Fin-tastic! Growing ‘mermaiding’ subculture makes a splash

For Queen Pangke Tabora, a transgender Filipina woman, the first time she slid her legs into a mermaid tail was a pivotal moment. Seeing her legs encased in vibrant, scaly-looking neoprene three years ago was the realisation of a childhood dream. It marked the beginning of her immersion into a watery world where she would find acceptance.

In picture, Tabora swims in her mermaid suit while she conducts a mermaiding class in front of the Ocean Camp in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines. “The world outside is really noisy and you will find peace under water. … It’s a good skill in the real world, especially during the pandemic.” (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Across the world, people are increasingly embracing the subculture of “mermaiding.” (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

The mermaid tail of Queen Pangke Tabora rests as a freediving class is conducted at the Ocean Camp in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines. Across the world, there are thousands more merfolk like her -- at its simplest, humans of all shapes, genders and backgrounds who enjoy dressing up as mermaids. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

There was a pivotal moment in her life that eclipsed all others: It was the moment, she says, when she first slid her legs into a mermaid tail. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Filipina Jennica Secuya swims in her mermaid suit during a mermaiding class in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Away from the critics and chaos of life on land, mer-world is the kinder, gentler and more joyful alternative to the real world. It is also a world, merfolk say, where you can be whoever and whatever you want. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Queen Pangke Tabora (right) swims with her students -- from left, Shelah Candado, Jennica Secuya and Meryll Louise Reque, during a mermaiding class in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Lauren Metzler, founder of Sydney Mermaids, swims at Manly Cove Beach in Sydney, Australia. "Some people have a coffee in the morning to wake up, some people have a mermaid swim," Metzler says with a laugh as she glides through the water, her skin adorned with sparkly sequins. "This tail is so fun to swim in!" (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Metzler received her advanced mermaid certification this month with a goal of teaching rookie merfolk how to avoid sinking to the seabed. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Queen Pangke Tabora swims in her monofin as she demonstrates techniques to her mermaiding class in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines. The former insurance company worker described the experience of gliding under water, half-human and half-fish, as “meditation in motion.” (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Queen Pangke Tabora lies in bed with her dog "Choknut" inside their room at the Ocean Camp where she conducts freediving and mermaiding classes in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Queen Pangke Tabora kisses her dog "Choknut" before teaching freediving and mermaiding classes at the Ocean Camp. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Lauren Metzler, founder of Sydney Mermaids, walks from the water at Manly Cove Beach in Sydney, Australia. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

The tail of Lauren Metzler, founder of Sydney Mermaids, lies on the sand as she prepares for an early morning swim at Manly Cove Beach in Sydney, Australia. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Queen Pangke Tabora swims in her mermaid suit as she conducts a mermaiding class. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Lauren Metzler, founder of Sydney Mermaids, prepares for a swim at Manly Cove Beach in Sydney, Australia. “The more we open up our imagination and accept everyone for how they are, it makes it more of a beautiful experience,” she says. “The sky _ or ocean floor _ is the limit of what you can do with mermaiding.” (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Lauren Metzler washes her tail after a swim at Manly Cove Beach in Sydney, Australia. Across the world. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Queen Pangke Tabora, right, and her students prepare for a mermaiding class at the Ocean Camp in Mabini, Batangas province, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)