South African Mermaid
Photo Credit: @11thhourracing/Instagram

Ariel might have wanted to escape the ocean, but this real-life South African mermaid can’t get enough of it, and a new film she’s starring in hopes to inspire us all to appreciate water (in all its forms) a little more.

 

Global (23 May, 2023) — Where there’s water there’s life, and if we love life, caring for our waters can’t exactly be last on the to-do list. This is one message the short film ‘Shaped by Water’ bottles as it shares champion perspectives, including that of a famous South African mermaid, Zandile Ndhlovu.

A team of offshore sailors from the United States, a free-skiing world champ and Zandi the mermaid—AKA, SA’s renowned free-diver and global powerhouse—came together to share their passion for water in its different forms, hoping to inspire others in the process.

The film flows to a score by Grammy-Award-winning Todd Hannigan and is directed by Cape Town-based creative Dean Leslie. It’s something of a love letter to nature’s life force, and a documentary of champions all wrapped together.

Spilling the Beauty of Water

More than a passion project, the film and mini-doc was made to remind everyone how connected we are to water beyond our biology, and how connected we can be in a deeper way.

The Black Mermaid’s Take

“I had learned to breathe at 30 years old. And used this breath to explore the deepest oceans, often with my eyes closed… listening to the sound of the rope to measure the speed of my descent .. ‘there was nothing to see’ seems a silly say in an ocean so vast, but Freediving for me has always been about the dive into the self, to see through the eyes of the heart. A timely dance with the gift of the here and now.

“What I didn’t know what that the repetition of all those dives into depth was a shaping. For me, the ocean is the ultimate definer of freedom.”—Zandile Ndhlovu.

Produced by 11th Hour Racing and teaming up with Protect Our Winters, you can sail here to keep up with where to watch the film and learn more about the projects.


Source: @11thhourracing and @zandithemermaid
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google
Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

About the Author

Ashleigh Nefdt is a writer for Good Things Guy.

Ashleigh's favourite stories have always seen the hidden hero (without the cape) come to the rescue. As a journalist, her labour of love is finding those everyday heroes and spotlighting their spark - especially those empowering women, social upliftment movers, sustainability shakers and creatives with hearts of gold. When she's not working on a story, she's dedicated to her canvas or appreciating Mother Nature.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *