Head Mermaid - Aquatic Performance

development. The role leads Mermaid Trainees, Mermaids, and Senior Mermaids while maintaining professional experiences for guests, colleagues, and the animals within Atlantis Dubai\'s care.

Key Responsibilities

* Lead the Mermaid team and establish standards for safety, professionalism, performance, and guest interaction.
* Represent the Mermaid program as its operational leader and ambassador.
* Oversee choreography for underwater shows, meet-and-greets, children\'s parties, and special events.
* Review and refresh performance content to keep experiences engaging and innovative.
* Maintain consistent show quality across underwater and dry activities.
* Conduct monthly performance discussions and individual development sessions.
* Provide constructive feedback and identify training requirements.
* Coordinate rehearsals, safety drills, emergency exercises, and skill-development sessions.
* Support recruitment, onboarding, succession planning, and career development.
* Assess performer readiness, professional conduct, team contribution, and progression fairly.
* Prepare daily schedules for shows and guest interactions.
* Lead morning briefings and communicate performance and safety priorities.
* Coordinate team deployment according to business and operational requirements.
* Perform in underwater shows, promotional activities, themed events, and private experiences.
* Swim in a mermaid tail while completing choreographed and improvised movements.
* Participate in costume fittings, rehearsals, photo opportunities, and marketing activities.
* Maintain swimming fitness, breath-control capability, and water-safety readiness.
* Follow the Atlantis Dubai Dive Operations Manual and instructions from the Dive Safety Officer.
* Maintain personal dive logs and required performance records.
* Inspect, clean, and care for mermaid costumes and equipment.
* Report equipment defects immediately and recommend replacements when needed.
* Advise management on mermaid tails, costumes, props, and performance equipment.
* Maintain adequate stocks of makeup, hair products, and other consumables.
* Use Atlantis systems for rostering, procurement, ordering, and recordkeeping.
* Develop professional relationships with equipment suppliers.
* Support Dolphin Meet and Greet, Shark Lagoon, photo, private, and special-event activations.
* Help develop dry activities and other revenue-generating guest programs.
* Maintain a safe environment for performers, guests, colleagues, and animals.
* Attend required meetings, training, and operational briefings.
* Protect confidential information and follow departmental policies.
* Drive continuous improvement across performance quality, safety, and program operations.

Ideal Profile

* Minimum 5 years of relevant aquatic or guest-facing performance experience.
* Suitable backgrounds include Mermaid performance, freediving, synchronized swimming, diving, dance, theatre, or character entertainment.
* At least 2 years of management, supervision, coaching, training, or program leadership experience.
* Demonstrated ability to coordinate a performance team, show operation, or guest-facing program.
* Recognized Mermaid certification is required.
* Instructor-level Mermaid or Freediving certification is preferred.
* Willing to obtain instructor-level certification if formal training responsibilities require it.
* Able to pass the annual departmental swim test.
* Able to complete the required annual dive medical or fitness assessment.
* Capable of holding breath underwater for extended periods.
* Comfortable swimming and performing in varying water temperatures.
* Able to wear a monofin, mermaid tail, or costume for extended periods.
* Physically capable of repetitive movement and handling costume equipment.
* CPR, First Aid, and Rescue training or willingness to obtain these qualifications.
* Comfortable performing before large audiences and interacting with children and adults.
* Willing to work near the animals within the Atlantis collection.
* Confident and clear spoken English.
* Mature, responsible, safety-conscious, and receptive to feedback.
* Available for evenings, weekends, holidays, private events, and special activations.

Skills Set

* Mermaid performance
* Underwater choreography
* Freediving
* Synchronized swimming
* Monofin swimming
* Breath control
* Aquatic safety
* Dive operations
* Emergency preparedness
* CPR
* First Aid
* Rescue training
* Show direction
* Performance coaching
* Team leadership
* Rehearsal planning
* Costume and equipment care
* Guest entertainment
* Children\'s interactions
* Special-event activation
* COUPA
* Rostering systems
* Procurement
* Inventory management
* Supplier coordination
* Program development

Why Join Us

Atlantis provides a competitive tax-free salary in UAE Dirhams, health insurance with dental coverage, annual home flights, life insurance, incentive opportunities, dining privileges, and discounted rates at Kerzner properties worldwide. The position also offers specialist training, creative program ownership, leadership development, international career mobility, and the opportunity to shape distinctive aquatic entertainment experiences.

About the Company

Atlantis Dubai is part of Kerzner International and includes Atlantis The Palm and Atlantis The Royal. Together, the resorts deliver luxury accommodation, dining, entertainment, marine attractions, wellness, and immersive guest experiences. More than 6000 colleagues from 129 nationalities work across both destinations, supported by shared operational and back-of-house functions.