PADI ADVANCED MERMAID COURSE

About the course

The Certified Advanced Mermaid course, you’ll build on your Mermaid certification and apply it to the open water environment. You’ll learn how the open water environment differs from a pool or confined water (larger, deeper, more variable conditions) and be introduced to open-water mermaiding techniques. You’ll also learn about aquatic life – what to expect, how it can affect you, and how you avoid harm.

To enrol in the Certified Advanced Mermaid course, you must be 12 years old or older and already be a Certified Mermaid (or have a qualifying certification from another mermaid organisation). You need to swim at least 100m/320ft without swim aids, be able to float comfortably at the surface for at least 10 mins and be in good physical health.

Academic

The Certified Advanced Mermaid course consists of three main phases:

Knowledge development is achieved through independent study with the PADI Advanced Mermaid eLearning (or your instructor may conduct class sessions if they are not available in your language).
At least two confined water sessions, in which you’ll learn to prepare for mermaiding, rescue/problem management skills and the conduct of mermaid dives. You also learn mermaid skills, such as dolphin (butterfly) kicks, C-shape and U-shape side turns, and some skills distinct to mermaid diving, including backward somersault turn, underwater handshaking mermaid bubbles, and back glides.
Open water sessions in a natural local body of water or a purpose-built site significantly more extensive than a pool, suited to mermaid diving in which you learn and practice the set-up, conduct and execution of open water mermaid dives, including environmentally friendly mermaid diving techniques.

Equipment

In the Certified Advanced 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 for this level; however, you may be able to use snorkeling equipment you already own. If you are a freediver, some of your gear (e.g. mask, fins, and snorkel) is also mermaiding gear.

Languages

The Certified Advanced Mermaid eLearning is currently available in English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Thai, Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Melayu.

Safety and Standards

PADI Mermaids courses prioritise safety and professionalism. Learn more about the safety and professional standards required to teach a PADI mermaiding course – View now

Making Mermaids courses are instructed by Fiona Ayerst (Mermaid Fi). A 30-year PADI Scuba Instructor ana a PADI Mermaid Instructor – Meet Mermaid Fi

NZ (MM)	US	UK	EU	CM
5	5	3 – 3.5	36	22
6	6	3 – 4.5	37	23
7	7	5 – 5.5	38	24
8	8	6 – 6.5	39	25
9	9	7 – 7.5	41	26
10	10	8 – 8.5	42	27
11	11	9 – 9.5	43	28
12	12	10 – 10.5	45	29
13	13	11 – 11.5	46	30
14	14	12 – 12.5	47	31
15	15	13. – 13.5	48	32
16	16	14 – 14.5	50	33

NZ (MM)	UK/NZ	US	EU	BUST (cm)	WAIST (cm)	HIPS (cm)
XXS	6	2	34	81 – 85	62 – 66	86 – 90
XS	8	4	36	86 – 91	67 – 71	91 – 95
S	10	6	38	91 – 95	72 – 76	96 – 100
M	12	8	40	96 – 101	77 – 82	101 – 106
L	14	10	42	102 – 107	83 – 88	107 – 112
XL	16	12	44	108 – 113	89 – 94	113 – 118
XXL	18	13	46	114 – 119	95 – 100	119 – 124
DDPLUS1	20	16	48	120 – 125	101 – 106	125 – 130
DDPLUS2	22	18	50	126 – 133	107 – 114	131 – 138
DDPLUS3	24	20	52	134 – 141	115 – 122	139 – 146

NZ (MM)	UK K	US K	EU	CM	AGE (Est.)
7k	7	8	24	14.5	2.5-3yo
8k	8	9	25.5	15.5	3-3.5yo
9k	9	10	26.5	16.5	3.5-4yo
10k	10	11	27.5	17	4-4.5yo
11k	11	12	29	18	4.5-5yo
12k	12	13	30.5	19	5-6yo
13k	13	1L	32	19.5	6-7yo
1L	1L	2L	33	20.5	7-8yo
2L	2L	3L	34.5	21	8-9yo
3L	3L	4L	35.5	22	9-10yo
4L	4L	5L	37	23	10-11yo
5L	5L	6L	38	24	11-12yo
6L	6L	7L	39	25	Senior kids
7L	7L	8L	40	26	Senior kids
8L	8L	9L	41	27	Senior kids

NZ (MM)	US	EU	AUS	CHEST (CM)	WAIST (cm)	HIPS (cm)
2-3yo	2T	98	3	54	50	60
3-4yo	4T	104	4	56	52	62
4-5yo	5	110	5	58	53	64
5-6yo	6	116	6	60	54	66
6-7yo	7	122	7	62	55	68
7-8yo	8	128	8	64	56	70
8-9yo	9	134	9	66	57	72
9-10yo	10	140	10	68	58	76
10-11yo	11	146	11	72	59	78
11-12yo	12	152	12	75	60	80
12-13yo	13	158	13	78	62	84
13-14yo	14	164	14	81	63	88

Region	Confined	Openwater
Auckland	Birkenhead	Lake Pupuke
Whangarei	Whangarei Heads	Smugglers Cove