Meet Seattle’s mermaids … and merman

Seattle has a lot of subcultures. A music scene. Pinball leagues. Foodies. And now mermaids.

A group of mermaid enthusiasts regularly abandon the land and gather — with decorated monofins — at area pools and other bodies of water. The mermaids have created a local pod dedicated to living the mermaid lifestyle. Various groups of mermaids gather across the country, but Seattle’s pod has recently garnered media attention.

“I find myself identifying as a human female who loves tails,” mermaid Elaine told KIRO Radio’s Jason and Burns Show.

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Though some mermaids identify as just that — a mythical creature of the sea. Until the recent media attention, the mermaids have enjoyed their time below the water’s surface as a sort of secret society. But now they’re topside and have a Facebook page — Seattle Mermaids.

“I will add that there are some mers in the community who use this as a way to identify, and I know some mers in the area who use it as a way to promote views on sexual orientations and gender identity,” another mermaid added.

“I have a day job, but whenever I can I’m in the pool,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if I have a monofin on my feet or if I have a tail on my feet. I practice free diving probably once or twice a week. I try to go to a pool as a mermaid at least once a week. And then sometimes I’ll do charity events, or conservation events — it’s all over the map.”

The mermaids also said they are up for hire for kids parties and other events.

Jason and Burns Show producer Jacob recently took the opportunity to swim with Seattle’s mermaids. He had a little trouble getting used to the fin. Check out the video above.

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