Some swim around at aquariums, some take their tails to parties, and around a dozen are employed at Dive Bar, an aquatic-themed club with nightly mermaid shows in Sacramento, California.

A new school that teaches people how to swim in mermaid tails is expanding across Ontario. It's part of a growing mermaid swimming craze, but its running up against safety concerns at public pools.

Fins are not allowed during public swim times in Surrey, B.C., and in Calgary, swimmers must complete a test before being allowed to use the tails in public pools.

You can't be mad or sad when you see a mermaid. — Marielle Chartier Henault, AquaMermaid Academy founder Others, calling themselves mermaid advocates, say anyone should be able to swim with a tail.

As if to prove that the skippers of the fashion craft have finally gone off the deep end, mermaid-tail swimsuits are being promoted as the must-have accessories of what passes for the summer season.