Camden Aquarium Debuts Scuba Santa Dives
The holiday event features an 18-foot tree in a shark tank and daily underwater appearances through Christmas Eve.
By Nikolai Morales ·
Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey, will operate Santa Claus in scuba gear for its 2026 holiday season. The annual event, Christmas Underwater, begins on Friday, Nov. 20, and runs through Thursday, Dec. 24. Santa will swim in the public viewing area alongside sharks, sea turtles, and stingrays.
The centerpiece of the program is an 18-foot Christmas tree placed inside the 550,000-gallon Shark Realm exhibit. The aquarium states that this is the world's tallest underwater Christmas tree. The tree sits directly in the path of the sharks. Families can watch the tree and take photos through the glass during daily dives.
The venue is adding new elements for this year. A beach-themed Christmas tree will be installed in the Boardwalk area. This addition joins the existing 20-foot tree located in the Rotunda. Artificial snow will fall every hour around the Rotunda tree, accompanied by holiday music and lights.
Entertainment includes a holiday show titled The Gill Who Stole Fishmas. This performance runs on Fridays through Sundays. The aquarium also hosts a puppet show called Merry Fishmas, Boris, along with seasonal sing-alongs. Mrs. Claus will lead story time on select dates.
Admission is required for all visitors, with prices varying by date. Tickets are available on the aquarium's website. The event operates during regular aquarium hours. An optional scavenger hunt is available as an add-on for guests who wish to participate.
The location is 1 Riverside Drive in Camden. The holiday programming runs daily from Nov. 20 through Dec. 24. Scuba Santa makes daily appearances during this period.
