Visitors enjoying a morning at Las Canteras Beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria were treated to an unexpected sight yesterday (Thursday) when a woman dressed as a mermaid appeared along the shoreline near La Puntilla. The unusual scene quickly attracted the attention of swimmers and passers-by, many of whom stopped to take photos.
Although the appearance sparked curiosity, there was no mystery behind it. The woman was wearing a realistic mermaid tail and recreating the look of the famous fairy-tale character from The Little Mermaid, posing both on the sand and in the shallow water.
Mermaiding, as the activity is known, has become increasingly popular around the world, including in the Canary Islands. It combines specially designed mermaid tails with swimming and breath-holding techniques, and is enjoyed as both a recreational activity and a form of aquatic performance.
The reason for this appearance at Las Canteras has not been confirmed, but the island has embraced the trend before. In 2021, Gran Canaria's first mermaid and merman academy was launched at the beach, offering classes inspired by mermaiding.
At the time, instructor and founder Lydia Caro Castro described the activity as a form of synchronised swimming that provides a full-body workout while allowing participants to experience life under the sea in a fun and imaginative way.
