Ariel out of his Shell
personal merblog
🌊 Join me on my journey beneath the waves — exploring the sea 🐠 and becoming more extroverted ☀️
Stories from beneath the surface — exploring identity, self-expression, and building a space where merfolk from the North Sea can connect, swim, and be fully themselves.
The Story
Of Ariel out of his Shell
Through this blog, I share stories from beneath the surface — about discovering mermaiding, embracing self-expression, and creating community for adult merfolk.
My mission? To bring together merpeople from the North Sea and swim together once a month in celebration of who we are.
“Join me on a journey of self-expression — and of building a home for adult merfolk.”
Becoming Ariel
A Merman Emerges
My Stories
Moments from my mer-life: from my first tail to organising events, and everything in between.
My New Monofin from M.N.G. Finn
After two years of mermaid swimming, I bought my first professional monofin and took it with me to Barcelona to try it out in the sea. At the same time, I started dreaming of a fixed spot in Amsterdam where I could swim as a merman more often.
Gay Swim Amsterdam New Years Dive
Happy New Year! My swimming club organized a New Year’s dip at the Nieuwe Meer. I decided to join at the last minute — as a merman. It was cold, but the atmosphere was warm and cheerful.
Hosting My First Mermaid Swim Clinic
Last week, a dream came true: together with two teammates from my swimming club, I organized my very first mermaid clinic. The turnout and responses were enthusiastic, and the clinic generated a lot of energy and curiosity.
My First Mermaid Tail
After our holiday, I couldn’t wait to buy my own mermaid tail. Since you’re not allowed to swim with one in a regular pool, I tried mermaid swimming for the first time in the Gaasperplas, a lake near where we live.
How I Discovered Mermaiding
My transformation from human to merman began in 2022. During our summer holiday in Sitges, we unexpectedly met a merman. After hearing his story and seeing him swim, I immediately knew: this is what I want too.