See Through Sea..

**Mermaid Ripple** · 03-15-2016, 03:52 AM

These guys just started making tails! Anyone know anything bout them? 😊

**Mermaid Jaffa** · 03-15-2016, 05:04 AM

Is there a fb page or a website?

**Mer-Crazy** · 03-15-2016, 05:17 AM

http://shop.seethroughsea.com/produc...e-mermaid-tail

**Winged Mermaid** · 03-15-2016, 05:35 AM

What I know: Alicia and Jim Ward are professional underwater photographers in Hawaii. As a joined company they are "See Through the Sea" and Alicia alone is known as "Alicia Underwater". (Note that Allica Ward and Allie Causin aka Lyrique the Mermaid are two different people- I know that confused me once so I thought I'd clarify!) They've done a lot of well known photos for Kariel and Hannah Fraser, as well as the Hawaii mermaid workshop, and quite a few collaborated shoots with Finfolk Productions.

Alicia was an assistant, with helping make the tails working in the studio, to Finfolk Productions for a while- I believe for about a year. Now Alicia (and I guess her husband?) are making their own silicone tails with their own company, while still offering underwater photography as well. On a FB page comment, it says they also plan to make fabric and neoprene tails available for purchase as well, later down the line.

**Saren** · 03-15-2016, 05:53 AM

I was going to withhold this (idk why, I guess I'm just shy). But I placed an order with them for my first tail two days ago. They've been really great with answering my questions and not minding my terrible jokes. From what they've told me and from what they've posted on Instagram they've made tails before, back in 2012, but took a break from that. Also, their past mermaid experience shoot, they debuted two tails they've made and they look beautiful.
I'm really excited to work with them

Also a portion of proceeds goes towards conservation! They day after I put my order in they went out to sea to do some ocean cleanup. It makes me happy because that's why I got into mermaiding, to raise funds for conservation projects.

**Merenneito Nerissa** · 03-15-2016, 06:53 AM

I'm really liking that fluke design and the tail itself too.

Saren, congrats for your tail order

Did you take that basic combo with those ankle fins or did you take any additional things in your tail? Did they say how long it will take for you to receive your tail?

**Saren** · 03-15-2016, 07:01 AM

Thank you! I did take just the basic combo, it's all I could afford atm but I'm thinking of asking for a matching top. Pay at my job has been good as of late and I think I can afford to add that on.
After the second email Jim said if we could agree on a design quickly enough, hey could have my tail to me by the end of the month.
But I said that they can take their time. I wasn't even planning on a tail until December from Mernation, but the Jim and Alicia made he announcement and I just felt like I HAD to jump on this. I'm very excited!

**AniaR** · 03-15-2016, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by Winged Mermaid

What I know: Alicia and Jim Ward are professional underwater photographers in Hawaii. As a joined company they are "See Through the Sea" and Alicia alone is known as "Alicia Underwater". (Note that Allica Ward and Allie Causin aka Lyrique the Mermaid are two different people- I know that confused me once so I thought I'd clarify!) They've done a lot of well known photos for Kariel and Hannah Fraser, as well as the Hawaii mermaid workshop, and quite a few collaborated shoots with Finfolk Productions.

Alicia was an assistant, with helping make the tails working in the studio, to Finfolk Productions for a while- I believe for about a year. Now Alicia (and I guess her husband?) are making their own silicone tails with their own company, while still offering underwater photography as well. On a FB page comment, it says they also plan to make fabric and neoprene tails available for purchase as well, later down the line.

I can confirm this as they reached out to me ( they thought I owned mernetwork) and personally told me this.

Anyone working with finfolk for a year would have a good idea of how to make silicone tails well ahead of the curb most new tail makers face....

Personally, I am always happy for people when they get a tail. Regardless of the tail maker. (So Saren, this isn't intended to make you feel bad, but because See Through Sea did decide to message me about all this I feel it's important I say a few things)

But I imagine Finfolk are likely feeling pretty betrayed right now, as any tail maker would if their friend and assistant decided to venture into this without warning. I think the constant insistence of " we did this before!" ( see: one, possibly a few other neoprene tails) along with see through seas own message they sent me ( which was clearly an attempt to manipulate how mernetwork sees things) just sorta confirms all of this to me.

There message to me was before publicly announcing making tails. They didn't say it in their message to me and it seemed like they were fishing for a reason to end their relationship with finfolk. I suspected they wanted to make tails and within a few hours they proved me right with their fb post. Now it is all about public perception and justifying how it came about.

(I also feel a lot of Alicia's recent online postings are to deflect away from this, by timely bringing up health battles etc. This is a tactic I've seen too many times to count when people make controversial decisions. They follow it up with some sort of action which makes you look really bad if you question them. Also the public posting about their mutual friends with finfolk (Allie) comes off a bit manipulative to me as well.)

I have seen this far too many times in the Mer world. Everyone thinks they'll get rich making tails. Everyone thinks they'll be amazing at communication and times.

Well
.. Good luck to em I hope it's all worth it in the end.
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**Saren** · 03-15-2016, 09:04 AM

This really bums me out. I just assumed that since they worked together, that finfolk kind of gave their blessing to see through sea. Just like if you taught someone the ins and out of mermaiding and they decided to go off on their own and do their own business and you were like, "fly from the nest my baby bird".

-sigh- I was a fool to think this would be easy and nothing bad could come from it

I know your not trying to make me feel bad for buying a tail through them. And I appreciate all the info you give (now and the many tutorials in the past). I respect your expertise.

I just can't help but feel bad. Looking back maybe this is why I didn't want to say anything about buying a tail. I'm just gonna cuddle my dog now.

**Merman Arion** · 03-15-2016, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by Saren

This really bums me out. I just assumed that since they worked together, that finfolk kind of gave their blessing to see through sea. Just like if you taught someone the ins and out of mermaiding and they decided to go off on their own and do their own business and you were like, "fly from the nest my baby bird".

-sigh- I was a fool to think this would be easy and nothing bad could come from it

I know your not trying to make me feel bad for buying a tail through them. And I appreciate all the info you give (now and the many tutorials in the past). I respect your expertise.

I just can't help but feel bad. Looking back maybe this is why I didn't want to say anything about buying a tail. I'm just gonna cuddle my dog now.

Don't feel bad. You couldn't know beforehand.

Hugs

**AniaR** · 03-15-2016, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by Saren

This really bums me out. I just assumed that since they worked together, that finfolk kind of gave their blessing to see through sea. Just like if you taught someone the ins and out of mermaiding and they decided to go off on their own and do their own business and you were like, "fly from the nest my baby bird".

-sigh- I was a fool to think this would be easy and nothing bad could come from it

I know your not trying to make me feel bad for buying a tail through them. And I appreciate all the info you give (now and the many tutorials in the past). I respect your expertise.

I just can't help but feel bad. Looking back maybe this is why I didn't want to say anything about buying a tail. I'm just gonna cuddle my dog now.

I honestly messaged finfolk straight up and said, Saren is a great person, she didn't know.- and they totally understand that- And I don't want you to feel bad because you're just a mer who wants their dream tail and these people come along. I mean they will deny it all and spin it (I can post screenshots if it comes down to it but I DONT want a war with these people. I just wanted people to know the context) but honestly, how could you know? It all just kinda came about.

It seems like they've got a handle on silicone so I am sure they will make you a great tail, and they are really gonna wanna prove to the community they can do this so you know they'll work extra hard on it. No one blames you, and you deserve a great tail so please don't feel bad.

I always find it hard to speak out about these things, because I don't want clients to feel guilty by association or ashamed of their tails. You can't be responsible for other people's actions and made the best decision you could based on the info you had available at the time.

I have to say your reply to me demonstrates how professional and mature you are. Other people would probably fly off the handle.

I don't think anything I've said will change a darn thing. And like I said, I don't want a war. It's just honestly, I have nothing to lose or gain by speaking the truth that I know. And it is one of those things, maybe had they not involved me directly by messaging me I wouldn't have said anything. but because they pulled me in as a clear attempt to curb the "story"... I just felt I really had to say these things so people have all the info.

Of course, this kinda behaviour happens all over the world in all industries. I guess having been a mermaid for so long and seeing our grasss roots start (or sea weed roots?) it just makes me sad that it's become all too common place.

edit: I observe that see through sea were doing photos with finfolk as early ago as January. I would feel really bad for the twins if they were working on these tails right under their nose. I can't prove that but I mean, that's an observation. I did ask Finfolk if they approved of this or sanctioned it or gave them permission (because some people do) but they were unaware of the plan to make tails either and found out when we all did.

**Merenneito Nerissa** · 03-15-2016, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by Saren

This really bums me out. I just assumed that since they worked together, that finfolk kind of gave their blessing to see through sea. Just like if you taught someone the ins and out of mermaiding and they decided to go off on their own and do their own business and you were like, "fly from the nest my baby bird".

-sigh- I was a fool to think this would be easy and nothing bad could come from it

I know your not trying to make me feel bad for buying a tail through them. And I appreciate all the info you give (now and the many tutorials in the past). I respect your expertise.

I just can't help but feel bad. Looking back maybe this is why I didn't want to say anything about buying a tail. I'm just gonna cuddle my dog now.

That " fly from the nest baby bird" was actually my exact thoughts, I was also thinking that this has been somehow discussed before hands between FF and Seetroughsea, this info now makes it all look quite a bit different... :/

**Mermaid Amelia** · 03-15-2016, 09:52 AM

Hey I was just looking at Sea through Seas instagram account and I noticed almost all of the finfolk production credits on the photos are gone. I would really hate to think that Alicia and Jim have done that on purpose but it definitely makes the whole situation look shady :/

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**Mermaid Jessica Pearl** · 03-15-2016, 10:10 AM

Yeah I am completely shocked and confused too. I saw the blue tail on Instagram first and just now on the facebook page and I instantly mistook it for a Finfolk Tail. I just assumed because their collaboration photos (Sea through and finfolk) are such a well known thing and I have seen so many beautiful examples of their work hand in hand, so my mind just blended it all together as being a Calypso fluke with Dragon scales. Another one of those photos I look forward to and love. Their collaborations are sort of iconic in the Mer world. I have posters and a pencil case with them on! Haha. Then I realised it wasn't. It was a new tail. I felt very conflicted. I barely ever step in on potentially drama-rific things but I just instantly felt weird about it.

**Merman Arion** · 03-15-2016, 10:18 AM

I flushed right down in the toilets my dream to make the merman Hawaii experience with them. It's where it should be. With poop and all the shitty lies they have been saying.

**Mermaid Lorelei** · 03-15-2016, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Mermaid Jessica Pearl

Yeah I am completely shocked and confused too. I saw the blue tail on Instagram first and just now on the facebook page and I instantly mistook it for a Finfolk Tail. I just assumed because their collaboration photos (Sea through and finfolk) are such a well known thing and I have seen so many beautiful examples of their work hand in hand, so my mind just blended it all together as being a Calypso fluke with Dragon scales. Another one of those photos I look forward to and love. Their collaborations are sort of iconic in the Mer world. I have posters and a pencil case with them on! Haha. Then I realised it wasn't. It was a new tail. I felt very conflicted. I barely ever step in on potentially drama-rific things but I just instantly felt weird about it.

I actually commented on instagram about that tail. I asked if it was a modified Loreena/Calypso fluke. They deleted my comment and private messaged me saying that that wasn't the proper place to discuss such a thing. Apparently they didn't like my thinking their tail was a variant of Finfolk's.

**Mermaid Jessica Pearl** · 03-15-2016, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Mermaid Lorelei

I actually commented on instagram about that tail. I asked if it was a modified Loreena/Calypso fluke. They deleted my comment and private messaged me saying that that wasn't the proper place to discuss such a thing. Apparently they didn't like my thinking their tail was a variant of Finfolk's.

Oh shit because I just did that on Facebook! When it isn't zoomed in it was hard to tell. And you can't zoom on instagram.
Maybe they thought you were saying it with malice when you were just genuinely mistaken too? How strange.

**Saren** · 03-15-2016, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by AniaR

I honestly messaged finfolk straight up and said, Saren is a great person, she didn't know.- and they totally understand that- And I don't want you to feel bad because you're just a mer who wants their dream tail and these people come along. I mean they will deny it all and spin it (I can post screenshots if it comes down to it but I DONT want a war with these people. I just wanted people to know the context) but honestly, how could you know? It all just kinda came about.

It seems like they've got a handle on silicone so I am sure they will make you a great tail, and they are really gonna wanna prove to the community they can do this so you know they'll work extra hard on it. No one blames you, and you deserve a great tail so please don't feel bad.

I always find it hard to speak out about these things, because I don't want clients to feel guilty by association or ashamed of their tails. You can't be responsible for other people's actions and made the best decision you could based on the info you had available at the time.

I have to say your reply to me demonstrates how professional and mature you are. Other people would probably fly off the handle.

I don't think anything I've said will change a darn thing. And like I said, I don't want a war. It's just honestly, I have nothing to lose or gain by speaking the truth that I know. And it is one of those things, maybe had they not involved me directly by messaging me I wouldn't have said anything. but because they pulled me in as a clear attempt to curb the "story"... I just felt I really had to say these things so people have all the info.

Of course, this kinda behaviour happens all over the world in all industries. I guess having been a mermaid for so long and seeing our grasss roots start (or sea weed roots?) it just makes me sad that it's become all too common place.

edit: I observe that see through sea were doing photos with finfolk as early ago as January. I would feel really bad for the twins if they were working on these tails right under their nose. I can't prove that but I mean, that's an observation. I did ask Finfolk if they approved of this or sanctioned it or gave them permission (because some people do) but they were unaware of the plan to make tails either and found out when we all did.

Raina I honestly don't know what to say other than thank you. I usually feel very small in this community and try my best to get along with everyone. I do respect FF and I really appreciate you emailing them. It's make this little fish feel very happy.

As for now, I always like to treat others how they've treated me. While I'm really upset about this turnabout, See Through Sea has been nothing but respectful and kindly to me. So I will continue to be just as respectful and kindly to them. I respect their conservation efforts and their photographic talents even if I don't condone how things have played out.

I'm still looking forward to my tail, and I will be happy because I will use it for more conservation efforts.

Originally Posted by Merman Arion

Don't feel bad. You couldn't know beforehand.

Hugs

Thank you Arion.

Originally Posted by Mermaid Amelia

Hey I was just looking at Sea through Seas instagram account and I noticed almost all of the finfolk production credits on the photos are gone. I would really hate to think that Alicia and Jim have done that on purpose but it definitely makes the whole situation look shady :/

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I looked through some of the Instagram photos, especially the newer ones. I can still see credits, in the comments and photos.

**AniaR** · 03-15-2016, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Mermaid Lorelei

I actually commented on instagram about that tail. I asked if it was a modified Loreena/Calypso fluke. They deleted my comment and private messaged me saying that that wasn't the proper place to discuss such a thing. Apparently they didn't like my thinking their tail was a variant of Finfolk's.

Yeah the defensiveness speaks volumes

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**AniaR** · 03-15-2016, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by Mermaid Jessica Pearl

Yeah I am completely shocked and confused too. I saw the blue tail on Instagram first and just now on the facebook page and I instantly mistook it for a Finfolk Tail. I just assumed because their collaboration photos (Sea through and finfolk) are such a well known thing and I have seen so many beautiful examples of their work hand in hand, so my mind just blended it all together as being a Calypso fluke with Dragon scales. Another one of those photos I look forward to and love. Their collaborations are sort of iconic in the Mer world. I have posters and a pencil case with them on! Haha. Then I realised it wasn't. It was a new tail. I felt very conflicted. I barely ever step in on potentially drama-rific things but I just instantly felt weird about it.

Yes it puts people who support them in a bad position.

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