There’s something captivating about gliding through the water with grace and control—looking more like a sea creature than a diver. That’s the heart of PADI Mermaid training, and while it may seem like all fun and fantasy, mermaid skills actually offer a surprisingly valuable foundation for both scuba diving and freediving.
At Sierra Madre Divers in Bohol, we offer a full range of mermaid courses—from introductory to advanced—and we’ve seen firsthand how these programs build confidence, comfort, and control in the water. Whether you’re new to the ocean or already scuba certified, learning mermaid skills can improve your performance, safety, and enjoyment underwater.
In this post, we’ll explore how mermaid and scuba skills overlap—and how training in one discipline makes you better in the other.
Buoyancy and Streamlining: Grace Meets Control
One of the first things divers learn is how to control their buoyancy—the delicate art of floating mid-water without sinking or rising. For scuba divers, this involves mastering your breath control and making subtle adjustments using your BCD.
In mermaid diving, there’s no tank or BCD. Instead, control comes solely from your body. You learn how to:
- Use your core and legs for propulsion
- Hold your body in a streamlined position
- Use lung volume to ascend or descend gently
This enhanced body awareness transfers directly to scuba. Many divers who train as mermaids come back to scuba with better posture, smoother kicks, and more efficient movement, resulting in improved air consumption and better control.
Breath-Hold Confidence: A Game-Changer
Even if you never plan to become a freediver, improving your breath-hold skills offers huge benefits in the water.
Mermaid training teaches you how to:
- Take effective pre-dive breaths
- Relax underwater to conserve oxygen
- Handle the urge to breathe calmly and safely
- Develop CO2 tolerance through controlled static sessions
These skills can reduce stress and anxiety, especially in moments where you need to briefly remove a mask or regulator. Even scuba divers benefit from the confidence of knowing they can comfortably hold their breath in a controlled, safe setting.
And for anyone interested in progressing to rescue diver or Divemaster, breath-hold training is a major asset.
Mindfulness and Body Awareness
Mermaiding isn’t just physical—it’s mental. Without a mask, gauge, or gear to manage, you’re entirely in tune with your surroundings and your own body.
This awareness leads to:
- Smoother finning
- Quieter movements that disturb less marine life
- Improved situational awareness (which is crucial in both solo and group diving scenarios)
Scuba divers who train as mermaids often report feeling more in control and more present during their dives. It’s a calm, meditative experience that enhances the way they approach every dive.
Equalization Techniques
Mermaids and divers both descend through the water column and must equalize their ears regularly. In mermaid training, you learn to do this without the assistance of exhaled air from a regulator.
Learning to:
- Equalize using only your own breath
- Recognize the earliest signs of pressure
- Descend slowly and safely
…makes you a more attentive and skilled diver, especially during controlled descents or in deeper environments.
Monofin Mastery vs. Scuba Kicking Techniques
While most divers learn to flutter kick with standard fins, mermaids rely on a monofin—a single blade connecting both feet. Using a monofin develops:
- Leg strength (especially in the hips and core)
- Rhythmic, wave-like movements
- Finning efficiency
Once divers return to standard fins, many find their finning technique improves, and they can move more fluidly through the water with less drag. Some even incorporate dolphin kicks into their scuba diving, particularly when free of gear during warm-water dives.
Underwater Communication and Safety Awareness
In both scuba and mermaid disciplines, divers rely heavily on non-verbal cues and visual awareness to communicate.
Mermaid students practice:
- Using hand signals and body language
- Maintaining eye contact with buddies or instructors
- Recognizing stress or discomfort in others
These skills are essential in any diving environment—especially for professionals. For anyone pursuing Divemaster or Instructor training, mermaid experience hones your ability to read the water and your fellow divers more effectively.
Building Confidence in the Water
Many people come to mermaid courses with a mix of excitement and nervousness—especially those without previous dive experience. But mermaid training is accessible and inclusive, making it a perfect way to build confidence.
You learn to:
- Trust your breath and body
- Work comfortably in deeper water
- Float, glide, and perform basic rescues
- Move without reliance on bulky gear
For nervous scuba students or those unsure about open water training, mermaid courses are a great stepping stone. We often see mermaid students go on to complete their PADI Open Water certification with much greater ease.
Scuba Divers as Mermaid Crossovers
Already a certified diver? Here’s what you’ll love about adding a mermaid certification:
- The freedom of gear-free diving
- Creative photo opportunities in shallow reefs and lagoons
- A new way to interact with the ocean
- Opportunities to teach or assist in mermaid courses as a dive professional
Plus, it’s just plain fun. You’ll rediscover the joy of movement and play in the water—which often gets lost in technical training.
Why Bohol Is the Perfect Place to Train Both Skills
At Sierra Madre Divers in Bohol, we’re proud to offer both PADI Mermaid Courses and Scuba Training in one of the most beautiful marine environments in the Philippines.
- Our calm, clear, shallow bays are perfect for mermaid practice.
- Our instructors are PADI-certified across both disciplines.
- Our equipment is top-notch, and we offer high-quality monofins and tails.
- We provide training for all levels, from Discover Mermaid to Advanced Mermaid and beyond.
And for scuba divers interested in adding mermaid to their skillset (or vice versa), we offer package options and guidance for crossover training.
Which Should You Do First?
There’s no wrong order—but if you:
- Want to build breath-hold comfort before scuba: Start with Discover Mermaid or Basic Mermaid
- Are already scuba certified: Try PADI Mermaid to improve your mobility, posture, and awareness
- Want to teach or work in both: Train through Advanced Mermaid and combine it with your PADI Divemaster path
You’ll develop a deeper connection with the ocean—and your own body in the water—no matter where you start.
Ready to Experience the Best of Both Worlds?
Whether you’re dreaming of diving like a mermaid or becoming a more skilled and confident scuba diver, mermaid training has something unique to offer.
At Sierra Madre Divers, we believe in cross-training for better ocean skills. Let us show you how both worlds can enrich your underwater journey.
Contact us today to book your PADI Mermaid course or ask about mermaid and scuba training bundles. Dive beautifully, dive confidently—with or without a tank.
