Sabahan ‘mermaid’ making waves
KOTA KINABALU: After almost four decades, a 51-year-old woman realised her dream to become a “mermaid”.
Shureena Ng, who used to live in a water village here, had been hoping that she would see mermaids surface since she was 7.
“Even in the 1970s, there were black-and-white P. Ramlee, Chinese and English movies featuring mermaids. I became excited whenever I watched or read anything about mermaids.”
Three years ago, Ng discovered on the Internet the trend of being a “mermaid” in Western countries.
She said to swim like a mermaid, one had to apply dolphin and butterfly swimming strokes.
Ng said children in water villages naturally learned to swim.
“I learned about becoming a mermaid via videos on the Internet, and they improved my swimming skills.
“When I first started the hobby three years ago, I practised it at Sungai Babagon in Penampang as I wasn’t sure whether public pools allowed such an activity.
“Back then, only my dogs accompanied me, and I put buoys around it for my safety.”
It was only when she started doing her mermaid swims at the Penampang Sports Complex and private pools did people approach her for swimming lessons.
Ng, who also teaches music, arts and baking, has about 30 students, aged between 5 and 58.
She said “mermaiding” was a fun approach to swimming, especially children.
As for those who are passionate about becoming a“mer maid ”, there is more to learn about how to swim gracefully in the water. Beginners have to do it under supervision and guidance as safety is a priority.
Ng makes swimmable and durable mermaid costumes, ranging from realistic to fairytale designs.
The costumes are made of fabric, silicone and other materials.
Her passion also landed her commercial shooting offers.
She swam in her mermaid costume at the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park here at a depth of 8m without wearing an oxygen mask for three projects.
She was offered to do “mermaid” shows and hoped that they could be used as charity drives.
More of Ng’s “mermaiding” activities can be viewed at Sabah Mermaid Shureena’s Facebook and YouTube accounts.