Professional Mermaid on Mission to Educate Kids About the Ocean

 As part of our Waves of Change series on Spectrum News1 leading up to Earth Day, we went underwater with one of the more magical mythical creatures of the ocean.

Half human, half fish, mermaids have appeared in folklore in many different cultures around the world for centuries.

The first known stories of these sirens of the sea date back to around 1000 B.C. Actual historical accounts of mermaids, such as those reported by Christopher Columbus during his time in the Caribbean, may have been inspired by actual sea creatures like manatees or similar aquatic animals.

But not all mermaids are mythical sea creatures.

I spent time with a professional mermaid who lives and works right here in Los Angeles.

Linden Wolbert, aka 'Mermaid Linden,' is an accomplished freediver and a pioneer in the 'mermaiding' industry, and she’s on a mission to educate children about the ocean.