Swimming in a fin publically?

[SirenAngel]

So my friend and I just found out the outdoor pool at the college we go to is kept warmed during the winter, and in true mermaid fashion we decided to go swimming. I recently got my first tail (a FinFun) and decided this would be a good time to try to swim in it, since they have a lifeguard present and my friend brought her bf along to "supervise" since he didn't wanna swim with us. We go check in and get towels and I take out the monofin, planning to swim in just that for a bit since, ya know, I never have before. I'm no athletic swimmer, but I can swim pretty well and feel very comfortable in the water (I've been swimming since I was little and I'm 23 now...) One of the lifeguards sees the monofin and is all "is that all it is?" And I said there was another part but I was just swimming with the monofin for now and she mutters something about the tail "not being a good idea" or something. I swam with the monofin for a few minutes (its not totally weird but I feel a little uncoordinated so next time I try it I'm gonna wear goggles) then took it off and my friend and I swam to the deep end. The other lifeguard said the fin was cool, but I still felt very upset at the other lifeguard's comment. I kinda wish she would have like asked me like "can you swim in that?" or something rather than just rattle off, but maybe I'm just too sensitive.

I know that, wearing a tail, I'll get some weird looks here and there (especially being on a college campus where little kids aren't too much of a thing) but has anyone ever dealt with something like this, and any advice? Thanks!

[Mermaid Summerlilly]

I can totally relate to this lol. I've gotten comments like "That's a bad idea, you'll drown.." whereas I've also gotten comments like "Can you swim in it?" Which are way nicer and it's nice to explain something I know a lot about sometimes. I also get how awkward it is to swim in a tail with older people in the pool (I mean like a few years older not like elderly people) even if they're the same age as you... My besties don't even get my tail so I only have a handful of people that I'm comfortable swimming with.. lol I try.

Anyway good for you for going for that! Screw unsupportive people! They aren't as cool as us merpeople.

[SirenAngel]

TvT Sorry just super happy ya said "us merpeople" like I belong XD *is a newb to everything*

Anyway XD I still plan on trying again after winter break (when I can go home and grab goggles x.x) and hoping there are different lifeguards. People are scary T^T

Thanks for the comment though. Glad I'm not the only one DX

[TritonsGuard]

Don't let them get you down. There will never be a time when mermaiding is completely accepted because nothing will be. Every activity has people who don't like it, even things that are well known and popular. I practiced historical fencing in public, and even though most thought it was awesome, some not only disliked us but took action to get us to leave. That being said, I enjoyed almost every moment of it. My question is if you enjoyed your swim, and I hope you did. If so, that should be all that matters, would you not say?

[SirenAngel]

Don't let them get you down. There will never be a time when mermaiding is completely accepted because nothing will be. Every activity has people who don't like it, even things that are well known and popular. I practiced historical fencing in public, and even though most thought it was awesome, some not only disliked us but took action to get us to leave. That being said, I enjoyed almost every moment of it. My question is if you enjoyed your swim, and I hope you did. If so, that should be all that matters, would you not say?
I did enjoy the swim 😁 that bit just made me a bit sad. I'm still new to all this and trying to be a mermaid is my way of putting my happiness before fear. I dunno. Thank you!

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[Mermaid Alea]

Ahh yes my first swim in my first tail was at the college pool! I finished my fabric tail in the dead of winter and so I went to the indoor heated college pool. Unfortunately they had fans on facing the pool so it wasn't as warm as I had hoped. I was less confident about swimming in my tail once I got there and the tail never left my bag. I took the monofin out and my boyfriend held me in the water while I moved the fin a little then I told him to let me go and I took off swimming. We were there early so the only people in the pool were elderly people working out in the lanes. They pretty much ignored me.

The second time I went I gathered up enough courage to put on my tail. When I was on the side of the pool I took the tail and started putting it on. A nearby lifeguard was staring at me and I felt really weird...especially because I was having trouble getting the tail on. He only looked for a little bit and then he looked away - probably because he had to watch the people already swimming lol. A bunch of kids walked in - I guess they had a kid's swimming class before we got there - and a few of them screamed mermaid when they saw me swimming down the lane. One guy who was swimming in a lane next to mine said with a smile that I was "like a whale" haha he meant it in a nice way but it was a weird sea mammal to compare me to.

Don't worry about your experience. Since swimming at the college pool I have swam in other public places and have received great comments and made children happy. I went on a weekend trip to a spring with some friends. On the last day I set my stuff down on a picnic table by the spring and proceeded to take out my tail and monofin. One of the workers - who I knew for getting onto people for breaking the rules - saw me and walked up to me. I was worried he would say something negative to me but instead he asked if I was the mermaid people were talking about that was spotted swimming in the spring. It was cool! :)

I know sometimes you will feel nervous swimming as a mermaid in public, but it is worth it because of how fun it is and the comments and looks you get are priceless! It is also wonderful to inspire others to become a merfolk!

[SirenAngel]

Thanks so much Alea ❤ it makes me feel a bit better knowing others are going through the same thing... I kinda felt like I shoulda just done it and was beating myself up a bit for lacking the courage at first x.x I'll try again soon!

I'm on mobile!

[Mermaid Alea]

Aww don't worry I was the same way! I went home and was upset that I didn't get up the courage to take out my tail for its first swim. I was so proud of making it and then didn't use it that day so it was a bummer. You will build up the confidence though! ;)

[SirenAngel]

Literally about to cry from ypur kindness xD I'm super sleep deprived right now so I'm a bit sensitive lol.

I'm on mobile!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

On my very first tail swim, I didn't end up taking my tail out. I used my monofin only. Oh and I didn't use up the whole lane either, I just stayed in a corner and thrashed about like a dying fish! Not to mention, the pool I had access to at the time, was only 1 m deep, waist deep water!!! Also not helped by the swimming pool, it was part of a casino club and not very big. So each time I went, I stuck out like a sore thumb. There was glass windows everywhere, everyone could see in, even from the club on the next level.

After a few times, it WILL get easier because by then, you'll be enjoying the freedom and relaxing moments that mermaid swimming does. It also helps to walk in the pool like you own the place.

[AniaR]

This is a mentality the whole community is working against sadly. A lot of mers can't swim because pools have banned their tails or the use of monofins. There are valid concerns about drowning etc, but to date no one has ever drowned. I find you really have to advocate for yourself, along with educating people on what a monofin is!

I have a few resources you *may* find helpful.

Here's a post I did up about facing pool bans. I understand yours didn't ban it but it seems like they have a similar attitude/ignorance:
http://rainamermaid.tumblr.com/post/125279707530/facing-the-trend-of-pools-banning-tails

I did a blog post specifically on kids, but it has citations for all the facts that you might find helpful:
http://rainamermaid.weebly.com/blog/how-banning-mermaid-tails-is-the-wrong-mindset-and-puts-down-girls

I also have a safety section on my website for my business that might give you a good idea :)
http://halifaxmermaids.weebly.com/safety.html


I hope something here helps you!!! Good luck.

[SirenAngel]

Thanks a bunch for all this! I'll definitely be trying again soon and if I get a hard time, this will help me sort mt brain out haha....

I'm on mobile!

[Mermaid Mia]

My first time in a tail was actually in a lake with a bunch of my friends (doing their normal swimming/sunbathing thing) so that gave me a LOT of confidence in my tail. Which means when it got colder i took my tail to the pool and walked strait up to the lifeguard and said i had a tail, it had a professional monofin in it, i used to be a competitive swimmer, i had another string swimmer with me, and that i just wanted to make sure it was ok. I think being direct really helped. I did have to walk them through what i meant by "mermaid tail" but at the end they just said "thats pretty cool" and i got in the pool.


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[mermaid mazu]

I took my tail for its first swim at a public creek because I made my tail and I wanted to get as much glitter off as possible before taking it to the local pool for some nice clear video. I got a huge reaction at the creek. I had kids that wouldn't leave my side and a bunch of people take pictures with me. As for the pool, I called ahead to verify it would be allowed. They were all nice and just curious how I made it (it's a neoprene silicone hybrid ) I went back to the pool this past weekend with two monofin I was testing out before making a second tail and the life guards recognized me and asked where my tail was and that they couldn't wait to see my new one when I finished it. Any time you are going to swim somewhere that has rules I would call in advance. Not everywhere will allow a tail.

[avaladon]

I used one of my fabric tails at a hotel pool, there were a lot of little kids there who thought it was cool and it was really fun! I thought i was going to be told not to wear it, but the lifeguards and staff thought it was cool!