After much anticipation I am finally certified as a PADI Freediving Mermaid.
What does this mean? I am part of a small, yet growing number of certified mermaids with one of the largest underwater sports organizations in the world!
I completed this program through Jewels Diver, a free diving mermaid with over 10 years of experience in Cozumel, Mexico.
I got into this sport by being instagram curious of another mermaid. @themermaidelle another Puerto Rican mermaid to be exact. I was like, “good gracious that tail is bodashious”.
Getting into water sports is a reminder of my connection to water and how I’ve underestimated my natural inclination to it for quite some time, suppressing myself from all the amazing Florida Springs that the amazing state I live in has to offer.
After training I also quickly realized that it’s better to underestimate than to overestimate and learned about Loss of Motor Control and Black Out that can occur from lack of oxygen. I will begin to document all that I’ve learned and will continue to as I found this to be a fascinating part of my training.
I’m just as in love with freediving as I am with mermaiding and I’m not in a rush to try scuba at all but I am sure that I will be getting that certification in the future as well to venture deeper and longer into the depths of the oceans, springs, rivers, and just about any gem of precious swimmable healing water that Earth welcomes us to.
This world is so unique and I want to share it with as many people who are interested as it is such a low impact, alternative sport for full body fitness & mental health that makes for great gains.
Cheers to becoming a Freediving Mermaid Post Pandemic.
Sincerely,
Applied Mermaid
(Cheryl Pastrana)