The Story of Mer-divers and FAQ
Anna and Mer-divers
Nice to meet you! I'm Anna
I’m Anna Tomppo, Finland’s first certified mermaid diving instructor and the very first (and so far the only) PADI Mermaid Intructor Trainer in the Nordic countries. I have issued over 60 mermaid diving certifications, ranging from beginner to advanced levels. With over a decade of scuba and freediving experience around the world, I bring both passion and expertise to the courses I teach. I’m also an Emergency First Response first aid instructor and a specialist dentist in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
My story: How a fear of water turned into a career in diving
Would you believe that at 25 years old, I couldn’t dive a single meter and was afraid to even put my face in the water?
I know exactly what it’s like to be nervous and awkward.
Still, I was curious. I wanted to see the underwater world for myself – not just in pictures. That curiosity gave me the motivation I needed to face my fears.
My first encounter with mermaiding came in 2017, when I saw a mermaid performer underwater. It was mesmerizing. But I thought that I could never do that myself.
Secretly though, I dreamed of one day having the courage and skills to become a mermaid too.
A few years later, I came across the most stunning mermaid tail online – I simply had to get it. And of course, once I had it, I couldn’t just leave it sitting in the closet!
At first, mermaiding was a way for me to decompress from daily stress. I practiced using my freediving knowledge from a course I had taken earlier.
Soon I realized there were no mermaid diving courses available in Finland, even though people were already swimming in tails. Unfortunately, I also noticed that many were using inefficient techniques, following false beliefs, or even engaging in risky practices – I had unknowingly done the same myself, narrowly avoiding accidents with the tail.
In 2022, I traveled abroad to attend certified mermaiding courses and trained to become an instructor. That experience opened my eyes.
For the first time, I learned proper techniques and best safety practices, and I was finally able to enjoy mermaiding to the fullest. I also realized just how unsafe my own training had been before, even with my freediving background.
Through mermaiding, I was finally able to overcome my fear of putting my face in the water. I’ve learned how to be confident and graceful underwater. If I could learn to dive, you can too – and I will show you how!
As an instructor, my top priority is creating a welcoming and safe environment for my students. It’s incredible what people can achieve when they’re given the right tools. Nowadays, the most rewarding part of mermaiding for me is watching my students grow into confident, skilled, and safety-conscious mermaid divers.
My mission: Why train with me
It’s an honor for me to provide the best possible training to those who have chosen me as their instructor.
At Mer-divers, I genuinely take an interest in my students’ learning. Mer-divers’ courses go well beyond the minimum standards recommended by PADI. For example, my courses significantly exceed their suggested minimum duration. I also keep class sizes small to ensure that each participant receives plenty of personal guidance in a calm and focused learning environment.
My goal is to give every student the tools they need to make their mermaid dreams come true here in Finland or anywhere in the world.
Throughout the course, you’ll benefit from my over a decade-long hands-on experience in different diving disciplines, equipment, and dive experience in a wide range of conditions around the globe.
After completing the course, you’ll be welcomed into the Mer-divers community of certified mermaid divers, so no one has to continue their journey alone.
When you train with me, you can be sure that your physical and mental safety is always a top priority. I served as a consultant for the Finnish Divers’ Federation task group that created the national guidelines for safe and responsible mermaiding in Finland in 2023–2024.
Finally, Mer-divers is an official 100% AWARE Partner, which means that we’re committed to supporting ocean conservation through everything we do. By joining a course, you’re contributing to ocean health – at no extra cost to you.
My background in photography
I got my first DSLR in 2010 and got excited to try everything! I took courses in photography genres such as night, wedding, dog, horse and newborn photography before I found a genre that truly spoke to me: underwater nature and fantasy.
Underwater photography has been the main reason for my scuba diving hobby since 2013. While I initially learned from books, I’ve also trained twice under the world-renowned Alex Mustard. I’ve studied portrait photography and posing with experts like Lindsay Adler in the Netherlands.
These days, my focus is on underwater portraits, some of which have been featured in magazines in Finland and abroad.
FAQ - Mermaiding
What is mermaid diving?
Mermaid diving is a combination of freediving and self-expression, and everyone can add their own flavour to it. Typically you swim and do tricks underwater while wearing a monofin and a mermaid tail. Some classic feel-good tricks include the smooth dolphin kick, bubble kisses and different turns. In mermaid diving you also study diving theory and techniques as well as safety practises and drills. With these skill sets, advanced mermaids can dive up to 10 meters deep and practise extended breathholds safely. The sport also involves other fun aspects, such as designing your own merfolk persona (also known as mersona) with a matching outfit.
What's the difference between mermaid swimming, mermaid diving and freediving?
You can learn the similarities and differences of these sports by watching the video below.
What is PADI?
PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, is the most recognized dive training organization worldwide. It operates in 186 countries and certifies over a million divers per year.
PADI Dive Instructors undergo rigorous training to ensure your mermaid certification class is fun and safe. PADI offers a pedagogically fine-tuned training system which makes learning easy.
PADI Instructors are bound by the highest quality and safety standards, and PADI oversees that instructors do adhere to these standards.
Why do I need a diving certification?
You may have seen videos how mermaid divers effortlessly glide through the water in exquisite tails. Beneath all the fantasy and shimmering is strong comprehension of diving theory, techniques and safety protocols.
The number one goal of a certification course is to make sure that the participant gets sufficient knowledge and skills that they can dive safely, prevent risks and act in emergencies. And of course, the course will teach you everything you need so that mermaiding will feel amazing.
Mermaid diving is an official diving sport just like scuba diving and freediving. Taking a certification course is a requirement to practise the sport on your own. Even thoug mermaiding is much younger diving discipline than scuba and freediving, the same certification rule is becoming the new standard.
By completing the diving course successfully, the participant receives a digital certification card which is proof that its holder has sufficient abilities to practise the sport according to the course level. Nowadays many events and dive trips require a certification card. Being a certified diver also gives you the possibility to get a proper diving insurance, which is a must especially if you plan to dive while abroad.
A PADI certification card will also open doors for aspiring mermaid performers as it creates trust that the performer is safety-oriented and can perform in a professional manner.
Some swimming halls may ask for your cert card if they otherwise cannot make sure that you know how to follow safe breathhold rules.
And let’s face it – who wouldn’t want to officially be a real mermaid!
Do I need to be a good swimmer?
It depends on your goals. You are very welcome to come try mermaiding even if you cannot swim at all! That’s because these mermaid experiences are held in a pool where your feet reach the bottom at all times, and your instructor will be right next to you the whole time.
On the PADI Mermaid program courses, you are required to know how to swim and float without swimming aids for some time. You can learn more about the prerequisites from the PADI courses section.
In order to become a PADI Mermaid Instructor, you must have good diving and swimming fitness.
May I participate if I have a fear of water or I'm really nervous?
Yes you may! In the Mermaid Experience there are no requirements. You can see how it feels without any pressure on your own terms.
If you are very anxious, but you would like to go for a diving certification, I recommed booking a private course with me. This way we can progress completely at your own pace.
Course requirements and prices
You will find all course prerequisites and pricing on the PADI Courses page.
Contact info
The best way to reach me is by email info@merdivers.fi. I usually respond within 24 hours.