About Magnetic Mermaid
Magnetic Mermaid (AKA “Maggie”) resides on and in the waters surrounding Magnetic Island, Queensland. She had demonstrated her mer-spirit from a very young age with a passion for marine life and breath-hold diving, she was always the last one out of the water! With Magnetic Island’s beautiful waters, landscape, and marine diversity, it makes sense that Magnetic Mermaid calls the island home.
She spends countless hours underwater befriending, photographing, and identifying the local marine life with a particular fascination for fish. She loves to share this passion with others and knows the best places on the island!
Magnetic Mermaid is also a veterinary nurse that works closely with the Magnetic Island Network for Turtles (MINT) where she has assisted sea turtles on the medical team, with nest monitoring, and as a mermaid ambassador!
Magnetic Mermaid earned her PADI Advanced Mermaid certification under the guidance of Dianne the Mermaid in Cairns, QLD. She continued to flourish on her mermaid journey by traveling to Thailand in 2024. There she levelled up her mer-skills “Thai style” and became a PADI Mermaid Instructor through Sea Mastermind with the desire to inspire others and create a “Maggie Island Merpod”.
Magnetic Mermaid lives by her core values “REEFS” – Respect, Empathy, Empowerment, Fun, Safety. These values are demonstrated through her mermaid experiences, instruction, and marine interactions. She encourages respect and empathy for all marine life as well as empowerment, fun, and safety for anyone taking part in a mermaid experience!
Photo by Kaspa Blewett 💕
Magnetic Mermaid’s Mission is to…
Why does Magnetic Mermaid love mermaiding so much?
A Brief History of Mermaiding & Mermaid Culture
While mythical mermaids have enchanted human imagination for centuries, modern mermaiding as a lifestyle and performance art truly began making waves in the 20th century.
One of the earliest and most iconic modern mermaids was Annette Kellerman, an Australian professional swimmer, actress, and water ballet pioneer who performed mermaid-themed shows in the early 1900s, complete with a custom-made tail.
The image of the glamorous, underwater mermaid performer continued to grow in popularity throughout the 20th century, especially with the rise of Hollywood films like Splash (1984) and The Little Mermaid (1989), inspiring generations to dream of life under the sea.
In the early 2000s, mermaiding evolved from fantasy into a real-world hobby and professional pursuit. Innovators began crafting swimmable fabric and silicone tails, and performers started appearing in aquariums, resorts, and live shows around the world. This helped establish mermaiding as both a performance art and an empowering form of self-expression.
Today, modern mermaiding blends freediving, dance, storytelling, and ocean advocacy. It has grown into a vibrant global subculture with its own communities, training programs (like PADI Mermaid courses), competitions, and even conservation movements.
So why mermaid? Because it’s joyful, freeing, and deeply immersive—literally. Mermaiding offers a powerful way to reconnect with your body, the ocean, and your imagination. Whether you’re seeking confidence, creativity, fitness, a sense of belonging, or just the magic of trying something new, slipping on a tail can be a transformative experience. It’s a chance to express yourself, embrace playfulness, and discover strength in fluidity.
Mermaiding celebrates body positivity, creativity, and connection to the water—and invites people of all ages to embrace their inner mer.