About the Course

Learn basic mermaiding principles and focus on practicing skills in a pool or confined water site.

The PADI Basic Mermaid™ course combines learning supporting knowledge and principles with a confined water skill development session to introduce the fun of fundamental mermaid diving. The course covers mermaid diving's background and culture, primary safety considerations, equipment and basic water skills.

Getting Started

Contact your local PADI Mermaid Center or PADI Mermaid Instructor and start learning at your own pace with PADI Basic Mermaid eLearning.

To get more experience as a mermaid, enroll in the PADI Mermaid and PADI Advanced Mermaid courses today.

Academic

To enroll in the PADI Basic Mermaid course, you must be at least six years old. You need to be able to swim at least 25m/80ft without swim aids, able to float comfortably at the surface for at least 3 mins and in good physical health. No prior snorkeling, skin diving or freediving course completion is required.

The PADI Basic Mermaid course consists of two phases:

• Study independently using PADI Basic Mermaid eLearning (or your instructor may conduct class sessions if not available in your language).
• A confined water (pool or pool-like location) session to learn and practice basic mermaid diving skills, problem prevention and handling, and how to make mermaid dives

Equipment

In the PADI Basic Mermaid course, you will use a monofin (i.e. mermaid tail), mask, snorkel and fins. You may also use a wetsuit and weight belt. Using gear designed specifically for mermaiding is best; however, in this beginner course, you may be able to use snorkeling equipment you already own. If you are a freediver, some of your gear (e.g. mask, fins, snorkel) is also mermaiding gear.

Check with your PADI Mermaid Center for advice and specifics regarding the gear you'll use, what the experience includes and other details.