando area
WEEKI WACHEE JUNIOR MERMAID CAMP - FLORIDA, USA
Let your children learn the secret to mermaiding during these immersion camps geared toward children and adolescents. The camp requires participants to be very comfortable in water and sells out rather quickly so it is best to plan vacations ahead as classes usually take place between April to August.
Age restrictions: 7-10 or 11-14, depending on camp
Price: $300USD/camp
Location: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Spring Hill, FL
FAIRMONT KEA LANI MERMAID UNIVERSITY - HAWAII, USA
Go beyond just learning to swim like a mermaid when signing up for the Mermaid Glam package to get a full immersion. Mermaids will get professional hair styling, bedazzled jewelry application and styling before finally partaking in a tidepool photography session in their tails.
Age restrictions: 5+
Price: $160USD/Sunshine Package; $265USD/Ariel Package; $230USD/Maui Package; $375 - $675USD/photography session, dependent upon shooting location
Location: Wailea, HI
ASIA
DOLPHINLEE - SELANGOR, MALAYSIA
Learn to become a real-life mermaid at the first and only qualified mermaid team and academy in Malaysia, whose facilities include a 25-meter pool designed for swimming training. The Mermaid Mission makes the fantasy of mermaids into a reality by offering various levels of mermaid training from elite to professional and junior levels for children, and the in-house store also supplies swimming and diving gear.
Age restrictions: 6+
Price: Upon inquiry
Location: Bandar Baru Klang Klang, Selangor
PHILIPPINE MERMAID SWIMMING ACADEMY - VARIOUS LOCATIONS, THE PHILIPPINES*
Learn how to transform into a mermaid and become familiar with the mermaid tail while enjoying a photo opportunity during this 90-minute session. Budding mermaids will only practice basic mermaid strokes in shallow water so this activity is perfect for all ages from kids and teens to adults and professional mermaids.
Age restrictions: Dependant upon swimming ability
Price: 1200 PHP/photography session; 2300 PHP/photography session plus swim lesson
Location: Boracay, Western Visayas; Cebu, Central Visayas; Manila, Luzon*
THE MERMAID SYRENA - SINGAPORE
Learn about the rich mythology, lore, and culture that surrounds the legendary mermaid while partaking in classes offered for children and adults alike that operate on a first-of-its-kind syllabus completely unique to the Singapore Mermaid School. They offer everything from official group classes, private mermaid lessons for up to 4 people, as well as bachelorette parties and one-day, personally-customized mermaid experiences where participants can swim fit and free like a mermaid.
Age restrictions: Dependant upon swimming ability
Price: Upon inquiry
Location: Singapore
EUROPE
SIRENAS MEDITERRANEAN ACADEMY - CATALONIA, SPAIN
Learn floating, sprinting and resting movements as well as different styles including mermaid, dolphin and seal in 90-minute sessions based in Tarragona, just south of Barcelona. The Sirenas Mediterranean Academy is bringing the mythological to life and helping thousands of people from around the world to follow their dreams by becoming a mermaid and learning immersion with vertical spins. The courses have also become a popular activity for private and bachelorette parties with sessions held in a budding mermaid’s own pool along a Triton option for boys, all with ability to upgrade packages.
Age restrictions: 5+
Price: 88€/2 sessions including the Bautizo Sirena class and the Sirena Mar class; 189€/land photography session; 289€/underwater photography session of 120 minutes
Location: Tarragona and Torredembarra, Catalonia
AUSTRIAN MERMAIDS - LOWER AUSTRIA, AUSTRIA
Learn to move in the water and experience it like a real-life mermaid during mermaid workshops where mermaids and seamen can learn the art of mermaiding and train in the techniques of breathing as a siren above and below water. Participants will also train the swimming movements of a siren in the water and play fun games.
Age restrictions: 6+
Price: 52€/workshop, not including 10€ tail rental fee
Location: Brunn, Lower Austria
AUSTRIAN MERMAID COURSE - LOWER AUSTRIA, AUSTRIA
In three 60-minute classes, participants can learn the ways of the ocean mermaids and how to swim like one or like Neptune. These classes come complete with fin loan, pictures and souvenir photos by mail in an indoor pool.
Age restrictions: 7+
Price: 75€/class, not including pool admission fee
Location: Frankenfels, Lower Austria
AUSTRIAN MERMAID SWIMMING - CARINTHIA, AUSTRIA
Learn to be able to swim like Ariel or Poseidon while diving through thermal baths in mermaid fins and experiencing lots of adventures. The 1-hour classes included 1-hour admission to the thermal baths as well as 50 minutes of training and fin rental.
Age restrictions: 7+
Price: 25€/class
Location: Villach, Carinthia
MERMAIDS UK - VARIOUS LOCATIONS, UK*
Participants of all ages can learn how to swim like a mermaid using a monofin and tail skin in a safe, fun, environment in a class that teaches how to put on the tail safely, how to stand up in the water safely and teach basic movements required in order to use the tail without injuries and build up the strength to use the tail properly.
Age restrictions: Dependant upon swimming ability
Price: £50/6-week Mermaid course; £9.50/participant for mermaid parties with a max of 10 mermaids, not including pool hire charge or added fuel charge to travel to venue; £70/private, 60-minute mini mermaid experience or £35/mermaid in 60-minute group mini experience; £45/mermaid in 2-hour experience with a minimum of 4 participants
Location: Denbighshire, Wales; Devonshire, England; Bo’Ness, , Scotland
MERMAID MONOFIN - VARIOUS LOCATIONS, ENGLAND*
Learn to wear an actual mermaid tail in Monofin Mermaids, a specialist mermaid swim school that only accepts competent swimmers who are taught by fully-qualified STA swim teachers. The school focuses on teaching students the basics of mermaiding and how to move like a siren whilst wearing a mermaid tail, which is considered not a toy, but a sporting piece of equipment.
Age restrictions: 7+
Price: £20/class
Location: Hastings Lancing and Sussex, England*
BLUE WATER FREEDIVING - HERTFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND
Learn new mermaid skills with this diving course where free photos are available from class to class with the option of extra services such as specific filming or photography, and there are even monthly training sessions for all qualified mermaids to enjoy a little tail time with fellow mermaids and mermen. The 2-day Level 1 indoor course also grants budding mermaids an AIDA Pool /SSI Level 1 Pool/ PADI Freediver Pool certification, where the course starts with beginner freediving theory and then a pool-based practical session which includes breath-holding, fin skills, rescue techniques and finally an exam, all in one day, done with fellow Beginner Freediving students. The second day works on mermaid posture, swimming techniques in a mermaid monofin in their Hertford Training pool with the possibility of advancing to the Level 2 course afterwards.
Age restrictions: 18+ (16+ with parent’s or guardian’s consent)
Price: £200/Level 1 course; £380/Level 2 course
Location: Ware, UK
FREE DIVING UK - CORNWALL, ENGLAND
Learn to dive into the deep with the propelment of your tail in these courses focused towards creating professional level mermaids using freediving skills as a bedrock all while earning a Mermaid Certificate in a heated indoor pool. The 3-day Level 1 course course starts with a thorough introduction to the world of mermaids and mermen and freediving theory such as breath-hold training where the last lesson is a full day dedicated to posture, swimming and posing training to hone mermaid skills in a tail and also includes AIDA 1-2 certification, diving kit, pool entrance fee and lunch in the price. Budding mermaids who already hold a AIDA 1-2 certificate or equivalent can choose to partake solely in the last day of the course or move on to the advanced Level 2 course or the Level 3 course in open, warm water on holiday.
Age restrictions: 18+
Price: £100/Level 1 course; £400/Level 2 course; Level 3: Varied on holiday destination
Location: Newquay, Cornwall
HYDRO SIREN - MEURTHE-ET-MOSELLE, FRANCE
Come and learn to swim with a mermaid tail in an active class that requires concentration and develops grace in a spirit of relaxation and well-being as well as reduces the feeling of stress and promotes the fullness of body and mind. These classes last about 45 minutes and involve synchronized swimming.
Age restrictions: 6+
Price: 16€/class
Location: Lunéville, Meurthe-et-Moselle
AQUA FUN - BAVARIA, GERMANY
Learn how to handle the fin, how to set it up and swim in it and how to improve swimming techniques in a general 30-minute taster class. For those who want to dive further into the world of mermaids, the basic class is 90 minutes of swim practice and fin diving which concludes with the center’s exclusive swimming badge and certificate as well as a photo of professional group in mermaid dress down in the mail. They also offer summer camps to attend.
Age restrictions: 6+
Price: 10€/taster including fin rental plus 5€ voucher for basic class
Location: Murnau, Bavaria
BAVARIAN MERMAID SCHOOL - BAVARIA, GERMANY
Take part in learning mermaid training in introductory classes geared to children and adults, male and female alike, where they are taught theory, preparation, stretching and various mermaid outfit swimming techniques during a 2-hour taster class, which includes an official IMSIA license. Upon passing the taster course, participants are eligible for mermaid training in the advanced 3-hour class, also including the IMSIA license.
Age restrictions: Dependant upon swimming ability
Price: 40€/taster class; 65€/advanced class; prices do not include pool admission fee which must be paid separately
Location: Bad Wiessee and Miesback (in summer only), Bavaria
MERMAID DIVING - BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY
Learn to become an underwater mermaid in a 2-hour introductory class where participants learn how to deal with the monofin and the costume as well as correct dive techniques which are refined with breathing techniques. Once this class is completed budding mermaids can also study underwater figures and choreography by advancing to the basic class. All classes include at least two photos or a video and the cost of the tail rental and pool admission fee in the price.
Age restrictions: 6+
Price: 49,50€/introductory class; 94€ /basic class including training material
Location: Asselfingen, Baden-Württemberg
WASSER KINDER - NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA, GERMANY
Learn a unique blend of athletic challenge, imaginative play, and social interaction while mermaid swimming which requires a keen awareness of the body, good body tension and, last but not least, a long breath. Mermaid swimming not only trains the back, abdominal and thigh muscles, but it also tones the entire body in an effective workout in a course of at least two 2-hour classes.
Age restrictions: 8+
Price: 170€/course with minimum 3-person group
Location: Aachen (Fridays between 21-23h) and Würselen (Saturdays between 9h30-11h30), North Rhine-Westphalia
MEERIELLE MERMAID - NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA, GERMANY
Dive into another world and learn to swim in the mermaid costume while “mermaiding” in introductory classes where participants become familiar with the tail, play underwater, dive for seashells and even swim through the tires. Budding mermaids can continue to the intensive, advanced class in which they learn how to do turns such as rolling backwards and forwards as well as underwater dancing with clothes, and mermaids who already have their own tails can expect a discount on the cost of lessons.
Age restrictions: 6+ and dependant on swimming ability
Price: 30€/test class including costume with a maximum of 8 people; 40€/advanced class including costume with a maximum of 3 people
Location: Bornheim, North Rhine-Westphalia
SAUERLAND MERMAIDS - VARIOUS LOCATIONS, GERMANY*
Learn to be a mermaid at all different levels and offered to all different ages in a costume consisting of a so-called monofin and a "fish skin" which is raised on the hips. Using this "fishtail," experienced sirens can then reach amazing speeds and this swim school in Germany provides the chance to do so in combined beginners courses which include a 1-hour introduction to the costume and swimming exercises, followed by a 1-hour workshop.
Age restrictions: 6+
Price: 59€/beginner's course, not including 10€ fee for fin and fish skin rental
Location: Werdohl, Bergkamen, Bönen, Herten and Menden, North Rhine-Westphalia; Bremervörde, Langenhagen, Rotenburg and Wietzendorf, Lower Saxony; Freigericht, Hesse*
SWIMOLINO - VARIOUS LOCATIONS, GERMANY*
At Swimolino budding mermaids can find swimming lessons of a special kind, inspired by the Disney classic princess and which were developed to allow each and everyone to turn into a mermaid or Neptune.
For every big or little dreamer out there’s a 60-minute beginners group class of 6-12 people with the option of upgrading to a beginner's class of only 4 people along with a photography session for a bonus hour of fun.
Age restrictions: 6+
Price: 35-40€/beginner's class without photography session; 95€/beginner's class with photography session
Location: Leipzig and Torgau, Saxony; Oranienburg, Brandenburg; Sangerhausen, Saxony-Anhalt*
MUNICH MERMAID SWIM SCHOOL - VARIOUS LOCATIONS, GERMANY*
Learn mermaid swimming techniques in one of two German schools in the IMSIA (International Mermaid Swimming Instructors Association), an organization that spans the Philippines, China, Japan, Thailand, Mexico, Brazil, USA, Spain, Great Britain, Slovenia, Hungary, and Germany. The class includes warm-up, introduction to the monofin and an underwater photography session.
Age restrictions: Dependant upon swimming ability
Price: 45€
Location: Munich and Prien am Chiemsee, Bavaria; Berlin, Berlin
MERMAIDS CORFU - IONIAN ISLANDS, GREECE
Learn safety mermaid skills, basic mermaid movements and partake in mermaid games during Mermaid Experience classes between 1.5 to 2 hours long with an opportunity to take underwater photos. These classes can take place in both a swimming pool or the sea with a qualified Mermaids UK Instructor for budding mermaids and mermen alike.
Age restrictions: 6+
Price: Upon inquiry
Location: Corfu, Ionian Islands
MJSS - ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
The aim of MJSS is to put a smile on everyone’s face as they learn to become real mermaids and learn how to deal with the monofin and mermaid costume while turning in water. Budding mermaids will also learn swimming techniques, do some important basic exercises and receive a group photo by e-mail after every class. Price includes monofin and tail skin rentals.
Age restrictions: 6+
Price: 16€/class, not including bath admission fee
Location: Zurich, Zurich
OCEANIA
MERMAID KAT ACADEMY - WORLDWIDE*
Learn the art of mermaid in the world’s first public mermaid school where students of all ages are welcome to join 90-minute classes as long as they have strong swimming abilities and there are also professional classes developed for for older teenagers (15+) and adults. Each course involves spending about half the day in the classroom learning about mermaiding, different mermaid equipment, safety and freediving as well as breath-holding. At the end of the class budding mermaids will be certified as either “Bronze”, “Silver” or “Gold” mermaids or mermen after a Mini-Mermaid Course or Advanced Mermaid Course, mostly in the water. The Professional Mermaid Workshop and Professional Rescue Mermaid Workshop are full-day courses with about half a day of training in the classroom and half a day of training in the water.
Age restrictions: Dependant upon swimming ability
Price: $59AUD/mini-mermaid course, $249AUD/professional mermaid workshop, tail rental available for an additional charge of $10AUD
Location: Perth, Western Australia; Townsville, Queensland; all across Germany*
Final Thoughts
No matter your budget, fitness level and physical location there is bound to be a mermaid academy that’s right for you, filled with fun activities and a selection of courses to try to develop your swimming skills and mermaid technique in no time.
However, interested parties should be aware that some academies only offer lessons in indoor pools and they should also make certain to verify availability and price with the mermaid academies as these factors are wont to change without warning. Even more importantly, participants should ensure that they desire to engage in classes that are at an appropriate level for them, as some academies have age restrictions, require swimming aptitude tests or limit the number of mermaids (or Poseidons) per group class.
I recommend trying taster courses if possible, as they tend to offer a short but comprehensive introductory lessons that are sure to wet some’s palettes for more at the least. Many classes also include photography sessions after for a complete package and some academies even provide traveling mermaids to host events such as bachlorette parties for extra-glam experiences.
Either way, budding mermaids can be assured that they’ll enjoy an unforgettable time that is bound to flip their tales and put the salt in their sea breeze like I did in the Philippines in 2016.
Let me know when you do!
May you get lost in the wonder,
M