Three mermaids in California save scuba diver from drowning: 'Not just pretty tails and smiles'

Mermaid enthusiasts Elle Jimenez, Elaina Garcia and Great Chin Burger rescued a scuba diver who lost consciousness as he neared the water's surface in Catalina Island, California.

Elle Jimenez, 33, of Miami, a professional mermaid performer and diver who has six years of experience, was teaching an advanced mermaid course certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Jimenez and Garcia can be seen wearing signature mermaid monofins, while Burger is wearing bifins. Elle Jimenez, known as Mermaid Elle, has been mermaiding for six years and teaches PADI advanced mermaid classes. Here she is swimming underwater with her mermaid tail and monofin on. She shares mermaid adventures on Instagram @themermaidelle. (Darren Joshua Leonardi/NATIV Productions) Elle Jimenez, known as Mermaid Elle, is a full-time professional mermaid performer. Here she models a matching Cape Cali Brand leggings and sports bra set while holding a monofin. (Darren Joshua Leonardi/NATIV Productions) Elle Jimenez, also known as Mermaid Elle, entertains crowds as a mermaid performer and teaches mermaid swimming classes. Here, she models a Cape Cali Brand mermaid tail and seashell bra. (Darren Joshua Leonardi/NATIV Productions) Elaina Garcia (formerly Elaina Thomas), also known as Elaina, the Mermaid of Catalina, has been mermaiding for four years and she's PADI-certified in scuba diving. Here, she models her turquoise mermaid tail and monofin. She shares California-based mermaid adventures on Instagram @catalinaislandmermaids. (Great Chin Burger / Photo courtesy Elaina Garcia) Elaina Garcia got her scuba certification at age 14 and has experience as a springboard diver. She also works as a firefighter and volunteer emergency medical technician. Here, she models a mermaid tail and seashell bra. (Great Chin Burger / Photo courtesy Elaina Garcia) Elaina Garcia is founder of Catalina Island Mermaids, a California-based mermaiding social group that offers tail and fin rentals, land and sea photo sessions and scuba lessons. She's also working on getting her PADI mermaid class certification. (Great Chin Burger / Photo courtesy Elaina Garcia) "It feels amazing to know I not only was able to help save someone." Great Chin Burger, also known as Guam Babe Freediver, has been mermaiding for a year and she's a PADI-certified freedive safety instructor. Here, she swims underwater. She shares her globe-trotting mermaid adventures on Instagram @guam_babe_freediver. (Photo courtesy Great Chin Burger) Great Chin Burger is a mermaid tail and swimwear ambassador for Cape Cali Brand. Here she is modeling a rash guard top and swim bottom. (Photo courtesy Great Chin Burger) Great Chin Burger told Fox News Digital that she tells people she makes her living as a mermaid and many have a hard time believing her. Here she is posing cliffside in a yellow mermaid tail and a matching fish scale top. (Photo courtesy Great Chin Burger) Great Chin Burger has three years of freediving experience. She works as an underwater student performer and model. Here she is swimming underwater with bifins. (Photo courtesy Great Chin Burger) Great Chin Burger, also known as Guam Babe Freediver, is a PADI freedive instructor, PADI emergency first responder and PADI mermaid. Here she is cliffside posing in a purple mermaid tail and seashell bra. (Elaina Garcia / Photo courtesy Great Chin Burger) Great Chin Burger often swims and models in mermaid tails. Here she is displaying one of her purple mermaid tails with a seaweed top and crown. (Elaina Garcia / Photo courtesy Great Chin Burger) "Little did we know how well-trained the [mermaids] really are." Cortney Moore is an associate lifestyle writer on the Lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.

"This was my first time teaching the course in California," Jimenez told Fox News Digital.