Mermaiding is a sport not known to many, but St Helena Bay resident Suleé Coetzee found her passion for it.
As a young girl she was always fascinated with mermaids and, unsurprisingly, a favourite movie was The Little Mermaid.
Well, needless to say, this fascination has persisted into adulthood. Coetzee recently took part in the 2023 Merlimpics in Johannesburg and Pretoria on the weekend of 18-19 March.
She began researching the phenomenon of mermaiding, and set about adopting it as a career, and not just a favourite sport.
Further research led Coetzee to importing her mono-fin and sourcing the right creative to design her custom-made tail, all based on very specific requirements. She also went on courses and practised hard to qualify as a mermaid.
To take part in the Merlimpics, for instance, one has to be a qualified National Association of Underwater Instructors mermaid. The event has two categories – creative expression and athletic competition. Coetzee took second place in the creative-expression category, which was a huge achievement for her. In preparation she swam daily to perfect her technique.
Asked if one should live a certain kind of life to be a mermaid, she said “yes” and “no”. “The only thing you should do is swim regularly to improve your fitness and lung capacity. We are also servants of the ocean. When you see litter along the ocean line or near water, pick it up ensuring a cleaner environment.
“What also makes mermaiding so special is every mermaid and merman is unique in their own way. They come in all shapes and sizes.”
Coetzee adds that being underwater is a peaceful experience, “which makes you feel as if you are in your own fairytale world.”
“This unique sport can be practised at a young age,” she points out. “The more people participate in it the more they will be aware of the importance of respecting ocean life.”
Coetzee said she would like to see the Merlimpics grow and become big enough to establish a South African team that competes internationally.
