Kia ora, ocean souls! I’m Fiona—also known as Mermaid Ffifi—and my journey to founding Making Mermaids is one that flows as deep as the tides.
I was born with a love for the sea. Growing up in Kenya and South Africa, the ocean was my constant companion, a vast, mysterious world that called to me. I answered that call as a scuba instructor and underwater photographer, spending decades beneath the waves, exploring, learning, and capturing the magic of the deep. But it wasn’t until I arrived in Aotearoa, my new home, that I discovered something truly transformative—mermaiding.
The first time I slipped into a tail and swam as a mermaid, I felt something shift. It was more than just movement—it was a return to something primal, something free. I wasn’t just in the water; I was of it. And I knew I wasn’t alone in that feeling.
Mermaids have always existed in the stories of cultures across the world, including here in New Zealand. They embody mystery, beauty, strength, and the connection between humans and the ocean. I saw in mermaiding a way to bring people together—those who, like me, feel the call of the sea in their bones.
That’s why I founded Making Mermaids—not just as a school or a company, but as a community. A place where anyone in New Zealand who feels drawn to the world of mermaids can find their tribe. A space where we celebrate our shared passion, whether through swimming, storytelling, photography, or simply embracing the joy of being merfolk.
For me, mermaiding is about more than just tails and underwater tricks—it’s about belonging. It’s about the unspoken understanding between people who know what it feels like to glide weightlessly through the blue and feel at home.
Making Mermaids is for all of us who dream in saltwater, who hear the ocean’s whisper and answer with a splash. If that’s you, then welcome—you’ve found your pod.
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