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Do you want to be a mermaid? Scubaverse reviews Merthology Creations custom silicone mermaid tail

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Mermaiding in the UK is becoming more popular, and with it an industry is being built around it. Education, public performances, trips, children’s parties and with this happening the budding mermaids need quality equipment.

Choosing a silicon mermaid tail and a tailmaker can be somewhat of a minefield; with most of the well-known companies based abroad and little known about those closer to home.

Most completely bespoke tails from popular tailmakers cost in the region of $2000-$3000 upwards just for the tail. Some tailmakers have devised more ‘budget friendly’ tails that are a type of ‘off the peg’, which compromises the individuality of the mermaid; some are not full silicone and some don’t contain a professionally made monofin which is essential when diving to depth in a tail as a performance mermaid. Not to mention the horror stories that crop up on social media and mermaid discussion sites, about tail quality, fit, after sales customer service, shipping time, shipping costs and customs import duty charges, which in some cases have run to hundreds of pounds extra that was not originally accounted for.

Investing in a full silicone mermaid tail, and finding a company that can deliver  – quality, fit, customer service, professionalism without the hidden charges and that can design a performance tail that encompasses a vision and individuality with passion is a tall order!

During a recent mermaid camp, hosted by Grace Page of Hire a Mermaid UK and Steve Millard of Apneists UK – www.performancemermaids.com who taught the freediving education to a group of aspiring mermaids we caught up with Samantha and Bernard Sleeman of Merthology Creations. We discussed all aspects of the tailmaking process (without discovering trade secrets!), from ideas, to design, to what makes their tails stand apart from the others. We took a close look at Sam’s own personal silicone tail that she had brought along that she made several years ago, that has been well used in both swimming pools and in open water and was still in very good condition. The body of the tail had no seams down the sides – in fact it was virtually seamless. The silicone was incredibly stretchy but not thick and bulky whilst still being very durable and it was of the highest quality 100% skin safe silicone. It was clear that they have done their silicone research and only use the best materials they consider to be suited to tail use.

A tail needs to be a good fit and be able to withstand the demands put on it in terms of performance. Merthology creations ensure each tail is custom fit to each individual’s body mould and double checked with provided measurements and each fluke contains a professionally made freediving fibreglass monofin as standard.

Satisfied of the quality and fit that Merthology Creations offer, it was agreed that they would make one bespoke tail and a school tail for Steve Millard’s Performance Mermaids – part of Apneists UK. However, both tails would be needed for an appearance at the Blue Planet Aquarium the following month. The review is of the bespoke tail.

That night we discussed the new fluke design and colour ideas with several images depicting different design aspects. In the following days measurements were swapped and several sketches of the design ideas done of the fluke, the first originally with plumage incorporated all over as a tribute to the traditional depictions of Sirens in Greek mythology as partial bird-like creatures who lured sailors to their doom

Sam took the sketches and applied them to her design software and sent back the resultant image, to which she took on feedback and changed the central part to a more streamlined look. Once the final image had been agreed, Sam had to scale and adjust the design to accommodate the monofin and to maintain aesthetics whilst reducing the width of the fluke which is still 950cm at its widest point and a metre long!

In the meantime, daily updates and pictures about the progress of a matching top that was about to go through the mold process and options were given through pictures for the pigment choices for the top and the tail.

Only six days after agreeing to make the tail we were sent some pictures of the beautifully intricate plumage of the fluke taking shape – the attention to detail was astounding; the trailing feathers were designed so that they would flutter when in the water. In the following days we were sent more update pictures with the tail taking shape in silicone with the final picture of the finished tail four days later!

The first impressions on initially seeing the new tail – The colour scheme looked great –dramatic in both design and colour with ‘fire’ as the theme, red and gold as the main colours. It has the feel of being combined with another mythical creature –  the phoenix; with the plumage of the fluke and the extended spines towards the middle which have the look of the long tail feathers the phoenix is often depicted with.

The fluke itself is a fantastic combination of dramatic curves and intricate feather detail that Sam hand sculpted to the exact sketch and design that was finally agreed upon and indeed the trailing feathers really do flutter in the water as promised. You can’t see the edges of the monofin incorporated into the fluke either in or out of water and the monofins used are all adapted by Merthology Creations to prevent any edges poking out and damaging the silicone. There are drainage channels to allow the water that enters the tail escape as you would expect, however, these are very well hidden. You can see that the fluke really has been a labor of love with amazing finish to her work. Even the small details are considered – with the suggestion of a small intricate gold starfish to complete the plain red scale top – a beautiful finishing touch.

As far as the colour of the tail was concerned, the depth of the colour was perfect & it is definitely a beautiful red! The pigment itself is incorporated into the silicone – so no fear of the colour rubbing or peeling off, but with the blending and detail done with an airbrush.

The scales of the body are also detailed as they are hand sculpted textured scales, however, they do not detract from the design of the tail as they are still subtle – no scalloped edges or heavily detailed on top which would have competed and detracted from the detail that has been incorporated into the fluke. The scales are just the right size and shape and are also uniform. The tail is virtually seamless in the same way Sam’s tail is – there are no seams down the sides which adds to the realism of the tail. The thickness of the silicone is still thick enough to be durable, so no need for a lining material for reinforcement, but not so thick as to be cumbersome – the body can be pulled down over itself to the fluke, so you can reach the foot pockets of the monofin easier and the inside of the body is nice and smooth to enable lubricant to be used – making the process of putting the tail on and taking it off more straightforward which is handy if you are doing that multiple times, for example, in between performances.

The fit of the tail is also very good – the tails are designed with a snug fit as the silicone itself does have a significant amount of stretch to it – no baggy waist that fills with water when duck diving or swimming. You can also decide where you want the top of the tail to end

We invited Merthology Creations to the first swim of the two new tails:

So in conclusion, ordering a tail from Merthology Creations has been an absolute pleasure from design to first swim. The service has been completely professional throughout. All feedback is taken on board fully so they really can make any tail, exactly as you imagined it. Communication has been excellent throughout with regular progress updates and pictures right from the concept phase through to the sculpting and then the final product. Even the aftercare has been amazing – after the first swim and performance in the aquarium, we wanted a minor adjustment made to the top which was arranged and was picked back up the following weekend – fantastic service and one which could not have been done easily if the tail had been purchased from abroad.

Thanks to Merthology Creations, we now have a professional tail exactly to our performance specifications – Merthology Creations have delivered all that and more with this tail without breaking the bank on price, so if you would like a custom made affordable quality tail, suitable for professional performances or for the recreational mermaid, Merthology Creations really can create the tail of your dreams.

There are currently several stock fluke designs to choose from. More designs are currently underway and in production including the “Anita” fluke which was developed for this bespoke tail but will soon be available for you to choose for yourself. New fluke designs can be made to order. Decorative dorsal, hip and heel fins can be added in any combination. There are four silicone top designs, including a silicone shell bra, with more designs coming soon. Bracers are also available in a variety of lengths. Prices start at £1,495 for a custom fit tail in your choice of colour combination, with a stock fluke and body sheath with extras added at additional cost.

We have already used the tail in an aquarium appearance:

See you all in the blue!

Check out Merthology Creations on YouTube and Facebook and learn to be a Mermaid here.

Blogs

CCMI alumni learn to freedive from world record holder Tanya Streeter

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CCMI

CCMI’s 25th anniversary celebrations included Tanya Streeter leading a freediving clinic for CCMI alumni, giving Festival of Seas keynote address

To help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI), the organisation enlisted the help of world record holding freediver and former Cayman resident Tanya Streeter. Invited to give the keynote speech at the annual Festival of Seas gala on 4 November 2023, Tanya eagerly agreed to also host a freediving clinic for young Caymanians who participated in education programmes at CCMI to give back to the Cayman community.

CCMI

Returning to the island where she was born and raised, Tanya led a half-day freediving clinic at Sunset House with the support of Sunset Divers. CCMI education programme alumni were invited to register, and 11 Caymanians, ages 16-26 representing a span of 10 years of taking part in the range of CCMI education programmes, attended the clinic. Some of the alumni participated in more than one CCMI programme over the years, and several are now employed in a related industry in the Cayman Islands, a testament to the importance of CCMI’s scholarship opportunities for Caymanian students.

CCMI

When asked what it meant to Tanya to host this freediving clinic in Grand Cayman, she said, “I cannot overstate what a huge personal impact it has on me to come back to have this opportunity to work with young Caymanians. They are associated with CCMI, so they know about the ocean and about how important ocean health is here for us. But to be able to connect with young people in a realm that I’m good at and is important to me, and to see them grow a little bit personally, is huge. It’s my absolute favourite thing to do!”

CCMI

Called ‘the world’s most perfect athlete’ in 2002 by Sports Illustrated, Tanya discovered her record-breaking gift for freediving in 1997, and in the following decade broke 10 world records, many of them previously held by men. To this day, she still holds the longest-standing world record in the sport, having dived on a single breath to a depth of 525ft/160m in the No Limits discipline off the coast of the Turks and Caicos Islands in August 2002. If anyone is qualified to help others begin their journey into freediving, Tanya Streeter is at the top of the list.

CCMI

The clinic started with a briefing and a meditation session, led by Tanya, to get the mind and body ready to freedive. Participants practiced meditation exercises, breathing techniques to help open the diaphragm and work the lungs and muscles, and important stretches. Next, Tanya gave an in-water safety briefing, which emphasized buddy pairs, proper in-water breathing techniques, and not pushing oneself too hard. In total the group spent about 90 minutes in the water in selected buddy pairs practicing freediving while under the watchful eye of CCMI’s in water safety teams. Tanya spent several moments with each freediver individually, observing them, and offering underwater support and topside coaching. After everyone had one-on-one coaching time with Tanya, the group snorkeled to the famous Sunset House mermaid statue, practicing their new, finely tuned freediving skills to dive to the mermaid (a depth of about 45-50 ft).

CCMI

Before the clinic, participants had a wide range of skills and experiences in the water. Tanya provided one-on-one coaching, speaking to each person’s comfort level. One participant said it felt like it was only the two of them in the ocean. Tanya’s constructive corrections in the water helped participants realize instant success in their form and dives!

CCMI

The following night, Tanya gave the keynote address to the more than 350 attendees at CCMI’s Festival of Seas gala at the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa. A passionate voice for the preservation of the marine environment, Tanya announced she would serve as a CCMI ambassador, focusing her energy on engaging the youth and young people in efforts to protect the ocean. She left attendees with the realization that the connection we have with the ocean is meaningful, and it paves the way to create protections and policies that will sustain the marine environment for the future.

CCMI

While Tanya enjoys using her platform to communicate about the importance of marine conservation, she is very passionate about working with youth and introducing them to the ocean through freediving. “To see those barriers people are facing and to push through and grow even in a hour, and hour and a half. That’s huge. It’s absolutely my favourite thing to do.”

For more information about CCMI, please visit www.reefresearch.org.

About CCMI

CCMI is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1998 to protect the future of coral reefs, envisioning a world with vibrant oceans and healthy coral reef ecosystems. We seek to be the Caribbean’s premier marine research institute by delivering cutting edge research, transforming conservation strategy and developing education programmes of excellence – discovering and promoting real solutions to declining ocean health. Our plan is to invigorate key species and understand key ocean processes that drive reef resilience. We support early career scientists who are INNOVATING ways to improve coral reef health. We are TRANSFORMING conservation strategy and work to inspire the CHANGE that is needed to achieve our mission. CCMI are PIONEERS in the region working to reverse the declines of coral reefs.

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Equipment

Oceanic+ Now Has Freedive Mode on Apple Watch Ultra

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Oceanic is thrilled to enhance your underwater adventures with the launch of Oceanic+ 2.0. This updated version of the app is filled with practical new features designed to enrich the diving experience.

Divers can now use their Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra 2 for freediving to 130 feet (40 meters). The new Freedive mode is packed with advanced features specific to training and freediving with custom alarms for target depth, max dive time, sequential depth, surface time, and max session time. For each alarm, the diver will receive both haptic and visual notifications. Additional features include surface heart rate tracking, heart rate training zones, surface data, and more.

Freedive mode includes a feature called “Stealth mode” which will automatically dim the screen while underwater. Stealth mode disables all haptics and alarms and reduces the display brightness by 90% while diving. This clever feature ensures freedivers won’t startle the fish during their dive. When back on the surface, the display automatically goes back to normal brightness, keeping all surface alarms intact to help fine-tune training.

With a simple click of the logbook, a detailed view of each individual dive made is shown. This includes the total session time, max dive time, max depth achieved, total number of dives, and coldest water temperature. Also seen is each dive on a map with a start and ending point.

While the Apple Watch Ultra is great for real-time critical data, Oceanic+ on iPhone offers a closer view of freedives in much more detail. All dives are automatically saved in the logbook, showing individual session statistics with detailed dive information, and an overall summary. This includes ascent and descent times, heart rate data from each session to provide a recovery assessment, relaxation improvement, and enhancing carbon dioxide recovery resistance.

In addition to Freediving Mode on Apple Watch Ultra, Oceanic+ has received many new enhancements for an enriched diving experience. The new “Activity Map” on Oceanic+ allows divers to visualize their dives on a global mat, showing hotspots with color-coded indicators for different modes, such as scuba or freedive. Divers can also enter beginning and ending tank pressure and tank type in their Oceanic+ logbook, as well as easily export all dives to their preferred logbook.

“Oceanic+ continues to expand its capabilities,” said Mike Huish, CEO of Huish Outdoors. “Now with Freedive mode on Apple Watch Ultra and the many additional improvements to the app including advanced photo and video color-correction, Oceanic+ improves the way we will share our underwater adventures.”

Planning for dives is now easier with Diver Generated Content™ which provides real-time water temperatures at various depths as reported by our diverse diving community. The new Weight Planner assists divers in determining the right amount of ballast needed for their dive.

The updated logbook allows divers to instantly share their dive stories. Dive photos and videos taken with the Oceanic+ Dive Housing are now seamlessly integrated into their logs, allowing divers to overlay their dive profile alongside visuals to tell a complete story.

Oceanic+ 2.0 also includes advanced editing capabilities for photos and videos taken with the patent-pending Oceanic+ Dive Housing. The free version includes automatic color correction for both photos and videos, while the premium version allows access to advanced editing – adjust blue or green color dominance in images and videos; utilize keyframes to make color corrections throughout videos; and the ability to apply color correction to imported media, even if taken with other devices.

The Oceanic+ app is subscription-based and includes a free version and a paid subscription for more advanced photo and dive computer features as well as freediving. The Oceanic+ app can be downloaded here.

About Oceanic

Founded in 1972 by industry pioneer Bob Hollis, Oceanic is a global dive leader committed to providing modern, reliable, accessible, and easy-to-use dive equipment to recreational divers so they can focus on what matters most: exploring the underwater world and appreciating the wonders of marine life. For over 50 years this philosophy has been woven into everything Oceanic does and is the foremost reason the company is considered a best-in-class, recreational dive brand. Recreational divers of all experience levels benefit from the large selection of products like regulators, computers, and BCDs for all types of diving, as well as masks, snorkels, fins, bags, and accessories for watersport newcomers and veterans alike. Oceanic is one of Huish Outdoors’ premier dive brands. To learn more, please visit oceanicworldwide.com.

About Huish Outdoors

Since 2011, Huish Outdoors has been passionate about the outdoors and connecting people to their adventure dreams. Huish Outdoors unites the world’s best diving and outdoor brands – Atomic Aquatics®, BARE®, BARE Exowear, Hollis®, Oceanic®, Oceanic+, Stahlsac®, Suunto®, and Zeagle® – all under one roof, showcasing the best there is in outdoor sports from deep trenches to snowy peaks. From research to development, the Huish Outdoor brands combine leading design with advanced materials and proven technologies to define what’s next in diving. In partnership with retail partners and distributors across the globe, the company is working together to grow the above- and below-water adventures industries. For more information, please visit huishoutdoors.com.

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Experience the Red Sea in May with Bella Eriny Liveaboard! As the weather warms up, there’s no better time to dive into the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea. Join us on Bella Eriny, your premier choice for Red Sea liveaboards, this May for an unforgettable underwater adventure. Explore vibrant marine life and stunning coral reefs Enjoy comfortable accommodation in our spacious cabins Savor delicious meals prepared by our onboard chef Benefit from the expertise of our professional dive guides Visit our website for more information and to secure your spot: www.scubatravel.com/BellaEriny or call 01483 411590 More Less

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