What’s cooler than a pool in the desert? Becoming a mermaid in a pool in the desert — here’s how

Mermaids in the Arizona desert? It sounds crazy until you think about all the swimming pools.

The Phoenician and the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess are offering mermaid classes this summer, with guests getting a chance to get beyond mermaid envy and actually swim with a tail.

You must be a good swimmer and you must be comfortable underwater. And you must be a hotel guest.

Aquamermaid School at the Phoenician is a one-hour swimming lesson for mermaids and mermen. Participants wear a mermaid tail monofin, although the Aquamermaid swim instructor doesn’t.

Separate classes (limited to 10 participants) are offered for children 7 to 13 and teens (older than 14) and adults on Friday afternoons and Saturday and Sunday mornings.

“Once they put the tail on, they’re not thinking about a swimming lesson,” head swim instructor Kari Humphreys said. “It takes the mind off it and they have a good time.”

For adults, Humphreys said, swimming with a monofin is a great core workout.

Info: Classes cost $70 per person for the mermaid tail rental with a swim lesson. Reservations are required: (480) 423-2572.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess’ Mermaid University is a 90-minute mermaid experience with Moon Mermaid at the hotel’s new Sunset Beach Pool.

Classes are offered on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings for kids 7 to 12.

Trainees watch a safety video before pirates carry in the Moon Mermaid (because, of course, she can’t walk on her tail).

Info: Mermaid University costs $180 per child, is limited to 12 participants and includes a FinFun monofin mermaid tail, goggles, a book by Moon Mermaid and a diploma with the guest’s chosen mermaid name. Reservations are required: (480) 513-6014

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