So, you wanna be a mermaid? We don’t blame you. They are as magical as they are powerful and word from the sea is that they can sing more beautifully than most. While you may not get vocal lessons, the following schools around the country will teach you everything else you need to know about being a mermaid. Splash on down to see the list.
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Mermaid School at Walt Disney World Resorts—Orlando, FL
Guests at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort or Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts will find an added perk this summer. Mermaid School! This brand-new offering includes a one-hour long class with a tail.
Book your kiddo’s magical mermaid experience by calling 407-WDW-PLAY.
Ages: 4 and up
Cost: $50/class
Where: Various Walt Disney World Resorts
Orlando, FL
Read the Disney Parks Blog article here.
Weeki Wachee Junior Mermaid Camp—Weeki Wachee, FL
Few places are as iconic as Weeki Wachee Springs in Florida, where live mermaid performances have been regular entertainment since 1947. So it makes perfect sense that it would also be home to a mermaid camp! The 2-day experience teaches your little fishies what it’s like to be a Weeki Wachee mermaid performer: think grace and ballet moves, or underwater dancing! The sessions take place in 15-feet of water (totally supervised) and children also learn what it takes to put on a show: at the end of camp family gets to watch their little mermaid perform what they’ve learned—kids perform “dry” in the underwater theater. It’s like theater camp meets ballet meets aquatic acrobats. The Weeki Wachee park also offers other cool features, like a wildlife cruise and on-site dining as well as plenty of other outdoor adventures. And for aspiring mermaid grown-ups, there’s even a camp for adults 30 and up!
Good to know: This camp requires kids to be very comfortable in water so if you can’t get them out of the pool, this is the one for them! Also, the camp sells out quickly so you can plan your vaycay around it for next year: classes take place April-August.
Ages: 7-10 or 11-14
Cost: $300
Where: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
6131 Commercial Way
Spring Hill, FL
Online: weekiwachee.com
Fairmont Kea Lani Mermaid University—Maui, HI
Not that you need another reason to go to this gorgeous resort in Hawaii, the Mermaid University offers young guest of the resort one-on-one coaching from a real mermaid. Learn to swim in a monofin and learn mermaid legends. Classes are held every Tuesday and Thursday.
Want to go full-immersion? Mermaids of any age can also sign up for the Mermaid Glam package. You’ll get professional hair, bedazzle application (jewels around the eyes, anyone?) and jewelry styling—then a tidepool photography session in your tail! Add a Haku (head) lei to remind everyone you are a Hawaiian mermaid.
Ages: 5 and up
Cost: Sunshine Package: $160; Ariel Package: $265; Maui Package, $230; Photography pricing ranges from $375 - $675 per person (dependent upon shooting location)
Where: Fairmont Kea Lani Maui
4100 Wailea Alanui Dr.
Wailea, HI
Online: fairmont.com/kea-lani-maui
AquaMermaid Academy—Chicago, IL
When a simple swimming lesson seems too boring, sign your aqua-nots up for a one-hour lesson at this mermaid academy, where they’ll learn the art of monofin and synchronized swimming. Classes include proper care and wearing of your tail, a swimming level evaluation and practicing swimming both with and without the tail. They even allow for a few minutes of games and free swimming toward the end of class and—of course—photo time. Read more about the AquaMermaid Academy here.
Ages: 7-13 (also teen and adult classes)
Cost: $60/class
Where: UIC Sports and Fitness Center
828 S Wolcott Ave.
Chicago, IL
Online: aquamermaid.com
The LA Mermaid School—Simi Valley, CA
There’s Southern California glam and then there’s Southern California mermaid-glam, and you’ll find both at the LA Mermaid School. Anyone ages 8 and up can sign up for Mermaiding 101 and 201. The one-hour long class is taught by professional Hollywood mermaids and includes tail-on and tail-off drills and skills; group mermaid games and a chance to just test out your skills. Kids do need to be comfortable in the water. If you pass 101, you can move on to Mermaiding 201 where you’ll learn more advanced moves like breathing techniques, hair and facial expression underwater, floats and spins, buoyancy control and group choreography basics. This class is no joke and for the advanced would-be mermaid!
Ages: 8 and up
Cost: $45 and up/class
Where: Rancho Simi Community Park
1765 Royal Ave., Simi Valley, CA
Online: lamermaidschool.com
Mermaid School & Siren School at Adventure Scuba—Plano, TX
Got two hours? Then the crew at Adventure Scuba can help transform you into the mermaid (or merman) of your dreams. You’ll learn everything from basic skills to cool tricks, focusing on muscle control and exercises to help you learn how to do all the right aquatic moves. You’ll learn surface and underwater techniques including breath control and proper use of mermaid tails. If you don’t already have a tail, you can rent one for $15. Once you’ve mastered your mermaid moves, enroll in Siren School where you’ll get familiar with underwater group tricks and games including hula hoops, tag and character development. For anyone 6 and up, there's also a Jr. Discover Mermaid class that is one hour and $45.
Ages: Dependent on swimming abiilty
Cost: $99/for two hours school
Where: Adventure Scuba & Snorkeling Center
2301 N. Central Expressway, #140
Plano, TX
Online: adventurescubaonline.com/mermaids
World of Swimming Mermaid School—Whitmore Lake, MI
Offering ongoing sessions that will take you from no skills to pro skills, the Michigan-based World of Swimming Mermaid School includes introductory classes which focus on mono-fin swimming techniques. The staff includes World Champion Finswimming instructors (the pro mermaids are competing in the World Finnswimmng Championship in Russia this August) and are available for any age as long as you can swim 25 yards without stopping, are comfortable going underwater and can retrieve a submerged object. That means that any age can start, as long as their feet are 1.5 size or larger (due to size of fins). Once you’ve mastered your basics, you can move on to the Mermaid PerforMER classes with a focus on advanced mermaiding like buoyancy control, underwater performance (smiling for the camera!), breathing techniques and more. You can also sign up for private lessons, and join the mermaid meet-up pod. They also offer classes in New York and professional mermaid training in the Key West, Fl area.
Ages: All ages
Cost: $115/session; private lessons are $135; additional cost for fin rental
Where: Whitmore Lake High School Pool
7430 Whitmore Lake Rd., Whitmore Lake, MI
Online: worldofswimming.org/mermaid-school
The Mermaid Academy—Florida
If you’re vacationing in Florida this summer, book a stay at one of these 20 hotels (most located in Orlando or near) and you can add a personal mermaid class to your stay. The one hour class is customized to anyone aged 2-92 and will take place on site at the resort. Learn how to swim in a mermaid tail and play games, take underwater photos and more. Once you’ve booked a stay at the hotel, contact them here to arrange your lesson.
Age: 2 and up
Cost: $30-$50
Where: Various hotel resorts around Florida
Online: themermaidacademy.com/the-mermaid-experience
Post your little mermaid pics to Instagram and tag them #redtricycle and #rtmermaid to share with other mermaid fans.
—Amber Guetebier
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How to Become a Mermaid in 5 Easy Steps
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