hello merpeople!
Welcome to NORSEMAID, Norway's first Mermaid education platform! I bet you have a lot of questions...like what IS even mermaiding? Take a deep breath, hold, and I'll let you in on what we're all about. Firstly, mermaiding is a sub group of freediving. So before we get into the nitty gritty details about mermaiding, let's cover the basics:
What is freediving?
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Freediving is a venture into the depth of the oceans without awkward scuba-gear, powered solely by your own lungs. It is a journey into the deep, where the world above fades into silence, and the only sounds are the rhythmic beats of your heart and the vibrant life around you. It’s a practice of inner stillness, where the body and mind harmonize to explore the vast ocean with nothing but the power of your breath. Freediving teaches you to trust yourself, conquer your fears, and connect with nature in its most raw and awe-inspiring form. It’s not just about depth; it’s about discovery, of both the world beneath and the strength within.
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We also offer AIDA freediving courses here, just head over to our course portal!
what is mermaiding?
Picture this: You're sitting with your butt in the sand, feet in the ocean and working on getting your mermaid tail on. With a tiny bit of a struggle and grains of sand still stuck to your butt, you push yourself into the water, take a deep calm breath and dive beneath the surface. You're met with vibrant coral and fish while you elegantly soar through the water with ease and comfort. All of a sudden you spot a pod of dolphins and swim towards them with fluid movements that resemble their own. They greet you as one of them, take you to their secret dolphin society and... you get the idea.
Mermaiding can essentially be many things: a sport, hobby, artistic expression or even mental training.
Simply put, mermaiding is freediving (the art of holding your breath while diving under water) with a mermaid monofin and tail while doing acrobatics and skills. Sounds like fun, right?​
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Here at NORSEMAID we run PADI Mermaid courses, meaning you can get certified as a real life mermaid... Anyone? The courses range from intro to advanced, and while they have some requirements they will be specifically tailored to your needs and current level. We also offer additional on land or underwater photography to capture the new version of yourself!
who can mermaid?
Short answer: everyone! We do not give a mermaid's tail about your age, gender (that's right, MerMen), ethnicity, size, background or experience level. Mermaiding is for anyone to enjoy, and is done in safe and supportive surroundings.
Maybe you want to fulfill that childhood dream of being a real life mermaid? Or maybe you want to embrace other sides of you that might not see the light too often? Ooor maybe you just want to be silly and have fun?
Whatever your reason may be (not that you need one), you are welcome into our underwater world.
where can i train?
Norsemaid has a close collaboration with Oslo Freediving Club, an open and welcoming community where you can practice Freediving and Mermaiding with like-minded people. Anyone can join the club, regardless if you are interested in competitive apnea, recreational freediving, mermaiding, or spearfishing.
The club regularly host pool trainings, workshops, competitions, and even trips and social gatherings throughout the year.
By becoming a member you get access to different courses, trainings, and discounts on equipment.
Check out Oslo Freediving Club if you want to join a vibrant community!
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