Weeki Wachee Springs

Weeki Wachee Springs is a natural tourist attraction located in Weeki Wachee, Florida, where underwater performances by "mermaids", women dressed with fins about their legs as well as other fancy outfits, can be viewed in an aquarium-like setting in the spring of the Weeki Wachee River. A water park, Buccaneer Bay, and boat rides are also part of the attraction.

The attraction was created in 1947 by an ex-Navy frogman named Newton Perry, who based the show on frogman techniques. Guests to the park have included Elvis Presley. Hollywood has occasionally used the attraction and its mermaids in the filming of movies such as "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" (1948), "Neptune's Daughter" (1949), and many television shows. At one point, the attraction was owned by broadcast network ABC, and this led to an increase in publicity for the attraction. General Manager Robyn Anderson also serves as the town's mayor.

In 2005, English Rock Band Supergrass filmed their video for their song "Low C" at the Springs. They filmed a short documentary about the spring, as well as playing at a local bar and swimming with the mermaids.

In 2006 Thomas J. Kelly filmed LittleMerman.com a web-based reality show that followed Kelly's efforts to become the first merman at the park.

In 2007 the park celebrated its 60th Anniversary.

In 2008 it was announced that the state of Florida would take over Weeki Wachee Springs as a state park.

From May 22 until August 30 of 2007, the discharge level at Weeki Wachee spring dropped to a level that allowed for cave divers to gain effective entry into the cave system at the spring. The Karst Underwater Research team successfully executed exploration dives and the necessary in-water decompression to explore approximately 6,700 feet in multiple passages at an average depth of 265 Feet Fresh Water (ffw) with a maximum depth of 407 ffw.

ee also

* Glass-bottom boat
* Cave diving

External links

* [http://www.weekiwachee.com/ Weeki Wachee Springs] , official site
* [http://www.tampadiving.com/sections/diving/cave_systems/system.asp?ID=89&region=FL Weeki Wachee Cave System]
* [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/03/0322_040322_TVmermaid.html National Geographic: "Mermaids" Fight to Save Florida Roadside Attraction] [http://www.LittleMerman.com Web Reality Series About A Comedian's Attempt To "Save The Mermaids"]