Watch Florida’s professional mermaids swim in Dunnellon’s springs

In the crystal-clear waters of Rainbow Springs State Park, a scaly purple tail glides past. There’s a flash of red, then green. A pod of merpeople, men and women donning custom silicone and fabric mermaid tails, swim across the spring in a coordinated pattern.
Professional merman Andrew Corter, directed the video shoot featuring a variety of other famous “mersonas”: Michelle Colson, Haley Smith, Felicia Flaherty, Coral Dover and Eric “The Mertailor” Ducharme. Most of this pod recently appeared in Netflix’s new docu-series, “MerPeople.”
“Social media has really changed the game for professional mermaids,” said Corter. “They don’t ask you for headshots or resumes. They ask how many followers you have before they even consider booking you.”
The Tampa Bay Times spent the day with the professional merpeople.
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[@mermaidanalise]

I'm so thankful they got to talk about how the documentary didn't show the mermaid community as we expected it to be. There were a ton of people that got left out and their message wasn't heard. We can do better than that. I loved seeing this pod get together and swim but also spread the message about who we truly are not what others think we are or what they perceive us to be. We are worth more than a crummy Netflix documentary.

[@TheAnimecoolfan]

That community needs to make another documentary! The more documentaries and content the more exposure= more paid mermaids/mermen

[@mermaidanalise]

@@TheAnimecoolfan 1000% agree with you on this topic!

[@HenrietteKamiss]

😮😥

[@kirisamedc6130]

0:50 the getting inside the tail while wearing a mermaid scale leggings kind of a reminds me of sims 3 mermaids

[@Malacostvmbre]

The red head mermaid 😮 her look is amazing

[@andymckinley9179]

That’s what I was thinking!

[@taraelizabethdensley9475]

Swimming in a tail looks so amazing, bet it's a good workout as well

[@mermaidzoephiahart]

It is, it works your core,butt, and legs

[@Brineytoes]

My 9 year old granddaughter swims like a fish with one.

[@mermaidzoephiahart]

Being a mermaid is the best thing in the world I've been a mermaid since 2016

[@dejahturner16]

Ive fallen in love ❤

[@m_d_l_a3208]

I started swimming in the pool like mermaid at a young age. I became pretty fast at swimming. 30 years later, I found out I have webbed toes lol

[@AlexFlame-p5j]

Gorgeous 🎉

[@MrAshred86]

Merman… Merman!!!

[@naturebeautyful]

How much for a tail bc me and my son really want one. I love the ocean and Hannah is my favorite.

[@mermaidzoephiahart]

Silicone tails can be up to $700.00 or more most cost thousands of dollars the fabric tails areb$100.00 not including the monofin you have to buy that separately and those are expensive as well

[@labaccident2010]

The tails shown here, the fabric ones, run upwards of 700usd for the fin and the tail skin. Silicone base cost is usually around 3000usd

[@HelloK1920]

I could never.. “leg claustrophobia” should be an official thing, it’s cool but it couldn’t be me!

[@riarivera5995]

The way many people get used to it is they take it in steps. First swimming normally I'm leggings Add flippers Then Monofin Then mermaid skin. All at your level of comfort But it's possible to just be a mermaid with just the leggings and dolphin kicks, as long as everyone is having fun ❤

[@creativechasity]

Time for a where are they now update

[@bjorntveita5995]

Im gonna buy a silecone mermaid tail too❤❤❤

[@twylaanderson6483]

my child wants one of those tails

[@briangrigsby1842]

I scuba dived here at night 50 years ago. It was fantastic a first magnitude springs only 3 in Florida. Hell with mermaids, these springs are priceless, and have been leased out to Nestles and other nefarious corp. entities by our corrupt governors. DeSantis has caused worst red tide in history by dumping phosphate in Tampa Bay. OF course he got a big donation like F P and l donations that have raised our electric rates by 2X in a year more by years end.

[@Eliselovesu_]

50?!?

[@saylemthesmoldinogeek9159]

Another super expensive hobby to get into? Yes please

[@LadyLyriasFashionConsulting]

He did hreat!!! Eric is ao cool!

[@CynthiaPalm-wj3hz]

Swimming is my thing 🤗

[@Evajesirena]

Where are you buy this plase talk me😢

[@Nimalii1]

One day I’m going to move to florida and fulfill my dream

[@shannonjohnson4117]

I really wanna try this

[@IbrahimOkera]

Where can I found you my daughter need it please ❤

[@TheoniKirkgard]

What job is this

[@willowtreewhispers]

It can be a hobby but for actual jobs some people swim as mermaids in aquariums to be entertainment for children and adults who appreciate the spectacle

[@jordinmoon5953]

Me to

[@HenrietteKamiss]

Français anglais je veux venir avec nous que vous m'avez envoyé sa stp merci beaucoup

[@23mustang]

I wish I could do this so bad……. 😱😭

[@MissxLariz]

This looks difficult having to use so many muscles while holding your breath! Also imagine a world where REAL mermaids exist and where humans slaughter them for their tails just so they can wear them and pretend to be a mermaid 😳

[@StevenEnsastegui]

Steven ❤❤🎉🎉🎉😢😢😢😮😮😮😅😅😅😊🧜‍♂️

[@citizenfat]

❤❤❤

[@RebeccaReid-pc5or]

Shello beautiful mer people from me mermaid mystic you are all so magical and stunning beautiful

[@Unicornboo-rj7vx]

Woah

[@jordinmoon5953]

Me ti

[@ບໍ່ໃຍດີ]

ຜີອີວອນ

[@watermelonlover745]

This is depressing