Mermaids of Weeki WacheeOn January 6th, 2008 we went to <a href="http://mermaid.weekiwachee.com/index.php?&MMN_position=1:1">Weeki Wachee Springs</a>. This small town of nine residents has stood as an icon of Florida's culture since 1947 when Newton A. Perry first developed a method for breathing underwater that would allow performers to move freely without the inhibition of scuba diving equipment. A theatre was built in the limestone on one side of the Weeki Wachee Spring and shows have been performed ever since inspiring generations of little girls to want to be mermaids.
We knew the show would be fun but we had no idea just how amazing it would be. The performers are as talented as they are beautiful being able to hold their breath for nearly three minutes and to dive 175 feet into a spring blasting water at the rate of 117 million gallons a day.
First we photographed The Little Mermaid Show based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.
Then we photographed Fish Tails: a salute to the history of Weeki Wachee and demonstrations on just what is required to be a mermaid.
Weeki Wachee is a famous part of Florida <a href="http://mermaid.weekiwachee.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=13&MMN_position=13:13">history</a> that is a must see. I have always enjoyed live performance but seeing choreography under 20 feet of water is breathtaking.
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Plus, we love to hear from people. <a href="mailto:morgan@realfloridaphoto.com">Email us</a> with any questions, comments, or just to say hello.http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5420/243633647_xWsai-Ti-11.jpghttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/4170824_aRdQr/2009-02-23T00:14:06ZCopyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved.SmugMugMermaids of Weeki Wachee I
Since this is performed in a natural spring, all fish and other wildlife that appear during the performances are wild and in their natural environment. This fish ...<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee I
Since this is performed in a natural spring, all fish and other wildlife that appear during the performances are wild and in their natural environment. This fish ...</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243633647_xWsai" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee I
Since this is performed in a natural spring, all fish and other wildlife that appear during the performances are wild and in their natural environment. This fish ..."><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5420/243633647_xWsai-Th-11.jpg" width="101" height="150" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee I
Since this is performed in a natural spring, all fish and other wildlife that appear during the performances are wild and in their natural environment. This fish ..." title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee I
Since this is performed in a natural spring, all fish and other wildlife that appear during the performances are wild and in their natural environment. This fish ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-01-20T07:23:36Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5420/243633647_xWsai-Th-11.jpg2008-01-06 13:42:12Mermaids of Weeki Wachee III
A turtle drops in during the show.<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee III
A turtle drops in during the show.</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243623928_DBQx9" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee III
A turtle drops in during the show."><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP1206/243623928_DBQx9-Th-8.jpg" width="150" height="120" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee III
A turtle drops in during the show." title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee III
A turtle drops in during the show." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:14:06Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP1206/243623928_DBQx9-Th-8.jpg2008-01-06 13:38:05Mermaids of Weeki Wachee IV
In a flurry of tails and bubbles, the sisters of the Little Mermaid appear to sing and dance twenty feet underwater.<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee IV
In a flurry of tails and bubbles, the sisters of the Little Mermaid appear to sing and dance twenty feet underwater.</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243625012_jkgPG" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee IV
In a flurry of tails and bubbles, the sisters of the Little Mermaid appear to sing and dance twenty feet underwater."><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5310/243625012_jkgPG-Th-8.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee IV
In a flurry of tails and bubbles, the sisters of the Little Mermaid appear to sing and dance twenty feet underwater." title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee IV
In a flurry of tails and bubbles, the sisters of the Little Mermaid appear to sing and dance twenty feet underwater." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:14:06Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5310/243625012_jkgPG-Th-8.jpg2008-01-06 12:06:56Mermaids of Weeki Wachee V
Underwater choreography in black and white.<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee V
Underwater choreography in black and white.</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243625312_wnLvU" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee V
Underwater choreography in black and white."><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5311/243625312_wnLvU-Th-8.jpg" width="150" height="107" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee V
Underwater choreography in black and white." title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee V
Underwater choreography in black and white." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:14:06Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5311/243625312_wnLvU-Th-8.jpg2008-01-06 12:07:14Mermaids of Weeki Wachee X<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee X</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243627324_3bM8J" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee X"><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5317/243627324_3bM8J-Th-8.jpg" width="150" height="118" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee X" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee X" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:14:06Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5317/243627324_3bM8J-Th-8.jpg2008-01-06 12:08:39Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XI
A Mermaid Chorus Line<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XI
A Mermaid Chorus Line</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243627376_XXBjA" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XI
A Mermaid Chorus Line"><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5320/243627376_XXBjA-Th-8.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XI
A Mermaid Chorus Line" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XI
A Mermaid Chorus Line" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:14:06Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5320/243627376_XXBjA-Th-8.jpg2008-01-06 12:09:19Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XIII
Enter the star of the tale, The Little Mermaid<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XIII
Enter the star of the tale, The Little Mermaid</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243628127_Duo6K" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XIII
Enter the star of the tale, The Little Mermaid"><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5325/243628127_Duo6K-Th-8.jpg" width="101" height="150" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XIII
Enter the star of the tale, The Little Mermaid" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XIII
Enter the star of the tale, The Little Mermaid" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:14:06Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5325/243628127_Duo6K-Th-8.jpg2008-01-06 12:10:56Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XVI
Little Mermaid with a bubble halo<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XVI
Little Mermaid with a bubble halo</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243628899_YCtJc" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XVI
Little Mermaid with a bubble halo"><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5333/243628899_YCtJc-Th-8.jpg" width="101" height="150" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XVI
Little Mermaid with a bubble halo" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XVI
Little Mermaid with a bubble halo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:14:06Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5333/243628899_YCtJc-Th-8.jpgMermaids of Weeki Wachee XVIII
A fierce storm develops above.<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XVIII
A fierce storm develops above.</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243629243_4dgAF" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XVIII
A fierce storm develops above."><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5342/243629243_4dgAF-Th-8.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XVIII
A fierce storm develops above." title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XVIII
A fierce storm develops above." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:14:06Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5342/243629243_4dgAF-Th-8.jpg2008-01-06 12:16:13Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXVIII<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXVIII</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243631350_ASCQc" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXVIII"><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5375/243631350_ASCQc-Th-8.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXVIII" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXVIII" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:16:07Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5375/243631350_ASCQc-Th-8.jpg2008-01-06 12:26:35Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXIX<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXIX</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243631510_8WEJL" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXIX"><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5377/243631510_8WEJL-Th-8.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXIX" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXIX" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:16:07Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5377/243631510_8WEJL-Th-8.jpg2008-01-06 12:26:56Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXXI<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXXI</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243632083_TgVTQ" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXXI"><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5398/243632083_TgVTQ-Th-8.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXXI" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXXI" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:16:07Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5398/243632083_TgVTQ-Th-8.jpg2008-01-06 12:33:41Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXXVIII<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXXVIII</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243632864_Wum8R" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXXVIII"><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5408/243632864_Wum8R-Th-8.jpg" width="101" height="150" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXXVIII" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXXVIII" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:16:07Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5408/243632864_Wum8R-Th-8.jpg2008-01-06 13:38:42Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXXIX
Part of the Fish Tails show features Mermaids actually feeding the fish that live in the spring.<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXXIX
Part of the Fish Tails show features Mermaids actually feeding the fish that live in the spring.</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243633172_mTzEZ" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXXIX
Part of the Fish Tails show features Mermaids actually feeding the fish that live in the spring."><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5410/243633172_mTzEZ-Th-8.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXXIX
Part of the Fish Tails show features Mermaids actually feeding the fish that live in the spring." title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XXXIX
Part of the Fish Tails show features Mermaids actually feeding the fish that live in the spring." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:16:07Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5410/243633172_mTzEZ-Th-8.jpg2008-01-06 13:39:24Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XL<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XL</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243633192_xwR6e" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XL"><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5409/243633192_xwR6e-Th-8.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XL" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XL" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:16:07Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5409/243633192_xwR6e-Th-8.jpg2008-01-06 13:39:11Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XLI<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XLI</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243624548_H3eoD" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XLI"><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5425/243624548_H3eoD-Th-8.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XLI" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XLI" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:16:07Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5425/243624548_H3eoD-Th-8.jpg2008-01-06 13:43:09Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XLII<p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com">realfloridaphoto</a><br />Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XLII</p><p><a href="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/4170824_aRdQr#243633439_Pc6pQ" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XLII"><img src="http://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5422/243633439_Pc6pQ-Th-8.jpg" width="150" height="107" alt="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XLII" title="Mermaids of Weeki Wachee XLII" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-23T00:16:07Zrealfloridaphotohttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.comhttp://realfloridaphoto.smugmug.com/Old-Florida-Attractions/Mermaids-of-Weeki-Wachee/IMGP5422/243633439_Pc6pQ-Th-8.jpg2008-01-06 13:42:41