Mermaids do have qualifications

“We did our qualification at Splash H20 Dive School through MerSwim SA, and at Miracle Waters in Magaliesburg.”

Mermaiding qualifications are similar to diving qualifications, but the tail adds on some weight.

On August 14, the first two mermaids in South Africa were certified by the National Association of Underwater Instructors.

Rynfield resident Candice Storm Baker (Mermaid Storm) from MerSwim SA in Benoni and Izelle Nair from Merschool SA got together with master free dive instructors Matt Stow and Quintin de Boer in the freezing weather to complete the Mermaid One Certification.

“For this certification, mermaids are required to demonstrate competent monofin swimming skills and tricks, as well as swim underwater at 25m and demonstrate a static 01:30-minute breath-hold,” said Baker.

“Mermaiding is similar to freediving and skin diving in many ways, and this certification makes it possible to dive safely with a buddy in the ocean.

“We did our qualification at Splash H20 Dive School through MerSwim SA, and at Miracle Waters in Magaliesburg.”