Santa to Scuba Dive with Sharks at the Maritime Aquarium

From The Maritime Aquarium: Santa Claus will be putting on scuba gear, checking it twice, during the holiday season to help The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk demonstrate that sharks are not naughty, but nice.

Twice each day on Sat., Nov. 26 and Sun., Nov. 27 – and then most Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays in December – Santa will wedge into his custom red-and-white scuba gear and enter the Aquarium’s 110,000-gallon “Ocean Beyond the Sound” exhibit, which is home to 7-foot sand tiger and lemon sharks.

Santa’s shark dives are all part of The Maritime Aquarium’s regular dive program, intended to demonstrate that sharks aren’t the bloodthirsty killers of myth. On Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 12:15 & 2:15 p.m., visitors to the popular Connecticut family attraction can see – and talk with – divers swimming with the sharks (and with Santa).

Workload permitting, Santa is expected to participate in each dive in December. (There are no dives on Christmas Day.) Watch the Aquarium’s website to confirm dates when Santa can pull himself away from the North Pole and exchange his snow boots for swim fins.

Bring your camera because Santa is always happy to swim over and get close to the exhibit window to pose for a very unique picture with kids.

As a bonus during these visits from the North Pole, Santa Claus also will dry off and meet with youngsters on the weekends of Dec. 10-11 and 17-18. (Each day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., except during his dive times.) Guests will find him in The Maritime Aquarium’s Toy-Boat Workshop, where he’ll be helping with toy construction (of course), accepting children’s Christmas lists and posing for photos.

All of Santa’s appearances – wet and dry – are free with Aquarium admission. Learn more about The Maritime Aquarium’s holiday offerings here.

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution whose mission is to inspire people of all ages to appreciate Long Island Sound and protect it for future generations. A vibrant and entertaining learning environment, it achieves this goal through living exhibits, marine science, and environmental education.

The Maritime Aquarium receives support from the State of Connecticut DECD’s Offices of Culture and Tourism.

Photo Credit: Maritime Aquarium

(Image 1) Santa Claus waves to a young visitor as he dives among the sand tiger sharks in The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk’s “Ocean Beyond the Sound” exhibit. Santa is expected to join the Aquarium’s dive team – and the sharks – on Nov. 26 & 27 and throughout their regular dive schedule on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays in December. To confirm dates and times, watch the Aquarium website.

(Images 2 and 3) Santa Claus dives among the sand tiger sharks in The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk’s “Ocean Beyond the Sound” exhibit. Santa is expected to join the Aquarium’s dive team – and the sharks – on Nov. 26 & 27 and throughout their regular dive schedule on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays in December. To confirm dates and times, watch the Aquarium website.