Beautiful Mermaids Have Dazzled Tourists at This Florida Spring Since 1947

Weeki Wachee Springs Mermaid Shows

Florida’s weirdest roadside show has been running since 1947, and it’s still going strong. In a clear blue spring 117 feet deep, real women perform as mermaids, breathing from air hoses while dancing underwater.

They’ve entertained everyone from Elvis to tourists who still pack the theater daily.

Here are some interesting facts about America’s only live mermaid show.

The SEAL Connection

Weeki Wachee Springs Mermaid Shows began in 1947 when Newton Perry, a former Navy man who trained SEALs to swim underwater during World War II, transformed a junk-filled spring into an underwater theater.

Perry devoted months to experimenting with air hoses before perfecting his innovative system.

The spring initially contained old refrigerators and abandoned cars that Perry personally cleared before construction.

He built the first 18-seat theater just six feet below the water’s surface, embedding it into the limestone.

Performers Fight Five-Mile-Per-Hour Currents Daily

The mermaids don’t just execute synchronized routines. They perform while battling against powerful 5-mile-per-hour currents. The current runs so strongly it can knock a scuba diver’s mask off.

Mermaids Use Hidden Air Hoses Instead Of Tanks

Unlike conventional underwater performers, Weeki Wachee mermaids don’t rely on typical scuba equipment with regulators.

The air flows into their lungs through hoses with toggles they control, requiring them to maintain half-full lungs for neutral buoyancy.

This breathing technique allows performers to remain underwater for up to 45 minutes at a time.

The breathing wands are strategically concealed in the set or carried discreetly in the performers’ hands.

Warner Bros Premiered Movie Underwater In 1964

In 1964, Weeki Wachee Springs hosted the world’s first underwater movie premiere when Warner Bros. debuted “The Incredible Mr. Limpet” at the Springs’ Underwater Theater.

The historic event took place on January 20, 1964, marking a groundbreaking moment in entertainment history.

Mermaids Once Ran To Roads In Swimsuits

In the early days when traffic was sparse along U.S. 19, the mermaids employed an unusual marketing strategy.

When they heard a car approaching, they would rush to the road in their bathing suits to entice drivers to the parking lot, reminiscent of the mythical sirens who called to sailors.

After persuading motorists to stop, they would immediately jump into the spring to perform.

U.S. 19 was merely a two-lane road with minimal traffic then.

Oldest Performer Began At 17, Continued Until 78

The most senior performing mermaid, Vicki Smith, started swimming at Weeki Wachee at age 17 and continued performing until she was 78 years old.

Many performers maintain lifelong connections to Weeki Wachee, referring to each other as “mersisters.”

Former mermaids regularly return for reunions, some describing their relationship to the spring as deeply meaningful.

Deepest Freshwater Cave System Lies Beneath Shows

The mermaid performances take place above the deepest known freshwater cave system in the United States.

In 2007, the Karst Underwater Research team confirmed this by exploring approximately 6,700 feet of passages.

Divers reached a maximum depth of 407 feet but still haven’t discovered the bottom.

ABC Television Transformed Small Attraction Into Phenomenon

American Broadcasting Company purchased the springs in 1959 and dramatically expanded its popularity through aggressive promotion.

Under ABC’s ownership, the park developed elaborate show themes with sophisticated props, lifts, music, and storylines.

ABC employed 35 mermaids who performed eight shows daily to sold-out crowds.

Some performers lived in special “mermaid cottages” behind the attraction during this golden era.

Comedian Thomas Kelly Broke Gender Barrier in 2006

In the summer of 2006, stand-up comedian Thomas J. Kelly became the park’s first male mermaid, challenging the long-standing gender traditions.

Kelly abandoned his comedy career and relocated from New York to Florida specifically to become the first “merman” in the show’s history.

His journey was documented in a web series called “The Little Merman.”

Today, the park features both female mermaids and male “princes” in its performances.

Breathing Techniques Control Underwater Position Naturally

Contrary to what many visitors assume, the mermaids don’t rely on weights to control their underwater positioning.

Performers must maintain half-full lungs to achieve neutral buoyancy while swimming.

This technique allows mermaids to hover motionless, smile, laugh, and lip-sync effortlessly underwater.

Hundreds Compete For Five Coveted Mermaid Positions

Becoming a Weeki Wachee mermaid involves passing intense competitive trials.

Potential performers must complete a timed 300-yard swim, tread water for 10 minutes, perform underwater ballet with open eyes, and demonstrate comfort underwater.

From hundreds of applicants, typically only five receive selection.

After selection, new mermaids undergo 4-7 months of training before performing their first show.