Neck weights

[Starfrit]

I've heard of neck weights being used for things like scuba diving, but for mermaiding... I'm not sure how well it would work for mermaiding.

Safety concerns aside-- I think others have addressed that well enough-- unlike scuba diving and most other forms of freediving, mermaiding is very much performance-based and has an incredible focus on aesthetics. Obviously practicality and efficiency plays into it, to a degree, but especially as a performer everything a mermaid wears generally needs to look "authentic." It's not just gear, it's a costume. It's why everything is usually covered in fishnet, seaweed and shells.

Some mermaids may find a neck weight useful, when used correctly, but from my understanding of them (as little as that is), they're often big, black bulky things that are hard to cover up to look more "mer." It's why mermaids who use weights often prefer to use smaller weights inside their tails, or use belts that are much easier to cover up and disguise with shells and netting; they doesn't break the illusion of a mermaid in the same way a big bulky neck weight would, and aren't as immediately obvious.

That said, if there were a way to dress it up a bit, make it look more like a proper mermaid neckpiece without breaking the illusion or making it so bulky that it gets in the way of arm/shoulder movement, I think it could be a useful tool for people who have trouble sinking or staying below the surface (my current tail is also my first, and is made of super buoyant neoprene so I have to work really hard to keep myself underwater, for example) and be a bit better received overall, but in the meantime without any modification I'm not sure how popular of an option it would be as-is. Personally, I'm not currently into mermaiding for the performance aspect of it, as I've only just gotten my first tail so I'm more focused on strengthening my swim, breathing and exercise, so the current look of one isn't a huge concern for me. If I had the funds for one, I'd probably get a lighter one just to try it out, at the very least.

I think letting Raina do a review of one of your neck weights would sort of help ease a lot of people's concerns; I think she's among the most experienced of anyone here, and would be able to give other wary merfolk a better idea of the pros and cons to wearing one.

[Princess Pearl]

I don't think I personally would be comfortable with something of that size around my neck. Never mind the weight, its so big Id be worried about it feeling like I'm being strangled, then panic and not be able to get it off. I think I'll just stick to being floaty

[MarkF]

You wouldn't use only the neckless. I think if you wanted to use weights to achieve neutral buoyancy or be less floaty "Technical term" to slow how fast you float to the top without kicking you'd use multiple pieces and disguise them. Then it's how much and how deep your working?
Pearls would be a natural find for a Mermaid.
Oh, remember this idea is for the advanced Mermaid. Someone that easily swim and can hold their breath for 30 seconds plus.
Your lungs with air float, bones don’t. Pretty much your lungs float you up. At 33 feet your lungs are half the size because they are being squished by the heavy water. If you have just enough weight for swimming at 6 feet it will be too much at 20. Scuba divers start with to much weight then fill a bag with air so they don’t sink anymore and not so much air they float to the top. They adjust it while swimming up and down. It’s called a BC “buoyancy compensator”, it’s generally a vest. Some fish swallow a rock to stay on the bottom and spit it out when done. Merfolk will need a way to add or remove their weights for adjustments.

[MarkF]

Here a photo that Chris Crumley sent me. This was taken in a pool. Where'd they hide the weights, their good at it!
He's got great timing.

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

Beautiful pics!


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[Yulia]

If you let out all of the air in your lungs you can stay at the bottom without floating up.
5-10 seconds is enough to take a few shots.

[Echidna]

Indeed.
That pool looks about 1,50m deep, maybe less depending on if/how much it is photoshopped.
In that depth or even less, I can lie on the bottom without fully exhaling.
Someone who is a sinker, will not even need to exhale to lie on the bottom like a rock. I've seen it.
I don't know why everyone is assuming all mermaids are floaters

[Keiris]

Jeff, first of all, thank you for sharing your knowledge and videos on here regardless if some people seem rude or unappreciative. You swim absolutely beautifully and effortlessly in your monofin and your breathhold is amazing! You would have no trouble at all adapting to a silicone tail once you got use to the decorative elements of it and the way the tail pulls as opposed to a bare monofin. Please take pictures if you ever do!

Secondly, people sell their tails, their jewelry, their scale bracers, scale bras, hair clips, sea animal accessories and all manner of things are "advertised" on here. No different from what you are doing and you are just as justified doing it as any of them.

Your weighted pearl idea is genius for all the mers that swim deeper, swim in large aquariums, and certainly for photo shoots under the water. I have ALWAYS had trouble staying deep enough in my tail for still pictures as I naturally want to float. It is a very common problem with all of the mers I do photo shoots with. Your idea of the weighted pearls could be added to the girls' shell and Scale bras and easily worked into the design. They could be done as strands of pearls attached to the netting we wear as belts (weight-belt, duh) and also in arm bands, bracelets and necklaces as you said. There is a niche for that idea and it was logical for you to come to this network with it, so thank you for that.

As for the Lunocet, the design would be great for the extended tail that some mers admire. Depending on the material of the flukes, I would use that as a base to build the silicone fluke on rather than remove them completely. You need something for propulsion. The silicone by itself is too floppy in the deeper water.

BTW, the Mermaids in the salt water aquarium in Vegas at the Mermaid Show could definitely benefit from your weighted pearls. They have to use weights to keep them neutrally buoyant as well, and their costume designer used ugly rectangular weights sewn into their flesh colored part of their unitails. They looked like tumors. ugh. But they are definitely needed because they spend a lot of time near the bottom waving at kids through the glass. Decorative "pearls" would be so much more believable and just as efficient.

[Mermaid Cascada]

Jeff, first of all, thank you for sharing your knowledge and videos on here regardless if some people seem rude or unappreciative. You swim absolutely beautifully and effortlessly in your monofin and your breathhold is amazing! You would have no trouble at all adapting to a silicone tail once you got use to the decorative elements of it and the way the tail pulls as opposed to a bare monofin. Please take pictures if you ever do!

Secondly, people sell their tails, their jewelry, their scale bracers, scale bras, hair clips, sea animal accessories and all manner of things are "advertised" on here. No different from what you are doing and you are just as justified doing it as any of them.

Your weighted pearl idea is genius for all the mers that swim deeper, swim in large aquariums, and certainly for photo shoots under the water. I have ALWAYS had trouble staying deep enough in my tail for still pictures as I naturally want to float. It is a very common problem with all of the mers I do photo shoots with. Your idea of the weighted pearls could be added to the girls' shell and Scale bras and easily worked into the design. They could be done as strands of pearls attached to the netting we wear as belts (weight-belt, duh) and also in arm bands, bracelets and necklaces as you said. There is a niche for that idea and it was logical for you to come to this network with it, so thank you for that.

As for the Lunocet, the design would be great for the extended tail that some mers admire. Depending on the material of the flukes, I would use that as a base to build the silicone fluke on rather than remove them completely. You need something for propulsion. The silicone by itself is too floppy in the deeper water.

BTW, the Mermaids in the salt water aquarium in Vegas at the Mermaid Show could definitely benefit from your weighted pearls. They have to use weights to keep them neutrally buoyant as well, and their costume designer used ugly rectangular weights sewn into their flesh colored part of their unitails. They looked like tumors. ugh. But they are definitely needed because they spend a lot of time near the bottom waving at kids through the glass. Decorative "pearls" would be so much more believable and just as efficient.

Agreed
I also think weights could easily be incorporated into a mers outfit.


Also, Jeff, thanks for the knowledge. Maybe you could add onto our threads about breath holding? It'd be cool to hear from someone with your experience.

[AniaR]

Chris actually edits the hell out of those photos I've seen the before and after. You can often see the weights he just edits em out!

[Keiris]

Chris actually edits the hell out of those photos I've seen the before and after. You can often see the weights he just edits em out!

Now see, if she had some of Jeff's decorative "pearl-weights" not only would she be able to stay in place better without waving her arms constantly for traction, she'd look like she went pearl diving and no wasted time/expense editing!

Jeff, I think this would be easier for people to visualize with an example. Say one of our mers weighs 130 lbs., her tail weighs another 30 lbs., and she's doing a photo shoot in the bottom of a tank or pool. How many strands of your "pearl-weights" would she need to incorporate into her costume to become neutrally buoyant? Keep in mind a strand might be incorporated into a shell bra, another as a necklace and another with maybe larger "pearls" intertwined in a seaweed or net belt.

I realize each body is different and requires a different amount depending on what the mer is doing and the added weight of his/her tail.

[Mermaid Mystery]

I know this isn't neck weight related but this is the lunocet in a magictail

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

Keiris: thanks for the warm welcome!
Everyone needs different weighting in freediving and it gets WAY more individual with all of these funky tails of silicone, neoprene, etc.

I'll share the best way of determining weight placement shortly.

Cascada: I'll post a way that everyone here if decent herh can hold their breath at least 3:00 and some... 4:00 or even 5:00 within 2-3 weeks of training! :o

Labyrinth: WOW - who's tail is that? It looks like a 2014 Lunocet Pro.

How does the magictail fasten over the end of the flukes? Velcro / ties?


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[Echidna]

looks like the Magictail is made for the Lunocet!

That aren't cycling shoes though? Looks like a "normal" footpocket?
If this version is purchaseable, I'll probably rework some of my tails and get one.

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

There is a newer version available that has been improved and the "flukes" are near identical in dimension and will fit if the 2014 fit.

Cool!


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[Mermaid Mystery]

magictails have little pockets at the ends of the fluke that you can fit a few monofins into. I found the pictures on Facebook a while ago from German mermaid Meerjungfrauentreff Nord

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

I think that if I were to don a tail... This would have to be the one for me.

Now to find a local meet up!


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[Keiris]

I think that if I were to don a tail... This would have to be the one for me.

Now to find a local meet up!


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The Magictail is certainly a lot lighter and more streamline than silicone. It's like wearing a bathingsuit that covers your legs. It would be a piece of cake for you, Jeff, if you already swim with that fin!

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Slightly off topic, but wow, your breath hold is amazing! If you could share some tips/techniques with us, that would be fantastic!

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

3 easy steps:

1) inhale deeply
2) stay relaxed and swim really far
3) come up for air before you blackout



In all seriousness, relaxation IS key and I'll post some drills to help get you comfortable with the discomfort of prolonged breath holds.

Of course it needs to be disclaimed that proper, trained safeties / buddies IN THE POOL (not a lifeguard - they are useless) is a prerequisite.


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