{"id":3899,"date":"2021-06-05T09:22:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-05T07:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tarragonaexperience.com\/2015\/06\/05\/tarragona-opens-its-first-mermaid-and-newt-academy-in-europe\/"},"modified":"2022-01-28T13:17:02","modified_gmt":"2022-01-28T11:17:02","slug":"tarragona-opens-its-first-mermaid-and-newt-academy-in-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tarragonaexperience.com\/en\/2021\/06\/05\/tarragona-opens-its-first-mermaid-and-newt-academy-in-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"Tarragona has Europe’s first mermaid and triton academy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Odyssey<\/em>, Homer<\/strong>\u2019s immortal poem, explains how Ulysses<\/strong>, after becoming victorious in the Trojan War<\/strong>, begins his trip back to Ithaca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A journey that, far from being placid and triumphal, ends up being a true adventure full of perils. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most famous episodes during this voyage takes place between Sorrento<\/strong> and the island of Capri<\/strong>, in the south of Italy<\/strong>.

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\"Mermaids


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Ulysses<\/strong> had been previously warned about the fact that he would come across an island full of mermaids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will sing to the crew and make them lose their minds and jump out the boat, which would then cause their boats to sink. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, Ulysses<\/strong> decides to use wax to block their crew\u2019s ears. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He, on the other hand, can\u2019t help the need to see and listen to these mermaids and orders his people to tie him to a mast, so that he can enjoy the moment without putting his men in danger.


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Mermaids from Tarragona<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The legendary mermaids, sea-ladies that attract navigators with their beauty and their sweet singing, do still swim across the Mediterranean Sea<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over a year ago they left the Amalfi coast and moved to the warmer Mare Nostrum<\/strong>\u2019s waters near Tarragona<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, they can be seen while shaking their tails and performing all kind of figures at Cala Romana<\/strong>, Capellans<\/strong> beach or Tamarit<\/strong> at the beginning of the summer.

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\"Mermaids


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The descendants of those mermaids though, have lost some of their virtues and gained others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, these mythological creatures do no longer present any risk for the boats sailing round Tarragona<\/strong>\u2019s coastline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exact opposite, in fact; today, they have a far more friendly relationship with locals and tourists that visit our city, teaching them how to swim, perform complex figures and play games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So much so that they have created Europe’s first mermaid academy, the Sirenas Mediterranean Academy<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experiential experience, which was launched last year with notable success, is open to anyone who likes to play and move in the water, and who wants to have a fun time while learning some education about the sea and health.


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The birth of the first mermaid academy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Behind the Sirenas Mediterranean Academy<\/em><\/strong> project, we find Susana Seuma<\/strong> and Alejandro Rodr\u00edguez<\/strong>.

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\"Alejandro,


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Alejandro<\/strong> says Susana<\/strong> used to be a huge scuba diving and sea enthusiast but, due to a car accident, she was forced to give it up for 3 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One day, still convalescent at home \u2013absolutely full of scuba diving pictures\u2013, she had an idea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy not founding a mermaid academy?<\/em>\u201d, she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And indeed, she did so!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Susana<\/strong> and 4 instructors teach their students \u2013of all ages\u2013 how to move like a mermaid or a newt would.

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\"Mermaid


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The academy provides two different levels<\/strong>: the \u201cbaptism\u201d (at just 39\u20ac) and the \u201cadvanced\u201d level (at 49\u20ac), which varies depending on the pupil\u2019s experience and the actual toughness of the exercises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This activity takes place in open areas, such beaches and lakes, but also public and private swimming pools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides, Sirenas Mediterranean Academy<\/a><\/em><\/strong> offers a number of shows that can be hired for celebrations, openings and other public and private events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you fancy swimming like a mermaid or a newt? Sign in for experience now!

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