- Title: Santa dives with sea life at Seattle Aquarium
- Date: 16th December 2024
- Summary: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 15, 2024)(REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEER DIVER AT SEATTLE AQUARIUM ANDE FIEBER PREPARING TO DIVE AS SANTA CLAUS (SOUNDBITE)(English) VOLUNTEER DIVER AT SEATTLE AQUARIUM ANDE FIEBER, 30, OF SEATTLE, SAYING: "It's such a fun thing to get to bring to folks. The aquarium is such a special place and I love being able to, like, be a part of that for so many members and visitors and families that come to join us. And yeah, it's always it's great, great to be here and working with people." SANTA CLAUS SUBMERGED IN WATER PREPARING TO GREET VISITORS AT AQUARIUM (SOUNDBITE)(English) VOLUNTEER DIVER AT SEATTLE AQUARIUM ANDE FIEBER, 30, OF SEATTLE, SAYING: "As much as they can see into the habitat, we can see out. So, all the smiles and the waves and the excitement, we can't hear them. But I can learn how to read lips a little bit and we get really excited and do some fun diver sign language, I love blowing bubble kisses at them and seeing all the excitement and the joy out there. It's really fun." CHILD IN HOLIDAY OUTFIT WATCHING SANTA CLAUS IN WASHINGTON WATERS HABITAT CHILD POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPH WITH SANTA CLAUS INSIDE WASHINGTON WATERS HABITAT SANTA CLAUS AND REINDEER DIVERS WAVING TO VISITORS AT SEATTLE AQUARIUM PEOPLE POSING FOR PHOTOS WITH SANTA CLAUS AND REINDEER DIVERS (SOUNDBITE)(English) VOLUNTEER DIVER AT SEATTLE AQUARIUM ANDE FIEBER, 30, OF SEATTLE, SAYING: "So we've got a lot of rockfish in here, some salmon, some wolf eels who are some of my favorites. We've got Ling Cod, greenlings and of course my absolute favorite, which is kelp. It's not an animal. It's similar to a plant. And it is really, really important to all those local ecosystems." VARIOUS OF DIVING GEAR AND SANTA OUTFITS ASSISTANT DIVE SAFETY OFFICER MADISON CHURCHILL AND VOLUNTEER DIVER ANDE FIEBER PREPARING TO PUT ON SANTA OUTFIT (SOUNDBITE)(English) VOLUNTEER DIVER AT SEATTLE AQUARIUM ANDE FIEBER, 30, OF SEATTLE, SAYING: "It's uh, it adds a little bit of bulk, I mean a dry suit is already pretty bulky and that adds just another layer of, of some extra stuff to be mindful of as a diver. But I've got lots of help. I've got lots of elves running around to help me get dressed. It goes on dry and then it is sopping wet by the time it comes out. So, we got to take care of it because saltwater is is not an easy thing for a lot of fabric. So we take extra special care of the Santa suits." VARIOUS OF ASSISTANT DIVE SAFETY OFFICER MADISON CHURCHILL AND VOLUNTEER DIVER ANDE PUTTING ON SANTA OUTFIT (SOUNDBITE)(English) VOLUNTEER DIVER AT SEATTLE AQUARIUM ANDE FIEBER, 30, OF SEATTLE, SAYING: "If folks want to come and visit Santa, and they learn a thing or two in the process, that's just fantastic. I think that learning and understanding why conservation is important should be a fun process. And if someone like Santa gets to tell them a little bit more about some cool things about the ocean, then all the better. If they had a fun time doing it, then that's great." FAMILY GETTING PICTURES TAKEN IN FRONT OF DIVING SANTA CLAUS VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF SEATTLE AQUARIUM AND SEATTLE BIG WHEEL
- Embargoed: 30th December 2024 00:17
- Keywords: DIVING SANTA SANTA CLAUS
- Location: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES
- City: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES
- Country: US
- Topics: North America,Human Interest/Brights/Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001708313122024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A surprise jolly guest dressed in red and white can be found swimming within the 120,000-gallon Window on Washington Waters habitat at the Seattle Aquarium throughout the month of December.
The aquarium's tradition of hosting a diving Santa has been going strong for 15 years, after being inspired by other Association of Zoos and Aquariums institutions that have similar events each year.
Santa swims among the fish, kelp and other sea life that dwell in waters within the Puget Sound and Washington's coastal waters.
"It's such a fun thing to get to bring to folks," said diving Santa, who's normally known as Ande Fieber, 30, throughout the rest of the year. "The aquarium is such a special place and I love to be a part of that for so many members and visitors and families that come to join us."
Fieber is a research diver at the University of Washington who also volunteers her time at the aquarium, interacting with the public and educating them about the importance of environmental conservation.
The diving Santa idea first came about as a way to draw visitors to the Seattle Aquarium and has since become a beloved annual tradition for the aquarium and residents living in the Seattle metropolitan area.
Visitors can pose for photos with a Santa inside the habitat while an aquarium engagement ambassador also speaks to the crowd.
"If folks want to come and visit Santa, and they learn a thing or two in the process, that's just fantastic. I think that learning and understanding why conservation is important should be a fun process. And if someone like Santa gets to tell them a little bit more about some cool things about the ocean, then all the better." Fieber said.
Santa will be visiting the Seattle Aquarium twice per day at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through December 22.
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