Mermaid Experience and Photo Shooting including make up

Swimming in a mermaid tail is not just a costume change. It takes practice, breath control, and a calm approach underwater. At this small-group session in Abades, instructor Natalie prepares you carefully, while Andres handles the underwater photography. You can pose by reefs, fish, starfish, and sunken ships, then receive more than 70 photos and videos.

I like the patient instruction and the chance to choose from several tails before the camera work begins. I also like the practical safety net: a guide stays with you underwater, and a land-based photo shoot is available if you are nervous around water. The main consideration is the cold Atlantic, especially outside summer, and the location can require a change to your travel plans if it is confirmed in Abades rather than Radazul.

Key points to know before booking

• Small groups of up to five: You get more personal help with the tail, breathing, posing, and underwater movement.
• Natalie and Andres lead the session: Natalie provides the water instruction and makeup, while Andres takes the underwater images.
• More than 70 photos and videos included: Files are sent by email or transfer the same day or by the following day.
• Abades is the current meeting point: Meet 10 minutes early in front of the Mini Supermarket Playa Abades.
• Water skills matter: The experience is not suitable for non-swimmers or children under five.
• Bring your own basics: Pack swimwear, a towel, and sandals. Towels and bikinis are not supplied.

Becoming a mermaid in Abades

The session begins in front of the Mini Supermarket Playa Abades. Arrive 10 minutes early, since the first part of the experience involves meeting the instructors, checking sizes, and getting ready. If you are delayed, send a message to the provider.

Abades is a useful setting for this kind of activity because the photography takes place in the sea rather than in a studio pool. You get natural light, open water, fish, coral, starfish, and the possibility of framing sunken ships in the background. Conditions can vary, so you should think of this as a real sea experience with a fantasy costume, not a carefully controlled photo booth.

The meeting location has changed in the past. One booking was originally expected to take place in Radazul and was later moved to Abades, with advance notice. Check the confirmed location before arranging transport, particularly if you are staying elsewhere on Tenerife.

Choosing a tail and preparing your look

Once you meet Natalie and Andres, you try on the monofin costume and select the tail that suits your preferred look. The choice matters more than it may sound. Your tail and top become the main visual elements in nearly every underwater photograph, so bring more than one top if you have options.

A low-waist swimsuit without bold patterns is a smart choice. It is less likely to show above the tail or distract from the costume. You also need to bring your own bikini or swimsuit because those items are not included.

The makeup is waterproof and designed to finish the mermaid or merman look. Make sure any extra makeup or jewelry you bring is fully waterproof. Ordinary products can run into your eyes or spoil the effect once you are in the sea.

This is also a good point to be realistic about the styling. The session is meant to create a fantasy image, but you still need to help make the pictures work. Your posture, leg position, facial expression, and ability to stay relaxed all affect the result. That is why the preparation time is valuable rather than wasted time before the photo session.

Learning to move with the monofin

The costume changes how you use your body. Instead of kicking with two separate legs, you move through the water with the single fin. Natalie explains how to swim with it, how to surface, and how to remain underwater for longer periods.

You also receive guidance on breathing and what to watch for underwater. The aim is not to turn you into an expert freediver in two hours. It is to help you feel safe enough to control your body, stay calm, and hold a pose for the camera.

The instruction is especially helpful for first-timers. Several families have used the session as an introduction to mermaiding, and Natalie’s background as a dive instructor adds a clear safety focus. Children who are old enough to swim can take part, but the minimum age is five and non-swimmers cannot join.

You should not expect to spend the whole session swimming quickly. The faster tail movement sounds exciting, but good photographs usually depend on slow, controlled motion. You may spend more time practicing a turn, a graceful arm position, or a calm descent than racing through the water.

Underwater portraits among fish and reefs

When you are ready, the session moves into the photo portion. You can swim with marine life, pose near coral, and descend toward sunken ships. Starfish and colorful reefs add natural detail, while the open sea gives the pictures a sense of place that a pool cannot provide.

Andres follows you underwater with the camera and offers help with positioning. That support is important because it is difficult to think about breathing, tail control, facial expression, and composition at the same time. You do not need to invent every pose yourself. The instructors show you what to do and help you adjust.

The calm setting at Abades can work well for photographs, but the Atlantic water can be cold. A March session was described as chilly, and the sea does not become especially warm even later in the year. Bring a towel and plan to dry off promptly between sessions or after the photography ends.

You should also remove glasses before going underwater. Contact lenses are allowed. This is a small detail, but it can save you from arriving at the water and discovering that your usual eyewear is not suitable.

What you receive after the session

The package includes more than 70 photos and videos in high format. They are sent by email or transfer on the same day, or at the latest the following day. That quick delivery is useful if you are on a short holiday and want to see the result before leaving Tenerife.

The number of files gives you a good range of finished images rather than just a few carefully selected portraits. You may receive different poses, tail movements, group shots, and short video clips. The final quality will still depend on water conditions, your comfort level, and how much effort you put into swimming and posing.

This is not a passive photo session. You need to participate. If you remain stiff, struggle with the monofin, or cannot stay underwater comfortably, the photographer has less to work with. The instruction helps, but it cannot replace basic swimming ability or a willingness to practice.

For that reason, the experience can be especially rewarding if you book two sessions. A second session gives you more time to get used to the tail and improve your poses. The tradeoff is cost and time, since each session lasts two hours.

Is $77 a fair price?

At $77 per person, the price covers the instructor, mermaid or merman costume, waterproof makeup, snorkeling gear, and the underwater photos. More than 70 images and videos are included, which makes the package stronger than a simple costume rental or short portrait shoot.

I see the best value for couples, families, and friends who want a shared activity rather than a single souvenir portrait. A family can choose different tails, take turns in the water, and receive a collection of images from the same outing. One family booking included three mermaids and a partner who stayed in the human role.

The value is less obvious if you only want a quick costume picture and do not enjoy swimming. The session requires physical effort, preparation, and time in cold seawater. If you are uncomfortable underwater, the provider can offer a land-based photo shoot, but you should confirm how that option affects the exact package before booking.

The small group size also helps justify the price. With no more than five participants, you receive more direct guidance than you would in a large group. That matters when several people need help with tail fitting, breathing, and posing.

Who will enjoy this most?

This experience suits a confident swimmer who likes playful photography and wants something more unusual than a standard beach portrait. It works well for birthdays, couples, family outings, and anyone who has wanted to try a fantasy character in a real sea setting.

It is also suitable for adults who feel unsure about appearing in photos. One participant in her thirties worried about her body type and was delighted with the final images. The practical lesson is simple: the tail, makeup, water, and careful posing create a very different picture from an ordinary swimsuit photograph.

Children can take part if they meet the age requirement and can swim. The instructions say children under five and non-swimmers are not suitable. Older children still need close support and should be comfortable following instructions in open water.

This is not a good match if you dislike makeup, cannot remove your glasses, or want a completely dry activity. It is also not ideal if you need a guaranteed warm-water outing. For anyone afraid of the sea, ask about the land photo option rather than booking the water session and hoping fear disappears on the day.

Planning your visit around the two-hour session

The activity lasts two hours, but you should allow extra time for reaching Abades, changing, and drying off. The confirmed starting time depends on availability, so check it before arranging other plans.

Bring swimwear, a towel, and sandals. The provider supplies snorkeling gear, but not towels or bikinis. A simple swimsuit with minimal decoration works best under the tail. If you have several tops, bring them so you can choose the best color and fit once you see the available tails.

The instructors speak German, Spanish, and English. That gives mixed-language families a practical advantage, especially during safety instructions and posing directions.

Transport deserves attention. Abades may not be the most convenient location for every visitor, and one booking required a change in travel plans after the location shifted from Radazul. Check the meeting point shortly before the session and leave enough time for the journey.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and reserve now while paying later. Those terms help if your Tenerife schedule is still changing, but they do not remove the need to check the location and weather-related practical details.

How this compares with a standard snorkeling outing

The snorkeling gear is included, but snorkeling is not the main event. You are here to learn the tail, create underwater poses, and produce a set of fantasy images. The fish and reefs provide the setting rather than being the sole focus.

That makes the experience more structured than a casual swim. You will spend time listening, practicing, trying poses, and repeating movements for the camera. The reward is a personal photo collection, not simply time looking beneath the surface.

If you want a relaxed look at marine life with little posing, a regular snorkeling trip may suit you better. If you want a creative keepsake and enjoy being part of the picture, the mermaid session offers more.

Should you book the mermaid experience?

I would book it if you can swim, enjoy a little theatrical fun, and want photographs that feel different from the usual holiday snapshots. The strongest reasons are the patient water coaching, small group size, choice of tails, waterproof makeup, and large batch of photos and videos delivered quickly.

Book with care if you are sensitive to cold water, nervous in the sea, or relying on a location near Radazul. Confirm that your meeting point is Abades, bring the right swimwear and towel, and ask about the land option if water makes you anxious.

For a $77 activity, you receive more than a costume and a few poses. You get instruction, equipment, makeup, a real sea setting, and a substantial set of images. That makes it a good choice for a family memory, a playful couple’s outing, or a long-held mermaid fantasy that deserves more than an ordinary photograph.

FAQ

Where does the mermaid experience meet?

You meet in front of the Mini Supermarket Playa Abades in Abades, Spain. Arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled start.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts two hours.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $77 per person.

How many people can join the group?

The group is limited to five participants.

What languages do the instructors speak?

The instructors speak German, Spanish, and English.

What is included in the price?

The price includes an instructor, mermaid or merman costume, waterproof makeup, underwater photos, and snorkeling gear.

Are towels and swimwear provided?

No. Bring your own swimwear and towel. Sandals are also recommended, and bikinis are not included.

Can children participate?

Children under five cannot participate. Non-swimmers are also not suitable for the water experience.

When will I receive the photos and videos?

You receive more than 70 photos and videos in high format by email or transfer, usually the same day and no later than the following day.