This show started the "Fantaserye" (Fantasy series) mania in the Philippines. Marina sustained an over-all ratings of 27% and rose to 30% in its final episode. It was been mimicked by rival GMA Network 7 and launched another mermaid-fantasy-series, "Marinara". However, it did not able to beat the ratings of Marina up to the last episode of Marinara (it ended earlier).
Already a good swimmer before the show, Claudine Barretto still took a diving course before taping started. Her role required her to swim up to 60 ft. underwater, which reportedly caused her ears to ache.
Three mermaid tails were made for Claudine Barretto to play her character, Marina: two for the water and one for land. The ones for the water were heavy for the actress to wear, and sometimes required four to six people to carry her. The one tail made for land was not as difficult on the actress: she was able to move, and was able to take it off if she needed to.
Claudine Barretto's double, certified diver Patty Lopez, used a mermaid tail similar in color and material to the one used by Claudine, except that Claudine's tail was smaller. Lopez was also later offered the role of the mermaid Neptuna on the series.