GREENSBORO -- Out of the sea and into the pool, mermaids from around the world are in Greensboro this weekend.

They're at the Greensboro Aquatic Center for North Carolina Mermania.

Visitors can swim and take photos with the mermaids.

But the event also offers a class on swimming with a monofin, a popular gift these days.

"We want to make sure that those are safely used because when you put a kid in the water with their feet bound, they need to know how to use it before they do that,” said Shannon Rauch, a mermaid.

The mermaids are also using the event to focus on environmental issues that affect the health of our oceans.

Mermania continues Sunday at the aquatic center.