Department of Tourism
"Scuba Santa" Pays Return Visit to Newport Aquarium

NEWPORT, Ky. – The popular “Scuba Santa” is paying a visit to the Newport Aquarium for the fifth year. Diving daily with the sharks through Jan. 1, Scuba Santa will take off only one day to rest, Tuesday Dec. 25.

Since his debut at the Newport attraction in 2003, Scuba Santa has performed for an estimated 200,000 people in person. He has also garnered national media exposure that has made him a seasonal celebrity.

“Through the national attention we received from his television appearances, millions more have been able to see this unusual and fun event,” said aquarium spokesperson Jill Isaacs.

The dive show has attracted interviews on Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Early Show, MSNBC, USA Today and The New York Times. Santa has granted interviews while he performed in the aquarium’s Surrounded by Sharks exhibit.

Visitors in the aquarium’s Duke Energy Theater have a clear view of Scuba Santa interacting with rare creatures such as Sweet Pea, the shark ray, and Denver, the loggerhead sea turtle. Sandtiger, sandbar, zebra, whitetip-reef and nurse sharks swim all around Santa in the 385,000-gallon tank. Guests will also get a close-up view of honeycomb whiptail rays, southern stingrays and various schooling fish.

Santa’s Water Wonderland has become one of the region’s favorite holiday attractions, with the world’s largest underwater sleigh and seahorses that delight visitors from around the world, Isaacs said.

Santa’s dive times, gift shop appearances and other information about the water wonderland are being posted on www.newportaquarium.com. Visitors can pose for photos with Scuba Santa in the gift shop.

Newport Aquarium showcases thousands of animals from around the world in a million gallons of water. It is open to the public 365 days a year at Newport on the Levee, just minutes from downtown Cincinnati.

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The Kentucky Department of Tourism, an agency of the Kentucky Commerce Cabinet, exists to promote The Commonwealth as a travel destination, generate revenue and create jobs for Kentucky’s economy.