Become a certified mermaid at these 7 vacation spots
The world's fascination with mermaids dates back thousands of years. Throughout history, seafarers have claimed to have caught a glimpse of one of these graceful creatures swimming through the sea. Now, The Points Guy has managed to snag an interview with one.
Elle Jimenez, known professionally as Mermaid Elle, grew up so enchanted by mermaids that she became one herself. Now, she and her "mermaid" sisters and brothers teach other humans how they can transform into mermaids at Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) mermaid courses in Florida, Hawaii, Spain, the Maldives and other popular vacation spots around the world.
PADI is the largest diving organization in the world, so it's safe to say there's much more to becoming a mermaid than flipping your hair and shooting mesmerizing looks from a rocky outcrop on the shore.
Meet Mermaid Elle
It's hard to believe, but Jimenez wasn't always so comfortable flipping her fins in the water. While working as a video editor in the film industry, she was looking for something different than the traditional 9-to-5 job. A natural-born entertainer, she loved to dance and was trained in multiple disciplines.
"I've always loved performing in front of a crowd," Jimenez told TPG. "I love making people laugh and I have a good time just bringing a little bit of magic to their day."
Jimenez wanted to make entertainment her full-time job, which eventually led her to open her own dance and entertainment company in Miami providing everything from princesses for kids' parties to showgirls for more grown-up festivities.
Eventually, she was approached to perform as a mermaid for a child's birthday party. The parents didn't want a mermaid to just sit by the edge of the pool and chat with the kids about life under the sea. They wanted a real, live mermaid swimming in the water.
There was just one problem. Jimenez didn't know how to swim. In fact, she was terrified of being in deep water. She turned down the gig, but more requests kept rolling in. Being the savvy businessperson she was, she knew she had to get over her fear and get in the water.
How Mermaid Elle became a certified mermaid
For Jimenez, the first step in her transformation was getting her PADI scuba certification. "Scuba diving really opened me up to the underwater world," she recalled. That's when she first identified as Mermaid Elle (her "mersona") and developed a passion for the oceans.
Fast forward five years and Jimenez seems to be more comfortable in the water than out. She has performed all over the world and holds an official PADI Mermaid Instructor certification. Her connection to the sea and wish to inspire others to preserve its beauty has even become part of her shows. Through the Saving the Seas project, Jimenez raises funds and educates others on ocean conservation.
You can become a certified mermaid, too
If, like Ariel from "The Little Mermaid," you think the human world is a mess, you can join Mermaid Elle under the sea by taking a PADI Mermaid Course. You don't need any prior experience or certifications, and kids as young as 6 years old can participate in the classes. There are various levels of mermaid-ing courses to choose from, beginning with PADI's Discover Mermaid experience.
Discover Mermaid classes introduce participants to the world of mermaiding. The class is only an hour long and held in a shallow pool where you can get comfortable with swimming like a mermaid. From there, you can move up to Basic Mermaid, Mermaid and Advanced Mermaid courses; the final course takes place in open water.
Related: Easy Florida Dive and Snorkeling Trips for Kids
According to Jimenez, mermaiding courses teach many of the technical and safety skills learned in free diving classes, but with a monofin and tail instead of traditional swim fins. "It's very technical, but also artistic. Most people get used to it very quickly," she said.
"By the end of class, when people take off their tail and start to use their legs again, they feel like they don't even know how to walk anymore," she joked.
New mermaids go home with underwater photos to commemorate their experience and they can even purchase their own mermaid tail and monofin to continue their training at home.
The best destinations to find your 'mersona'
There are PADI Mermaid Centers all over the world, and many of them are located in popular vacation destinations. Taking a mermaid class with your friends or family would definitely make for some one-of-a-kind vacation memories and frame-worthy photos.
Ready to get your fins wet? Here are seven magical vacation spots where you can transform into a real-life mermaid.
- Cozumel, Mexico: During Merweek Cozumel, you can receive your PADI Mermaid certification while staying in a nearby hotel for three nights. Various packages are available, some of which are all-inclusive.
- Adelaide, Australia: Adelaide Scuba, a certified PADI Dive Center, offers mermaiding courses, as well as a kids' mermaid class if parents want to get away for a day of wine tasting in Australia's southern wine region.
- Florida: The mermaids of Mermaid Freedive offer a variety of courses in Vero Beach and weekend retreats at the natural springs in Live Oak. There are even kids camps and couples classes. Mermaid Elle is also located in the Sunshine State and recently bought a home on wheels to bring her mermaid courses on the road.
- Koh Samui, Thailand: Mermaid instructor Lukia Lu is in the process of opening Thailand's first-ever Mermaid Center in Thailand later this year.
- Maamutaa Island, Maldives: The PADI Dive Center at Pullman Maldives Maamutaa offers all levels of mermaid courses and mermaid photoshoots in the resort pool.
- Maui, Hawaii: Mindful Mermaids offers group and private mermaid classes in a pool at the Hyatt Regency in Maui.
- Tenerife, Spain: At the PADI Dive Resort Tenerife Diving Academy, you can learn to breathe, swim and post like a mermaid. Because this is a specialty course, participants must be 12 years of age or older and have basic swimming skills.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.