China News Service, Changsha, June 17 (Reporter Tang Xiaoqing) Zhu Yali, 32, is an employee of a wine company in Hunan. On the 17th, she came to a swimming pool in Tianxin District, Changsha to give a "Mermaid" class.
Put on a diving mask, a bikini swimsuit, a monofin and a purple mermaid tail.
After entering the water in the duck pose, the dolphin kicks, rolls back, and spins to the ground with webbed... She followed the instructor to learn various mermaid diving movements.
"Swimming around in the water in a mermaid suit is particularly beautiful. Every woman has a fairy tale dream." Another original intention of Zhu Yali to learn from mermaid is to have more skills without pressing herself.
Xie Yalan dressed in a mermaid suit making heart-shaped gestures underwater.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
"Mermaid" is actually a kind of free diving, but it uses a large and sometimes heavy artificial tail.
With the help of social media, this kind of sport is becoming popular and popular all over the world.
Since 2017, this sport has exploded in China.
The Chinese pioneer of the mermaid diving course is Li Dada. She uses her skills to explore the dream of becoming a mermaid. She is the first Chinese woman to hold a freediving master training certificate from the International Professional Diving Instructor Association. She has established the first professional underwater performance team in China. .
Mermaid diving attracts many women.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
"We need to use our waist and abdomen to move like dolphins. This requires constant practice to swim smoothly and gracefully like a mermaid. Mermaid diving has become more and more popular and has become one of the most popular trends in China." Li Dada said, mermaid diving show The market continues to grow, boosting the number of permits issued in China in 2018 to increase by 40%, which is 8 times the world average growth rate. "Chinese women account for the largest proportion of global (mermaid) divers."
"International Diving School" is one of the first diving institutions to launch standardized and systematic mermaid courses.
Yan Xuelei, the manager of the school’s China area, said that basic mermaid courses can complete all training only in the swimming pool. After the epidemic, the number of basic mermaid certifications in China has increased by 500%.
Qianyu Ocean Mermaid Training Center has deployed more than 200 learning institutions in China, and there were 2,000 students in May this year alone.
Xie Yalan, who learned "Mermaid", saw the broad market for this sport and chose to become the first batch of partners of the training center in the country.
Mermaid diving attracts many women.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
"The mermaid is a trendy project that integrates synchronized swimming, free diving, web swimming, yoga, and beauty. It presents a free, relaxed, and elegant state of being underwater, and can show a unique sense of beauty. It has become an emerging trend popular among young people in recent years. Underwater projects. Previously, I could only study in Sanya and Southeast Asian countries. Now China can learn everywhere." Xie Yalan told reporters that the basic mermaid course is 2,800 yuan, and there are 16 lessons in two days. There are theory, water and underwater rescue, and underwater. In practical courses, students include parent-child groups, couples, children and retired elderly.
Wang Juan, 54 years old this year, started studying Mermaid after retiring and is the oldest student in Qingdao.
"When I first practiced, I was a little inferior. After all, the mermaids in my impression are exquisite and beautiful women. Now I can dive for 25 meters without breathing violently. The swimming posture is the most fish-like among the students." Want to create a Guinness World Record for dancing underwater with many "mermaids".
The enthusiasm of "Mermaid" also gave birth to new professions such as mermaid performer and mermaid coach.
Corinna Davis, head of mermaid course development at the International Scuba Diving School, said in an interview with the media that they have set up mermaid diving programs in more than 3,000 diving schools around the world, and in China alone, there are more than 1,000 certified coach.
"Many fitness and swimming coaches have started to become mermaid instructors, and we have set up a special coaching class." Xie Yalan said that the world's largest scuba diver training organization has recently instructed a new generation of "mermaid" divers in (China).
The Changsha Underwater World Aquarium has a group of "post-90s" mermaid performers, 27-year-old Xie Yao is one of them.
"The mermaid show must repeatedly rise and fall under the water. During the peak tourist season, there are 8 performances a day, and each performance will stay underwater for more than 10 minutes. Professional mermaids have certain requirements for water and body, and daily diet needs to control food intake." Xie Yao said that the professional mermaid has attracted more and more people to join it.
"Mermaids represent beauty and mystery. They can show their beauty through underwater photography. Everyone yearns for it. Many male lovers have joined the mermaid team." Mermaid coach Guo Lin said. The increase in awareness of "National Fitness" in China has also made it possible to improve Mermaid diving with lung function and plasticity is popular.
"Many people learn mermaid to increase new skills, broaden their horizons, and get in touch with higher circles. The consumption upgrade has also allowed the people to pursue more. The star effect is also an important factor." Xie Yalan said that the rise of the mermaid drove the fish tail. Related equipment such as skirts and the development of mermaid art photography.
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