If you’ve ever dreamt of being a mermaid, well now you can!! Weeki Wachee springs is holding mermaid auditions next Friday April 26 for those who may be interested in joining their team.
“One myth is that everybody, or people might say that mermaids are not real but here we are and we are swimming every day as a mermaid so we are as real as anything else can be,” said Stayce McConnell.
Stayce McConnell is the lead mermaid at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park and has been swimming around for more than a decade.
“My favorite part would be just swimming for the families and the kids, especially the looks on their faces and also just being underwater is just a magical feeling,” said McConnell.
In an underwater theatre the mermaids splash around in the beautiful, clear spring water and provide family friendly entertainment year-round.
While the job looks fun, it’s certainly not easy.
“There’s an endurance swim we start off with. It’s a 400 yard swim. You have to do it in 16 minutes. Then if you pass that we go to the underwater part of it where we make you go underwater do a breath hold, a couple ballet moves that we teach you how to do,” said McConnell.
Right now the park has 24 mermaids and while dozens will audition, it’s likely only four will make the cut.
The position is a paid job starting at $12 an hour but as the mermaids like to say, it’s not about the money, it’s about the charm.
“It’s more or less being a part of something. And being underwater is just amazing and swimming and performing for all the kids and the families, it’s a wonderful experience and there’s nothing else like it in the world,” said McConnell.
Auditions had to be moved to April 26 at 2 p.m. because of Friday’s storms. They will take up to two hours. Participants must be 18 years old, pass and endurance swim test and an underwater audition.
Walk up’s are not accepted. You must submit an application before showing up.
