THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Step into the world of Catalina Island Mermaids in Avalon, CA, where a magical encounter with a real mermaid awaits. Capture photos, take home ocean treasures, and enjoy a family-friendly dive into coastal lore and water safety.
Step into the world of Catalina Island Mermaids in Avalon, CA, where a magical encounter with a real mermaid awaits. Capture photos, take home ocean treasures, and enjoy a family-friendly dive into coastal lore and water safety.
Book with Catalina Island Mermaids
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Catalina Island Mermaids · San Jose, California
Catalina Island, just off Southern California’s coast, is a rugged island known for its crystal-clear waters, marine life, and quaint town of Avalon. Here, Catalina Island Mermaids offers a unique, intimate experience that blends local coastal culture with a playful touch of fantasy. “Meet a Catalina Mermaid!” invites visitors of all ages into an underwater-themed grotto for a 15-minute encounter with a real-life mermaid. It’s more than a photo op—this is a hands-on moment where guests receive a treasure from the ocean and create lasting memories.
Avalon itself is rich with natural charm: sheer granite cliffs, kelp forests, and an ecosystem that supports species like the Garibaldi fish and playful dolphins. The mermaid experience taps into this aquatic wonderland, providing an engaging way to connect with the island’s maritime spirit without needing to dive beneath the waves.
At Catalina Island Mermaids, guests enter a carefully crafted grotto where Mermaid Catalina shares stories and water safety tips that emphasize respect for the ocean. After meeting the mermaid, every guest is gifted a special ocean treasure and gets to pose for a professional photo, allowing visitors to carry a tangible piece of their visit home. The optional Pearl Experience deepens the connection by letting guests open a real oyster, discover a genuine pearl, and set it in a sterling silver keepsake necklace.
What sets this adventure apart is its blend of education, magic, and community care. A portion of proceeds supports Swim Brayv, a nonprofit focused on water safety education, making your visit part of a bigger ripple effect for ocean stewardship. Whether traveling as a family or solo, this experience offers a whimsical break from traditional outdoor adventures while still honoring Catalina’s unique coastal environment.
Accessible and welcoming, Catalina Island Mermaids provides a refreshing, heartfelt addition to the island’s outdoor offerings, inviting visitors to engage with Avalon’s maritime heritage in an unforgettable way.
Yes, children under 12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the experience.
Yes, the grotto and facilities are stroller and wheelchair accessible.
Absolutely! You can take your own photos during the meet-and-greet and are encouraged to share them on social media.
The ticket covers the meet-and-greet, a special ocean treasure, and a 4x6 printed souvenir photo.
For an additional fee, guests open a real oyster with the mermaid and receive a genuine pearl inside a keepsake necklace.
The mermaid grotto is located at 128F Sumner Avenue in Avalon, Catalina Island, CA.
Catalina Island Mermaids is a specialty experience provider based in Avalon, California, offering a range of mermaiding and underwater services on and around Catalina Island. The company runs guided Catalina Island Mermaid Photoshoots on Middle Beach, in-studio Mermaid Transformation sessions with themed sets and souvenir photos, and a PADI Mermaid Class for participants ages 12 and older. Catalina Island Mermaids also provides Avalon Bare Bottoms underwater services for boats in Avalon Harbor, organizes Mermaid Community Meetups at Casino Point Dive Park, operates a Catalina Freedive Training Camp & Spearfishing Workshop, and offers Meet a Catalina Mermaid meet-and-greet experiences. All experiences emphasize safety and accessibility: the Mermaid Transformation requires no swimming, the PADI Mermaid Class follows PADI instruction standards for training, and freedive courses include structured freediving techniques and supervision. Professional photographers capture photos and videos for many experiences, with digital galleries or souvenir prints provided when listed. For boat owners, Avalon Bare Bottoms focuses on underwater maintenance and retrieval tasks specific to Avalon Harbor conditions. Catalina Island Mermaids engages the community through meetups and water-safety initiatives, combining recreational mermaiding with education. The fleet of offerings accommodates families, couples, children, and adult enthusiasts seeking creative photos, skill development, or specialized underwater services. Visitors planning a trip to Avalon can choose from introductory mermaid experiences to multi-day freediving and spearfishing workshops, all delivered locally on Catalina Island. Bookings are coordinated through the Avalon activity calendar and include clear pre-visit instructions, equipment options, and accessibility details to prepare guests for each unique session.
Book with Catalina Island Mermaids