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Train like a mermaid on Catalina Island with PADI-certified Mermaid, Advanced Mermaid, and Emergency First Response courses in small groups. Learn ocean skills, gain certification, and join a welcoming mer-community in Avalon.
Train like a mermaid on Catalina Island with PADI-certified Mermaid, Advanced Mermaid, and Emergency First Response courses in small groups. Learn ocean skills, gain certification, and join a welcoming mer-community in Avalon.
Book with Catalina Island Mermaids
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Catalina Island Mermaids · Avalon, California
On Santa Catalina Island's sun-salted shore, Catalina Island Mermaids teaches the PADI Mermaid programs in Avalon, California. Located at 128F Sumner Avenue, Avalon, CA 90704, this small shop runs personalized Mermaid, Advanced Mermaid, and Emergency First Response courses that turn curiosity into certified skill. The full-day class (10:00 AM–4:00 PM) blends confined-water drills, ocean practice, and technique coaching with PADI’s training structure, all delivered in groups capped at four students per instructor. You’ll meet at Catalina Island Mermaids and confirm PADI eLearning, choose equipment, and warm up before heading into protected confined-water sites near Avalon Harbor. Training focuses on mer-tail propulsion, breath control, safe surface management, and rescue techniques for Advanced students. Optional content sessions may include complimentary photos or video if conditions permit, with certified proof emailed after completion. What makes this experience distinct is how professional training meets local maritime character. Catalina’s coastline drops from sandstone bluffs into kelp forests and rock-strewn shallows; visibility, swell, and the presence of garibaldi, kelp bass, and the occasional sea lion shape every session. Ocean conditions replace pool predictability, so instructors adapt sites and timing for safety and skill development. The shop sits a short walk from the Catalina Express ferry terminal; participants should plan travel time accordingly and allow for ferry or helicopter delays. Catalina Island Mermaids provides all basic gear, but you may bring a personal mask, snorkel, fins, or tail. Complete PADI medical screening beforehand; certain conditions require physician clearance per PADI standards. Why book it? Because this is an approachable, community-minded way to practice breathwork, propulsion, and water confidence inside a certified curriculum. Beginners become competent swimmers with mer-tail skills; experienced divers refine rescue technique and extend range. After certification, students can join meetups, pursue advanced training, or apply for the PADI Mermaid Instructor path by contacting [email protected]. Expect genuine local flavor: Avalon’s harbor hums with commuter boats, kelp beds ripple in the swell, and the island’s compact town makes lunch a quick pleasure. Whether you come for a single certification or a multi-course track, Catalina Island Mermaids offers a measured, sea-focused curriculum that leaves you safer, stronger, and more curious about what the ocean can teach. Practical notes: arrive in swimwear, bring reef-safe sunscreen, a waterproof bag, snacks, and an ID. Cancellation policy requires notice seven days in advance for a full refund. Travel via Catalina Express or Maverick Helicopters and allow extra buffer time for connections. This is equal parts playful skill-building and rigorous safety training; book when conditions are favorable, and bring patience for an ocean classroom that rewards practice. Small class size ensures individualized feedback, and the island’s marine backdrop makes each lesson feel like field training. Join to gain skill, community, confidence.
moderate.
6 hours (10:00 AM–4:00 PM).
Moderate—comfortable swimming ability and basic breath-hold endurance for several hours of in-water work
Minimum age is 6 and the maximum is 99; younger participants must meet watermanship requirements.
No—beginners can enroll in PADI Mermaid; Advanced Mermaid and EFR are for students building on base skills.
Yes—basic training equipment is included, though you may bring personal mask, snorkel, fins, or tail.
If conditions are unsafe, the provider will offer a reschedule first; refunds follow their cancellation policy.
Arrive in Avalon via Catalina Express ferry or Maverick Helicopters and walk to Catalina Island Mermaids at 128F Sumner Avenue.
Optional complimentary content may be taken when conditions allow, but content delivery is not guaranteed for every session.
Avalon is the primary town on Santa Catalina Island, a long-standing Channel Islands destination and focal point for island visitors.
Use reef-safe sunscreen, avoid touching kelp and marine animals, and pack out all trash—ocean-based training depends on healthy coastal ecosystems.
Catalina Island Mermaids is a specialty experience provider based in Avalon, California, offering a range of mermaiding and underwater services on and around Catalina Island. The company runs guided Catalina Island Mermaid Photoshoots on Middle Beach, in-studio Mermaid Transformation sessions with themed sets and souvenir photos, and a PADI Mermaid Class for participants ages 12 and older. Catalina Island Mermaids also provides Avalon Bare Bottoms underwater services for boats in Avalon Harbor, organizes Mermaid Community Meetups at Casino Point Dive Park, operates a Catalina Freedive Training Camp & Spearfishing Workshop, and offers Meet a Catalina Mermaid meet-and-greet experiences. All experiences emphasize safety and accessibility: the Mermaid Transformation requires no swimming, the PADI Mermaid Class follows PADI instruction standards for training, and freedive courses include structured freediving techniques and supervision. Professional photographers capture photos and videos for many experiences, with digital galleries or souvenir prints provided when listed. For boat owners, Avalon Bare Bottoms focuses on underwater maintenance and retrieval tasks specific to Avalon Harbor conditions. Catalina Island Mermaids engages the community through meetups and water-safety initiatives, combining recreational mermaiding with education. The fleet of offerings accommodates families, couples, children, and adult enthusiasts seeking creative photos, skill development, or specialized underwater services. Visitors planning a trip to Avalon can choose from introductory mermaid experiences to multi-day freediving and spearfishing workshops, all delivered locally on Catalina Island. Bookings are coordinated through the Avalon activity calendar and include clear pre-visit instructions, equipment options, and accessibility details to prepare guests for each unique session.
Book with Catalina Island Mermaids