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A Most Remarkable Story About A Cover Model & Her Bikini
It has been my honor to call Nikki du Plessis my friend, and muse, for decades. As I review my life (and memories) for stories to publish THIS story needs to be told.
Nikki designed a line of bikinis to be sold after her latest magazine cover and asked me to shoot her in the bikini that was selected for the cover.
The cover and the bikini were WOW!
We decided to shoot in Figi because Nikki wanted to showcase the bikini line as suitable for all watersports, including her favorite pastime Freediving! I first introduced Nikki to freediving here in Key West, Florida for a personal art project titled: The Sea Siren which had Nikki diving nude to a shipwreck in 35 feet of water. Well, I let the mermaid in her out to play. Now she freedives well over 100’ and stays under for minutes per dive. When asked about her deepest dive or how long it took she said she doesn’t believe in numbers; she just dives, period.
And, she never uses goggles, masks, nose clips or any of that stuff pro use. Nikki says she can taste and smell the ocean underwater and I believe her.
Anyway, getting back to Figi Nikki said there was a permanent dive site that had a dive line to 175 feet and she wanted to test herself on it. Now, I’m not a bad freediver myself but that’s really, really pushing my limits and I couldn’t guarentee I could film her that deep. “I’ll take a GoPro with me”, was her thinking. OK, let’s do this. First, some beach shots.
We got wet in the hotel pool and scraped the idea it could be useful as a backdrop. Nothing can beat the open ocean for drama and thrills.
So, it was off to the 175 foot deep line Nikki really was interested to conquer. I just shook my head.
Nikki wanted to shoot right away on the reefs but I won the argument saying the colors and activity of the reef would be TOO much and we should try a more simple background and just let her beauty and mermaidness overwhelm the viewers senses.
We found a nice quiet beach with a sand bottom that would reflect sunlight back onto her skin and suit. THEN - out of the blue two dolphins showed up and CRAZY Nikki and the guys became best friends. I always knew Nikki was special in saltwater but this!?!?
Forget the bikini !!! Nikki interacting with absolute stranger dolphins was something to behold. What I witnessed only confirmed my eariler belief that Greek god of the oceans, Poseidon himself had sent Nikki to my door in Key West, those many years ago.
Now this is where this story gets dramatic and memorable… and scary. A strong tide became a factor and before we knew it we were heading into deeper waters. Still, no problem but with each dive with the
dolphins Nikki was going deeper and deeper. She seemed hypnotized and addicted to the feeling of dolphin under her fingers and the mental high being underwater had on her mental state.
And then, sure as hell, she was using the dolphin to reach the bottom now at 95 feet. Up and down she went. I tried my best to record it on film but something in me told me something was happening.
Then it happened. The 95 foot deep sand bottom we were shooting on was really just an edge of a much deeper dropoff… so deep I could bearly see its bottom in crystal clear water… I’m figuring about 200 feet or more.
I was mid-dive when I saw Nikki and a single dolphin go to the edge and dive. Now Nikki and I were mid-dive so we were under almost 2 minutes and there she goes… deeper. I kinda paniced. I couldn’t follow her and I would soon need air.
I couldn’t believe it, before heading to the surface I saw Nikki empty her lungs of air. What was she doing? As I surfaced, still trying to not loose sight of Nikki, failed. She was gone, and the tide was taking me away from my last sighting of her. I surfaced, cursing, did a strong series of ins and out and dove again.
I looked frantically left and right for any sign of Nikki surfacing. Nothing.
It had been bright and cloudy and I was grateful when the cloud moved on and bright sunlight streamed down. I reached the edge of the abyss and searched beneath me. At first nothing. I was really scared now. But then a light streak lit Nikki up - so so deep beneath me. I was at 95 feet and she had to be that again and probably more. I knew immediately if I tried to go after her I wouldn’t make it and we both drown. All I could do is watch and wait. I needed air again and surfaced… crying.
As bad as my mental heath was the business serious side of me said this was probably going to end badly and that I needed to keep filming for the sure to come police inquiry.
I did a strong hyperventilation series thinking I would try to reach Nikki no matter what. Last breath, I dove.
What I saw next was hard to believe, but then again, maybe not. Nikki was a child of the ocean… a Daughter of Poseidon.
There coming up from the depths was a dolphin pushing Nikki up from the depths. With his snout under her back the beautiful animal was magnificiant.
I swam to meet them at the edge of drop-off. I was expecting the worst but, wait, I saw Nikki open her eyes, smile slightly, then shut her eyes agin. She remained limp allowing the dolphin to raise her up.
I was on to her now, cradling her in my arms. she opened her eyes again and smiled again, then closed her eyes once more… but the smile stayed.
Happy, elated, THIS BITCH. I loved her so.
We were almost at the surfce and the thought hit me. Nikki had to be underwater more than 5 maybe even 6 minutes… how would that affect her? Would there be nerve or brain damage? Horrible thoughts flooded my head.
I looked down at her one more time before surfacing; light patterns on her face, her blond hair soft and fluid behind her. Her hazel eyes opened just as we broke the surface. I really didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have to know.
She slowly put her arms around my neck. She wasn’t even breathing heavy. She drew me close and whispered in my ear. “I saw God”
Over the years Nikki and I have talked in depth of that day. Nikki realizes something special did happen but what, she doesn’t know. She remembers hearing voices speaking, guiding her down into the deep. They told her to exhale, to purge all surface air from her body, and she obeyed. They told her to “feel” the dolphin and join with him in the pressure and sounds of the deep. They told her to listen to the dolphin’s heart beat and she is sure she did just that. Nikki said she never blacked out but went into trance state of euphoria. She said the dolphin pushed her body into the soft sand and that she just laid there, eyes open, resting, listening to the sounds of the ocean. She never had the urge to breathe, of that she is certain. Nikki said she felt hands, female hands caress her body, her breasts, her ribs, her soft parts as she lay in the sand. Fingers entered her mouth. Her cheeks were touched and gently carressed. Nikki said she would have stayed there, in the sand, forever, but the dolphin said it was time to return and so she let him. “That’s when I saw God… and I thanked him for this visit.”
Wow, what a weekend. Zoe, a member of the Mermaid Hunter Studios All Stars, is also a successful model, actor, and stunt woman based out of Miami. Her underwater work was creating buzz in Hollywood so she ask me to create an epic underwater showreel she could give her agent. We chose the Caymen Salvage Master as our main location. It’s rests in 95 feet of water and has a great superstructure. We shot underwater Glamour and underwater Peril scenes. She insisted on wearing her America 250 bikini, of course! Zoe even had a makeup touch-up at 85 feet from the surface. That was a first for me. What a weekend!
The glamour was shot on the huge wheel on the bow. Zoe wanted to showcase her freediving ability & stamina so she made this 75 foot dive over 20 times!! Then I filmed her deep inside the bowels of the superstructure. Nikki wanted to show some acting in this perilous environment. As she explored cabins and decks she would act confused and disoriented. We even did a few drowning scenes. Zoe needed Bill the safety diver for buddy breathing because for the drowning scenes she woud empty her lungs - at 80 feet deep and just wouldn’t have the air to surface.
Over the years we have had much success working with professional modeling agencies finding the best raw underwater talent entering the modeling world. If need be we further train and cultivate a working relationship with the model and her agency. New talent will be showcased here when a new image has been added to the Sales Catalog.
Mermaid Hunter Studios is approaching its 50th year anniversary. During that time we have made contact with every major modeling agency around the globe. Our business request was simple - Scout and inform us when you sign true mermaids to your roster. We pay a finders fee when we book their new underwater talent.
Introducing the Poster Series
Introducing - Posters! A primary goal of Mermaid Hunter Studios is to make my art available to hospitality businesses such as hotels, inns, B&Bs, restaurants, clubs, etc - at a more affordable price than would be appropriate for “Fine Art” collections.
This approach also includes more informal areas in private homes such as gyms, rec rooms, outdoor patios, even workshops.
Because the Poster series incorporates Mermaid Hunter Studios corporate identity text within the poster, and Poster sub catagories celebrating Key West and The Florida Keys with even more obvious texts, it’s only fair I reduce the price of the art to match its purpose.
The Poster series comes in 4 sizes: 17×22 - 22×17 - 20×30 - 30×20 inches, of course. The smaller 17×22 sizes will be printed in-house on Epson Ultra Premium Luster Fine Art Paper. The larger 20×30 size will be printed by Key West’s own Art Warehouse. All images will be printed with archival pigment inks assuring lasting quality over generations.
The Poster series will not be static, on the contrary, new additions will be added almost weekly, so check the “What’s New” link above in the menu bar. Poster prices cut the Fine Art prices in HALF.
Prices: 17×22 - $75 20×30 - $150
Open to wholesaling & lamination available for outdoor use.
Introducing Ariel Bonet’
Ariel Bonet’ is my go-to model when shooting Beauty and Glamour. She has flawless skin and symetrical facial features that are mandatory for beauty shots. Plus, she has an assortment of colored contact lenses that sometimes makes her look like an alien from outerspace… OR, a mermaid from innerspace.
Ariel relaxes and recharges her batteries in summer months by volenteering as a lifeguard at the community pool. Her heritage is French and she speaks 4 european languages fluently.
Ariel is a true waterbaby and first made contact by asking if she could pose as a mermaid, emailing me some photos of a shoot she did with another photographer. I knew immediately I had a special talent. After some training Ariel freedives to a hundred feet and breathholds to 3+ minutes.
Ariel is also a wine connoisseur and after work, a dinner is always a learning experience as she teaches me what wine goes with various entrees. Ariel wants me to teach her spearfishing so that we can catch, cook, and eat fish with the right wine!
Introducing Winney Tanaka
Mermaid Hunter has a paid relationship with every major model agency around the world for discovering underwater talent. So, when Tokyo Models told me that a new model has a family history in the famous Ama pearl diving society I take notice and flew all the way to Japan to interview and test a young beauty Winney Tanaka. What a discovery! She actually did grow up in an Ama family and trained very early as a pearl diver, meaning she was no stranger to cold ocean waters, deep freediving techniques and unafraid to interact with ocean life.
Winney examplifies all that is good in the Japanese culture: respect for elders being most evident. It was she who suggested a photoshoot to include her Ama family. Our first shoot was at the DeepWater dive facility in Osaka that had a depth of 50 meters; 165 feet. OMG, even Winney didn’t know how good she would be at breathholding at depth. She suprised herself and amazed me. In later shoots we shot editorial fashion for fashion mags and we did a fantastic shoot on WW2 airplane wrecks lying on the ocean floor. Also, some artistic new work.
Introducing Madison Romanova
For this introduction we need to go back in time. Mermaid Hunter Films has hosted its share of athletes and celebrities over the years. Julia Petrik was a professional freediver from Moscow that stayed with me in Key West for almost a month as we “combined my atheticism with your artistic vision” as she put it. Anyway, After keeping in touch after reading in a magazine she was swimming with beluga whales under the ice cap she told me of another pro freediver I should work with… Madison Romanova. Well, I discovered Madison was not only a professional freediver but a MUCH sought after art model by top artists around the globe. The reason I wanted to meet
her is I wanted to shoot a nude figure in the California kelp forests off Cataline Island on the west coast. And that water is almost always in the 50/60 degree range. In short - Cold! That meant I needed a special girl who could perform for long periods of time in cold water. I contacted her modeling agency and set up a meet in Paris where she was posing for several artists. She managed a front row seat to the creative process I rarely get to see.. What a beauty! What a talent! We hit it off immediately and I have had the honor of filmming this extraordinary woman many times over the years. Here are just a few images from our working together.
Introducing Nikki Du Plessis
Definition: Muse - a person who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist. Nikki du Plessis was my muse for 15 years. This native of South Africa took my breath away when my eyes set upon her. She literally changed my life - I hired her for a 10 day shoot; showcase a brand-new Bed & Breakfast in Key West named: Mermaid Hunter. That’s right my own B & B !!!
That changed when we said hello. Read my bio in the About link above to see what happened after we said hello. Great story. Below are some of my favorite images we have made over the years. Too many for this first intro. Lots more to come for sure. Also check the book section to get the book of images we created doing The Sea Siren Project.
Introducing Victoria Padgent
Victoria and I go back almost a decade… she was 16 and a talent I predicted would become known globally. She hails from the heart of the Netherlands, a small town called: Alkmaar. I almost take credit for her being discovered. I was doing a shoot on the Italian island of Elba when I spotted this 16 year old beauty walking/shopping with her family in the market square. I introduced myself to her father and told him what
a rare beauty his child was, and that if it suited him, he should consider, investigate whether a modeling career would fit the family order. Then, sure enough, a year later, there she was in an Elle fashion magazine gig. I made contact with her agency and we have been working together ever since. I have trained Vick to be a superior freediver. This shoot is different as she poses in the Florida freshwater springs… So Cold !!!
This Print is Now For Sale - Check Out the Prints Link in the Menu Above
Introducing Tatiana Bardot
The Bora Bora Modeling Agency notified me they just signed a new model/mermaid originally from Paris, France, named Tatiana Bardot. She was a competative sychronized swimmer and brings experience as a bikini model that wants to specialize in watersport bookings.
The agency sent a few photos of her past work, and, we agreed she has great potential as a future star at Mermaid Hunter. I made contact, had a lovely conversation with Tatiana and booked her for an open ocean shoot last October. This gallery showcases her talent and her promise.
This Print is Now For Sale - Check Out the Prints Link in the Menu Above
Introducing Carmen Diaz
Carmen Diaz is a 21 year old Cuban born mermaid living in Miami, working as a swimming pool area manager & lifeguard at a posh Miami Beach condominum complex. She knew of Mermaid Hunter Key West but never had the courage to make contact until mid-year 2025.
I’m glad she did as Carmen has become a sought after model/mermaid in, not only the Miami area but on both East and West coasts. At my pushing she finally approached a legit model agency and was signed immediately. Way to go ! Carmen. Below are test and training photos.
This Print is Now For Sale - Check Out the Prints Link in the Menu Above
Introducing Zoe Ziegler
Zoe Ziegler is swimsuit model hailing from Dallas, Texas. She is 22 years old and a Texas U student majoring in Broadcast & Film. She is a standout swimmer holding several titles in the Freestyle and Breaststroke, both individual and relay. She is also an accomplished 3 M diver. Zoe credits her military dad’s tour in the Philippine Islands for her introduction to ocean saltwater and a variety of watersports such as freediving, SCUBA, and ocean swimming. Zoe plans a Doctorate degree in filmmaking and TV Production from USC Cinematic Arts.
Zoe is currently persuing a PADI dive instructor cirtificate and has a 159’ personal best freedive marker. Zoe tested so well in Key West I immediately booked her for a deep, complex, even dangerous shoot in a shipwreck 150 feet from the surface. It’s secheduled for later this year. More on that when it happens.
Zoe was invited to spend her college Spring Break in Key West on an all inclusive paid vacation providing she trained with me for 4 hours a day. Below are first photos from her time in Key West, Florida
