Let me try to explain this in simpler ways.
1. You operate on vore logic. 'Eat the most attractive hawt chick first'. That does not work in Felarya. In Felarya, it's 'eat what you can before you get eaten', not 'take precious time deciding who has a bigger rack and hips'.
2. Chlaenas are far more likely to follow, true, but mermaids would stay to snack on the other divers going into the shipwreck while your brass clappers are doing stunts.
3. Chlaena, depending on the species, the smaller ones stay closer to the shore, the larger ones stay deeper in the water. They tend to prefer heavier water pressure.
4. Cecalias are more likely to be near the surface, BTW.
5. I am not a vorephile. Don't assume so plz. 8D
6. As it so happens, Felarya's sea water does have salt, and things do corrode and decay in it.
7. Brass is a soft metal, I think a few good hits from a twenty foot mermaid would probably ruin your girl's safety bells.
8. Bells don't clap, they chime or ring.
Welcome to Felarya, BTW, I specialize in horror, blood, and disturbing things here. 8D