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| Fact you may not know: Aimee loves Mermaids |
One of the earliest things Aimee said that she wanted to do when we started to plan our US road trip was visit the Mermaids at Weeki Wachee. Like a dutiful husband I checked this out, found that it was feasible to fit it into our route (as we were already going to be in Florida for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter) and put it on the list. This is how we have decided most of the trip mixing things that we both want to do with things that are more specifically related to one of our interests. The Mermaids was definitely in the Aimee interests category, I was expecting tacky English sea-side-resort, silliness.
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| Weeki Wachee Mermaid doing her thing |
I was very wrong! I would highly recommend that anyone in Florida checks out Weeki Wachee.
The skill and control demonstrated by the artists doing the Mermaid routines was amazing and well worth the journey. The 15-30 minutes shows are performed by 5-6 performers dressed in a variety of costumes in a natural spring, the audience sit in a purpose built underwater theatre that looks out into the spring. The act see the performers do a series of choreographed routines whilst taking sips of air from a special hose. The act is very entertaining but for me I was more impressed by the athletic and technical feats that were being performed:
- Prolonged diving without a mask
- Breath control for extended periods of time - up to 2 minutes 40 seconds
- Very precise buoyancy control - using only the bodies natural buoyancy (no air filled jacket)
- Miming in time to song lyrics whilst underwater
- Diving down to 117 feet against a strong current
- Eating and drinking whilst underwater
- Smiling whilst doing all of the above
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| I said there was a range of costumes! |
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| Matt also loves Mermaids |
Take it easy.
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