DXI Jakarta: What Every Mermaid (and Ocean Lover) Should Know Before You Go 🌊🧜‍♀️

Let’s be real—some trips change you. Not because of the places, but because of the people and the unexpected little moments that turn "just another event" into something fin-credible. That was exactly what happened during our time at the DXI Convention in Jakarta, where we proudly sponsored DiveArtsAcademy, led by the incredible Befalia (aka Ms. Indonesia Mermaid Royalty!).

This blog is your insider's guide to DXI from our own fluke-powered POV—perfect for anyone planning to attend, compete, or just dreaming of connecting with the vibrant Indonesian mer-community.

Getting Around Jakarta: Traffic or Treasure Hunt?

Day-by-Day

• Friday: Mostly setup. Vendors were still arriving. By late afternoon, most were sipping beer and lounging—very relaxed vibes.
  

• Saturday: Showtime! The busiest, most exciting day with the highlight of the mermaid competitions. More on that in a sec.

• Sunday: More cool events - in the mermaid case the underwater dance competition and ocean model show. And as the event wrapped up (around 9pm!), vendors were more open to giving deals. Pro-tip: ask for discounts after 6pm if you don’t see a banner announcing discounts.

Here’s the tea: Jakarta traffic is next-level bonkers. I’ve been to Shanghai. I’ve danced with tuk-tuks in India. This? This is chaos art.

The sea of motorbikes doubles, even triples, the cars on the road. Lucky for us, Rie’s local know-how saved our fins. Instead of battling gridlock in a taxi, we downloaded Gojek and zipped through the jam on motorbike taxis.

Pro tip: If you’re with a buddy, order two Gojeks at once and race to the convention. Bonus points if the loser buys lunch. 🛵💨 But of course, if you need to get your big mermaid costumes in there, you’ll need to go with a car (also doable with Gojek) - just make sure to plan in a good amount of time to not get stressed out with the traffic and bring a head pillow to use the traffic jam that is bound to happen as some welcome sleeping time.

A Mix of Adventure Sports & Chill Zones

This convention was a beautiful blend: mermaiding, freediving, scuba, liveaboards, paintball, mountain biking, paragliding, eco-tourism, and more.

• The Vendor Variety: Local and small vendors made up a big part of the event—charming and unique, though sometimes there was a bit of a language barrier.
  

• Relaxation Heaven: Big shoutout to DXI for one of the best chill areas I’ve seen at a convention. Beanbags? Check. Cheap local eats? Check. Amazing coffee and even coffee alternatives? Check. Actual nap corners? YES.
  

• Talks That People Actually Listened To:

Only one stage meant every speaker had an audience, and the sound setup made sure you didn’t miss a thing, even while browsing booths.

I was part of one panel... except it was 90% in Indonesian. So I just smiled, nodded, and waited for the occasional English question. Definitely a new experience!

But it gave us something even more valuable—the chance to share why we were really there.
During that talk, I had the opportunity to introduce MerMapp and explain our bigger purpose: we’re not just hopping from event to event for fun (though, let’s be honest, it is fun). We’re here to help build one connected global mermaid community.

From Europe to Asia, from glitter tails to freediving fins, we want to create one home for all underwater dreamers. Whether you’re looking for events, new friends, business partners, or inspiration—you’ll find it on MerMapp. Because mermaiding is magic, and magic multiplies when it’s shared. 🌊✨

Convention Vibes: A Laid-Back Lagoon with a Wild Side

The DiveArtsAcademy Mermaid Tank 🧜‍♀️✨

Let’s be honest—the tank was the heart of the show.

DiveArtsAcademy co-organized the event and brought in magic: mermaid competitions, underwater dancing, and a stunning "Ocean Model" show where fashion meets fin-flair. Dresses were worn dry on the catwalk… then the models dove in and showed them off wet in the tank!

Smaller competitor pools (under 10 people) meant a great chance to get your fins wet without feeling overwhelmed. In fact, my husband Julio—who had never even performed in a tank—jumped into the underwater dance competition on a whim.

The result? A beautiful community moment. A fellow contestant offered him her nose clip. People cheered. It was the kind of vibe where competition and camaraderie coexisted.

So we made our own. Thanks to the fabulous folks from Maldives Legend Liveaboards and Befalia herself, we hit the H Club on Saturday night—a gorgeous spot with live music and moody lights. It wasn’t super packed, but hey, we had our own dance floor and the company necessary to make a great evening!

Pro tip: Even though it might feel weird to cultures like my own German one, here in Indonesia it is very typical to make the real business talks during such a party. So when one of the people you’re interested to do business with invites you to party at night, say yes, even if you’re already tired. This is your chance to make a move - literally.

Evening Fun: You Make the Party Happen 🎉

If ADEX is the international mermaid circus, DXI is the cozy underwater café—personal, grounded, and incredibly welcoming.

This event is:

• Perfect for first-time competitors
  

• Great for making deeper local connections
  

• Accessible for non-mermaid friends or partners (camping, paintball, boats—trust us, they won’t be bored)
  

• A unique look into how mermaiding can grow in new, inclusive ways
  

Yes, Jakarta traffic is wild. Yes, English might not always flow like water. But that’s what makes it real. And when you’ve got a tank full of supportive mers and new friends by your side, that’s all you really need. 💙

The Final Splash: Why DXI Is Worth It

We landed early morning right on the day of the convention. First we had thought arriving at 5.15 am would be an overkill… but we hadn’t considered the 90-minute delay trying to fill out all the confusing health forms.

Insider Tip: If the health form doesn’t load—don’t stress. Nobody asked for it. Not once. So just float on and keep going.

Thanks to our amazing friend Rie and her partner, we were whisked off to a local breakfast spot outside central Jakarta (cheaper, cozier, and sooo worth it). It was the calm before the convention storm that gave us a perfect start.

Arriving in Jakarta: Start With a Splash (of Reality)

Ready to Dive In Next Year?

If you’re thinking of visiting DXI next year, let this be your sign. There’s room for every kind of mer—newbies, performers, adventurers, and dreamers.

And hey, maybe you’ll catch Julio doing another underwater twirl. 😉

Until then—keep swimming toward the fun, wherever the current takes you.

With fins & friendship,
Corinna
CEO of MerMapp 🧜‍♀️✨

Unlike other cons, DXI didn’t have a full-blown after-party vibe. Sunday night featured a casual networking dinner for vendors (yes to free food!), but no big bash from DiveArts.