Discover Mermaid: Try Mermaiding at Diving Academy

If you have ever watched a mermaid glide effortlessly through the water and wondered what that actually feels like, our Discover Mermaid course was designed exactly for you. It is one of the most popular tasters we run at the academy, combining playful creativity with genuine, transferable in-water skill, and it consistently surprises people with just how much of a real workout, and a real skill, mermaiding turns out to be.

What Is the Discover Mermaid Course

Discover Mermaid is an entry-level, no-experience-necessary session that introduces you to swimming safely and confidently in a monofin, the single large fin that gives mermaids and mermen their signature underwater movement. Run in a controlled pool environment under close instructor supervision, the course covers monofin technique, safe breathing practices and basic underwater comfort, all wrapped in an experience that is genuinely as fun as it looks. You can find full details and upcoming dates on the Discover Mermaid course page.

Who Discover Mermaid Is For

This course welcomes an unusually wide range of people. Confident swimmers of almost any age come along purely for the novelty and the photos, competitive swimmers and synchronised swimmers use it to build a new dimension of aquatic skill, and increasingly we see divers signing up simply to add a genuinely different string to their in-water bow. Parents often book it as a memorable birthday or holiday activity for older children, while adults frequently treat it as a fun, low-pressure way to build water confidence without any of the equipment or intensity associated with scuba.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before You Start

Discover Mermaid has a deliberately low barrier to entry. There is no scuba certification or prior mermaiding experience required, and no minimum fitness level beyond being a reasonably confident, comfortable swimmer able to swim a modest distance unaided and comfortable putting your face in the water. A minimum age applies for safety reasons, and anyone with medical conditions affecting swimming or breath control should have a quick conversation with our team beforehand, but for the vast majority of people this course is genuinely accessible from day one.

What a Typical Session Looks Like

Sessions begin on dry land with a short briefing covering monofin fitting, safety procedures and the basic body undulation technique that powers mermaid-style swimming, since it is a completely different motion from a standard front crawl or breaststroke kick. Once in the pool, your instructor works through progressive drills, starting with basic kicking technique while holding onto the poolside, moving to short unassisted swims, and building up to longer, more fluid lengths as your confidence and technique improve. Throughout the session the emphasis stays firmly on safety and enjoyment in equal measure, with plenty of rest breaks and encouragement rather than any pressure to perform.

What You Actually Learn

Beyond the obvious appeal of swimming like a mermaid, the course builds genuinely useful skills. You will develop core body strength and a more efficient, undulating swimming technique that many divers find improves their overall finning and body position in the water afterward. You will also learn safe breath-holding practices and monofin safety procedures, including how to surface and remove the fin safely, which matters more than people expect given how differently a monofin behaves compared with standard fins.

Common Questions Before Booking

Do I need to be able to swim well?

You need to be a reasonably confident swimmer, though you do not need any formal swimming qualifications. Our instructors assess comfort levels gently at the start of the session.

Is it tiring?

Yes, more than most people expect. Monofin swimming works your core hard, and sessions are paced with rest built in throughout.

Can I progress beyond this one taster session?

Absolutely, and many people do. Discover Mermaid is the entry point into a full Mermaid Academy pathway, covering everything from fundamentals through to instructor-level mermaid certifications.

Why It Is Worth Doing

Beyond the sheer fun of it, Discover Mermaid is a brilliant confidence builder for anyone slightly nervous in the water, since the playful framing takes the pressure off in a way that formal swimming lessons sometimes do not. It is also a genuinely excellent cross-training activity for divers and swimmers alike, building the kind of core strength and body awareness that translates directly into better trim and finning technique on scuba dives too.

How It Fits Into the Bigger Mermaid Pathway

Discover Mermaid is intentionally the first step of a much longer journey through our Mermaid Academy, one of six specialist academies we run alongside Scuba, Professional, Tec, Freediving and Conservation. Divers who enjoy their first taste often progress onto longer courses covering advanced monofin technique, underwater photography poses, and even mermaid instructor qualifications for those who want to teach the skill themselves. Full details on the pathway and how to book your first session are on the Discover Mermaid course page, where you can also see upcoming session dates.

What to Bring on the Day

Most people simply need a swimming costume, a towel and a positive attitude. Monofins and any other specialist equipment are provided as part of the course, fitted individually to make sure the fin sits comfortably and safely before you get in the water. If you already have your own mask or goggles you are welcome to bring them along, though spares are always available on site for anyone who needs one. We would recommend arriving a little early to get settled, complete a short safety form and meet your instructor before the session briefing begins.

Long hair is best tied back securely, and it is worth bringing a spare hair tie just in case, since loose hair can be surprisingly troublesome once you start moving through the water with any speed. Contact lens wearers generally have no issues, though anyone who prefers not to wear lenses in the pool is welcome to use one of our spare masks instead of goggles for a more secure, comfortable fit throughout the session.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Discover Mermaid suitable for children?

Yes, subject to our minimum age requirement and always with a confident swimming ability. It is a genuinely popular choice for birthdays and school holiday activities, and our instructors are experienced at working with younger participants.

Do I need to be a scuba diver to try it?

Not at all. Discover Mermaid is a completely standalone experience that requires no scuba background whatsoever, though existing divers often find their water confidence and breath control gives them a head start.

How many people are in a typical session?

We keep group sizes deliberately small so that every participant gets genuine one-to-one attention and correction from the instructor throughout the session, rather than simply being shown a technique once and left to it.

What should I wear?

A standard, well-fitted swimming costume works well under the monofin. Avoid anything too loose fitting, such as baggy board shorts, since loose fabric can bunch uncomfortably inside the fin during longer swims and slow you down unnecessarily.

Ready to try mermaiding for yourself? Book your Discover Mermaid session or get in touch with any questions - we're at Bellman Court, Great Knollys Street, Reading, RG1 7HN, or call +44 (0) 118 9761 729.