If you're in Catalina Island, do yourself a favor and book a session with Catalina Island Mermaids!
You can choose to be only on land or land and sea. It definitely helps to know how to swim in a tail, but I have no doubt that Elaina would make you feel comfortable and totally safe at whatever level you're at!
Elaina is a dive instructor, and she's super knowledgeable about the area where you're shooting. Having the Casino in the background makes the photos look so dreamy, and photos with nothing but you and the ocean are stunning.
She also had such a quick turnaround with the photos! Within 48 hours, I had a whole album of edited and unedited photos. I highly recommend this experience!