Celebrating the beauty beneath the sea

Beautiful, powerful, underwater women are the focus of an Instagram account celebrating the female diving community of Cyprus. ALIX NORMAN finds out just what it takes to be a true mermaid

Of course mermaids exist! You’ll find them off the coasts of Cyprus, powerful and graceful as they swim with turtles, dive deep into the depths, and explore mysterious wrecks. They even have their own Instagram account, courtesy of the original mermaid herself, Milada Yalmaz Jungvirt!

“I launched @underwatergirlscyprus just last September,” says Milada, “as a way to unite and inspire the community of diving women on the island. It’s a platform,” she explains, “to motivate female scuba divers, free-divers, snorkelers and spear-fishers – any sport which requires you to submerge your head.”

A freediver and scuba diver herself, Milada moved to the island two years ago from Australia, and noticed immediately that female divers were underrepresented in Cyprus.

“There are any number of local communities that focus on above-the-water sports, such as windsurfing, wakeboarding and kite surfing,” she explains. “And there are lots of diving and freediving communities too, both here and abroad. But there was no specific, local underwater community for women,” she reveals. “In Cyprus, underwater sports tend to be very male-dominated; and there was no place where we, as women, could share our love of these sports and of the sea. So I thought I’d start the community myself!”

Originally from Sydney, 39-year-old Milada herself grew up “with that beach lifestyle. I’ve always loved the sea,” she reveals. “I learned to surf when I was seven, and my father was an experienced scuba diver. But it wasn’t until I settled in Cyprus that I actually took up diving myself…”

A digital nomad who has lived in “multiple countries, including Germany, Austria, France, the Czech Republic Slovakia, and the UK,” Milada owns a digital marketing company which allows her to work remotely. “For years, I lived a fairly itinerant lifestyle,” she explains. “But now, as a single mum of two young kids, I decided to settle in one country. Cyprus has always held a place in my heart – I’ve been holidaying here for years, visiting friends from my university days – and there’s nowhere quite like it,” she enthuses. “Just like Sydney, it’s safe, enjoys a friendly, open culture, and an amazing beach lifestyle. Plus, it’s a great place for new business: a central hub for digital marketing, a burgeoning market with lots of potential and a great geographic location.”

Settling in Cyprus meant Milada was “finally able to make time for myself; to do the things I’d always wanted! And one of those was learning to dive. In fact, Cyprus inspired me to become a mermaid,” she laughs. “There’s such freedom to being out there, underneath the waves, at one with yourself and the sea. And it’s great to see so many women who feel the same way: joining this new community, following the Instagram account and sharing their pictures…”

While the account originally began with personal photos of Milada’s diving exploits, it’s now open to any women who share her passion. “It’s photos of myself and other female divers revelling in the sport,” she explains. “The account is sent or tagged in roughly 12 photos each week – fewer in winter because it’s so cold; many more as we move into summer and the site grows – and all are mentioned in our story, whether posted or not.

“Those which are posted to the account are chosen for their accurate representation of the idea of female empowerment through underwater activities. We say,” she adds with a smile, “that the account is about the beauty beneath: not only beneath the waves, but also beneath the surface – your inner soul. So nothing here is sexual; instead it’s a celebration of women’s power, by women and for women.”

Although relatively new, this motivational platform for females in the diving world has already achieved a great deal. “We’ve linked women all over the island,” says Milada. “We’ve raised awareness of female participation in underwater sports; we’ve brought together photographers and mermaids; acted as a middleman between sponsors and divers; and even inspired a few paintings by a local artists based on the account! And we hope, in time, to be able to use our influence to help the local community…

“We’re looking at holding events to boost awareness of environmental issues regarding the seas and oceans,” she divulges. “We’re planning to work with various diving schools to host beach clean-ups and the like, and hoping to hold camps or get-togethers purely for women, in which we can inspire other females to take up diving, snorkelling or spearfishing.”

“It’s early days yet,” she concludes. “But @underwatergirlscyprus is already empowering women all over the island. All women are strong, beautiful, powerful mermaids in their own way – and never more so when they’re at home in the beautiful seas of Cyprus!”

For more information, or to submit your underwater photos, visit the Instagram account @underwatergirlscyprus