Santa has many skills. He can fly around the globe delivering presents to all the world's children in a single night. He can shrink his massive belly to fit down a chimney. He can consume a weird amount of dairy (in milk and cookies). And the Newport Aquarium proves he can also scuba dive.
You may be wondering where exactly in the North Pole one can find scuba-diving opportunities, but those icy conditions are possibly why he chooses to spend his time submerged at an aquarium in Northern Kentucky instead of at home.
Scuba Santa makes his annual pilgrimage to Newport to float around with sharks, stingrays and sea turtles in a "Water Wonderland." He will be in the 385,000-gallon Surrounded by Sharks exhibit and available to hear holiday wishes.
"A lot of our guests are surprised and delighted to learn they actually get to talk with Scuba Santa while he’s swimming underwater,” said Eric Kilpatrick, Newport Aquarium’s Elf Wrangler, in a release. “And through a little elf magic, he knows your child’s name by the time their turn comes to step up and share their holiday wishes.”
Kids can sing an "aquatic version" of the 12 Days of Christmas and explore the holiday display, which will be inundated with "magical bubbles" every 10 minutes. Scuba Santa says every time a child pops a bubble, someone's wish comes true.
The rest of the Newport Aquarium will also be decked out with holiday cheer. Twinkling lights will transform Seahorses: Unbridled Fun, things get tropical at Stingray Hideaway, Gator Alley will be illuminated with "honky-tonk holiday lighting" and Santa's post office will be stationed at Penguin Palooza.
Scuba Santa will be at the Newport Aquarium from Nov. 29-Dec. 31. Get tickets and more info at newportaquarium.com.
