Meet Yuhan Liao: PADI Instructor, Mermaid Specialist & Freediving Enthusiast in Sydney

About Yuhan

Yuhan Liao is a passionate PADI Instructor and Mermaid Specialist at Abyss Scuba Diving in Sydney. Known for her graceful underwater presence and calm, inspiring teaching style, Yuhan helps both new and experienced divers discover the magic of the ocean — whether through Learn to Dive courses, freediving, or mermaiding.

Experience and Qualifications

Yuhan began her underwater journey in 2013 after a life-changing snorkelling trip in the Maldives. Since then, she’s explored oceans and seas across the globe — from the warm tropics of the Indian and Pacific Oceans to the wild North Atlantic. She became one of the world’s first certified PADI Mermaid Instructors in early 2021, and today she also teaches scuba diving and emergency response training through Abyss Scuba Diving.

• PADI Mermaid Instructor
• PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor
• PADI Freediving Instructor
• SSI Level 2 Freediver
• PADI EFR (Emergency First Response) Instructor
• PADI Rescue Diver

Why I Love Teaching Diving

For Yuhan, diving is more than a sport — it’s a journey of self-discovery. She believes that every dive reveals something new, whether it’s about the underwater world or about ourselves. Her philosophy: “When you’re underwater, your mind, body, and soul move in perfect harmony — that’s true freedom.”

Yuhan’s background as a ballet enthusiast brings a unique artistry to her teaching. She specializes in underwater movement, dance, and modeling — blending elegance with ocean awareness. Her underwater project, ‘Chasing the Moon’, created with photographer Monster Lee, won the “Most Popular Picture with Online Voters” award in the 2021 Mr. Dive photography contest.

Favourite Sydney Dive Experiences

When not teaching mermaid or freediving courses, Yuhan loves exploring Sydney’s best shore and boat dives — from the vibrant marine life at Bare Island to the dramatic topography of Magic Point. These sites, she says, offer “the perfect mix of beauty, challenge, and surprise — just like diving itself.”

Connecting Cultures Through Diving

Born in Southeast China and fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, Yuhan enjoys teaching and guiding divers from around the world. Her multilingual skills make her a bridge between cultures — helping more people experience Sydney’s spectacular underwater world in comfort and confidence.

Join a Dive or Mermaid Course with Yuhan

If you’re curious about PADI Mermaid courses, want to Learn to Dive in Sydney, or are ready to take your freediving to the next level, Yuhan would love to share her passion for the ocean with you. Just don’t try calling when she’s underwater — that’s when she’s completely in her element!