The below classes are all included in your participant pass. Preregistration is required for some courses due to limited class sizes. Preregistration will become available on January 20th at 5pm. Register by clicking the link and “buying” the free ticket through our ticket portal.
Note: General programming and swimming are not included with the Observer Pass however you may attend all main stage sessions, all merwrangling classes, and accompany any minors in your care to thier sessions. See our FAQ for more details.Instructor: The Natural Merman
1 hour
Sunday
1pm – 2pm
One of the most beautiful things about being a merman/mermaid of color is the empowerment that comes from very rich cultures.
With love for mermaids/mermaiding, there is an internal struggle. We all know Ariel is an icon and before her, Daryl Hannah. These characters created such a magic onscreen that it was hypnotizing. However, it was also problematic.
Whether we want to admit it…. Through these wonderful movies, a smokescreen swarmed around us and created a narrative that has contributed to a falser idea: who can be a mermaid and who can’t.
Where do our ethnic mers fit in? Today, ethnic mermaids and mermen are stifled and lost within this life long conundrum and never bothered to investigate. Achieving understanding is imperative. The magic of mermaids is global and that limitless magic is harnessed through understanding. This creates an accepting and more diverse mermaid community.
Greek mythology is easily accessible and the popular rhetoric so its an understandable go to. However, this class aims to take the time to flesh out the ethnic mersona by understanding history and the wealth of abundant mermaid folklore associated with it. Mermaids are real but they can’t be if we are continuing to perpetuate a cycle created to wash away our individuality as mermaids and mermen.
Lead by Morgana Alba
1 Hours
Sunday 4pm – 5pm
Join us at the main stage for announcements, raffle drawings, Merlympics winner announcements and a first look at next year!
Join Mermaid Chè Monique in the classroom, as she shares her methods for being confident and at ease when performing, presenting, and recording.
This class aims to help you show up as your best self whenever you’re in the public eye.
Find your Confidence, Charisma, Presence, and Poise in person, on camera, and underwater. We will discuss the physiology of presence and increasing your comfort when in the water. The class will also cover Mermaid Chè Monique’s advice for dealing with haters and what to do when you screw up publicly. Be prepared to get out of your seat, move around, and speak in front of the group.
Contact Mermaid Chè Monique if you need any accommodations.
Lead by Graceanne Taylor
1 Hour
Sunday 11:30am – 12:30pm
As mermaids there is no question that we love water and our blue planet, but can you answer all the trivia questions? Everyone of all backgrounds from beginners to marine scientists and general fact nerds are welcome to join in. Teams will be created randomly upon arrival to the activity. Teams will compete to answer trivia questions all about our amazing oceans, aquatic animals, and environmental education. Don’t worry if you’re not sure you know any correct answers-teams will work together to determine the answers and if you get it wrong we can only learn together!
Learn more about our blue planet through a friendly game of Ocean Trivia! Merfolk will work in teams so everyone beginner to expert is welcome to play and learn!
The below sessions and classes are available at an additional fee to cover materials, processing, and/or advanced instructors. You must have a Participant Pass to attend any of these sessions as well as purchase the specific session ticket. Tickets will become available on January 20th at 5pm
Instructor: Aurelia the Deep
Blue Mermaid – Anna Capps
Prerequisites: Please be advised that many skills in this course require kneeling. If you have adaptive needs, please contact Anna directly.
You MUST complete the online pre-work prior to the in-class portion of this certification courser. Failure to complete the pre-work may result in cancelation of your spot (at instructors discretion) with no refund given.
Length: 2 hours
Sunday 9am – 11am
Price: $150
Become a safety siren!
This course will prepare you to recognize and care for a variety of first aid, breathing, and cardiac emergencies involving adults and children.
Registration for this course includes:
(1) Access to the online classroom via direct link
(2) Two hour instructor-led skills session
(3) Digital copy of certification card (to be delivered upon course completion)
This is a blended learning course including an online portion and an instructor-led classroom skill session. Upon successful completion of this course you will receive a digital certificate for Adult and Child First Aid/CPR/AED from the American Red Cross. Certification is valid for two years.
Instructor: Meadow Perry
Length: 1 hour
Saturday 1pm – 2pm
Price: $12
Meadow Perry demonstrates how to incorporate bubble artistry into your mermaid performance to create an engaging act even when you’re land-bound! Learn how to create bubbles with your hands, bubble tricks and some magic to wow patrons and audiences!
Open to all ages.
Instructor: Merman Andy
Length: 1 hour
Saturday 1pm – 2pm
Price: $30
Learn tips and tricks to make high quality content on an ever changing platform. Merman Andy will guide you through his creative process in making merfolk magic.
The way that people engage with social media is changing at a rapid rate. Now, more than ever, short videos are becoming the industry standard. Professional photography has been a staple of mermaid culture since its beginnings, so it can seem daunting as it now gives way to live videography. Merman Andy will guide you through a step by step process of making your vision into cinematic masterpieces. Become a more independent content creator, and learn the tools to make your dreams a reality.
Topics Covered:
Instructors: Nicole Zelek
Length: 1 Hour
Sunday 1pm – 2pm
Price: $125
The NAUI Worldwide Introduction to Scuba Diving course is a “resort” style course that gets non-divers under the water for the first time. This is a non-certification class conducted in closely controlled conditions. The participants will learn how to do basic skills underwater with full Scuba gear. At the completion of the course, the students will receive a digital participation recognition that is available in the NAUI App. This course can be used as credit towards a NAUI Open Water Scuba course if completed within 6 months. Experience the fun and excitement of the underwater world as a NAUI Scuba Diver!
Instructor: Rebecca Hawk
Length: 2 Hours
Saturday 9am – 11am
Sunday 9:30am – 11:30am
Price: $50
Ages 12+
In this class students will get to work with every mermaid’s favorite crafting material, Dragonskin silicone! Skills learned will include; mold prep, coloring silicone with powder pigment, casting in pre-made flat molds as well as tips and tricks along the way. A live silicone hand painting demo will be included if time allows. (No airbrushing due to fumes.)
Each student will dye, pour, and cast their own dragonskin silicone scale wristband with sea-life accessories to be assembled by the end of class.
Instructor: Anatoliy Pak MermaidArtisticSwimming.com
Prerequisites:
Length: 1 hour
Price: $20
Saturday 2:30 – 3:30pm
Mermaiding is a lot of Fun. But if you don’t follow simple yet important rules, it can quickly turn into a stressful or even dangerous experience. Come and learn a minimal set of mermaid safety skills that will make your underwater swims safe and truly FUN.
The class covers basics of safety for underwater swimming borrowed from freediving Dynamic Apnea Discipline. The focus of the class is on buddy support and rescue skills. By the end of the class participants will
– Be aware of signs of a distressed mermaid
– Be able to prevent blackout development
– Be able to provide support for compromised mermaid
Instructor: Nicole Zelek
Prerequisites:
Length: 2 hours
Price: $150
Session Options:
Saturday 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Sunday: 1pm – 3pm
The NAUI Mermaid level 1 course teaches Mermaids the entry level skills needed to safely swim in a pool or confined water environment. Learn to efficiently dive underwater and perfect your dolphin kick. Gain important knowledge needed to safely swim and mitigate the risk of injury while enjoying this fun water sport. This two hour course in the pool also includes an academic portion where your knowledge of mermaiding and safety practices will be enhanced and tested. The internationally recognized NAUI Mermaid program will make the perfect addition to your professional portfolio.
Instructor: Aurelia the Deep
Blue Mermaid – Anna Capps
Prerequisite: 200m swim test (not timed)
Minimum age: 15 yrs old
You MUST complete the online pre-work prior to the in-class portion of this certification courser. Failure to complete the pre-work may result in cancelation of your spot (at instructors discretion) with no refund given.
Length: 4 hours
Saturday 1pm – 5pm
Price: $299
Unlock inner power and find inner peace with the PADI Basic Freediver Certification Course! This pool-only certification course is the first step in your freediving journey. You’ll learn proper techniques for breath-hold diving, as well as safe buddy procedures (including LMC and blackout rescues). Upon meeting the performance requirements and completion of the course, you will earn a PADI Basic Freediver certification.
Includes PADI Freediver eLearning & One, 4hr pool session:
– Learn proper breathing techniques for apnea diving
– Equipment ins and outs
– Static Apnea and Static Safety
– Dynamic Apnea and Dynamic Safety
– LMC and Blackout
Course Performance Requirements:
– 90sec static apnea
– 25m dynamic apnea
– Demonstrate proper buddy procedures
– Demonstrate proper rescue of a simulated blackout diver
Required Equipment:
– Mask
– BiFins (NO MONOFINS) – Snorkel
– Wetsuit
– 3mm or 5mm recommended for static
– 1.5-3mm recommended for dynamic
– Rubberized weight belt
– Hard Weights in 1-2 pound increments
Rental Equipment may be available upon request. Contact Deep Blue Aquatics Directly to discuss.
Instructor: Mermaid Charlotte
Length: (up to) 2.5 Hours
Sunday 2:30pm – 5pm
Price: $25
Does your tail or top need some love? Bring your fins to this hands-on repair clinic where you will receive a take-home repair kit as well as personal instruction on how to mend your tail, top or other accessory. Mermaid Charlotte will provide a personal consultation for all repairs, big or small, and more minor repairs may be possible during the clinic session under her supervision and guidance.
All tail types are welcome. Your materials fee goes towards in-class materials and covers your take home kit. This kit will include basic supplies for silicone, fabric and hybrid repairs.
While there are 2.5 hours set aside to allow everyone ample time to complete repairs, your individual work may not take the full time and you are free to leave whenever suits your schedule.
Instructor: Brett Stanley
Length: 75 Minutes
Saturday 3:45pm – 5pm
Price: $45
Are you unsure how to get started in underwater photography, or wondering what the best poses are for a stunning mermaid photoshoot? In this seminar Award Winning Underwater Photographer Brett Stanley will outline the best ways to take quality images using affordable equipment, and also cover the best techniques for directing mermaids during the photoshoot. The seminar will include these topics:
– Underwater photography equipment
– The physics of underwater photography
– Lighting
– Preparing for a shoot (Mermaid/photographer)
– Posing guidance
– Safety
– Simple photo-editing