Why hundreds of people dress as mermaids

The mermaid is a staple in many folk tales. It's the story of a half-fish-half-woman who sometimes brings luck and sometimes misfortune. She might fall in love with a human and, from time to time, she hangs out with mermen. It turns out she has quite a fan club. Last month, hundreds of people got together in the south-east United States and togged up in custom-made fishtails to swim and perform underwater.

Image: Two mermaid enthusiasts wearing their custom silicon tails
Credit: Sean Norman