Life of Guangzhou - Ukrainian and Russian Mermaids in Guangzhou Diving School

With hands emerging from the water, the "mermaids" signal to their partners that all is fine: "OK". Each carrying their own diving equipment and oxygen bottles, one after another they submerged into the blue water before turning around neatly and gathering around a leader.

For a while, a woman stretches her head out of water, gesturing to her companions to form a circle around her. Once everyone has joined her, these black rubber bodies disappear into the depth the pool at Guangzhou's diving school.

These 13 beautiful Ukrainian and Russian divers have been taking part in a 10-day training to become diving performers in Shenzhen's newly opened tourist destination: East Overseas Chinese Town.

The performers pose for a photo

A diver signals that all is fine

Girls help each other put on the thick diving suits

Divers learn to attach the equipment onto their suits.

A girl tests the breathing apparatus.

A diver jumps into the water

Two divers in the water

A diving monitor talks to his students

(By Jessie Hwang, David Keyton)