Mermaid observed the waves of a certain section in Playa Guiones, where reefs gained more intensity and decided that it would be too dangerous for her to swim through the reef. Meantime, Captain David and his mariner Johnny assisted her, since they are more familiar with the region.
55-year-old Renate Herberger, aka Mermaid, from Germany, swam from Playa Garza to Playa Ostional on Monday morning, February 21, 2011 to bring attention on the marine sanctuaries.
Forth time swimming in Nosara for the same cause, she did her first big swim in 2008. Since then she has been traveling around the world to spread the word about the danger that humans create for the oceans. Activist and conservationist Mermaid said “if things continue as they are right now, the predictions are that in the year 2048 there won’t be any edible fish in the ocean.”
During her trips, besides swimming long distances, she organizes workshops to share her knowledge of what is happening in the oceans.
Furthermore she would like to develop and educational program that can be implemented in schools to raise awareness of the issue at an earlier age.
|
|
A torn meniscus, which left Mermaid with a lifelong disability on her leg, led her to increase the amount of swimming. Since the injury of 2005, she has been swimming for hours each day. She feels pain-free while swimming because of the absence of gravity in the ocean. The longest time she spent without a swim was a week, she said. Mermaid was originally a dance therapist. |
| |
|
| |
Before she started swimming, she put some liquid soap in her goggles and washed them
with ocean water to prevent the mist.
|
Mermaid swam a route between Playa Garza and Playa Ostional.
Al final de su trayectoria, regreso al barco con la ayuda del capitán David. |
|
Even though, she hasn't decided yet, she still keeps the mileage and location track of her swims, in case if she decides to apply for the Guiness Records. |
Mermaid is not associated with any organization and is having the difficulties and frustration of working by herself in finding access to resources.
|
