Santa Dives with Sharks at The Maritime Aquarium

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Category: Living

Norwalk, Connecticut - Santa Claus will be taking a bold step in December to help The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk demonstrate that sharks are not naughty, but nice.

Twice each day on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays in December, Santa will strap on 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.

It’s all part of The Maritime Aquarium’s regular dive program, intended to demonstrate that sharks aren’t the blood-thirsty killers of myth. Visitors to the popular Connecticut family attraction can see – and talk with – divers swimming with the sharks on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 12:15 & 2:15 p.m.

Workload permitting, Santa is expected to participate in each dive in December. Watch the Aquarium’s website – http://www.maritimeaquarium.org – to confirm dates when Santa can pull himself away from the North Pole and exchange his snow boots for swim fins.

“At this time of year, parents tell their children that Santa could be watching them at any time and from anywhere – but no kid expects to find Santa keeping an eye on them from inside a shark tank,” said Chris Loynd, the Aquarium’s marketing director. “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 your kids.”

Viewing the Santa shark dives will be free with Maritime Aquarium admission.

Santa isn't the only guest scheduled in December at The Maritime Aquarium. Visitors can enjoy live holiday music performed by Norwalk students. Each of the following performances is at 2 p.m.:

  • Sat., Dec. 6 – Students of the Talent Education Suzuki School (TESS).
  • Sun., Dec. 7 – Students of INTAKE Native Instrument Academy.
  • Sat., Dec. 13 – The Norwalk Community College Choir and Jazz/Rock Ensemble.
  • Sun., Dec. 14 – The Norwalk Youth Symphony.

 

The Maritime Aquarium is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to educate visitors about – and to create stewards for – Long Island Sound. It accomplishes this by allowing visitors to get close to more than 250 species native to the Sound and its watershed, including sharks, seals, sea turtles, river otters, jellyfish and other animals. One of the top places for family fun in Connecticut, the Aquarium also features hands-on educational programs and displays, public study cruises out onto the Sound, and Connecticut's largest IMAX movie theater, with a screen that's six stories high.