November 04, 2026
Provided Courtesy/Adventure Aquarium
Scuba Santa swims among marine life during a previous Christmas Underwater celebration at Adventure Aquarium in Camden. The holiday event returns Nov. 20 and runs through Christmas Eve.
Santa Claus is trading his sleigh for scuba gear at Adventure Aquarium in Camden, where he'll swim alongside sharks, sea turtles and stingrays during the return of Christmas Underwater.
The annual holiday celebration runs from Nov. 20 through Christmas Eve, with daily appearances by Scuba Santa, an underwater Christmas tree, indoor snowfall and seasonal entertainment.
One of the main attractions is an 18-foot Christmas tree submerged in the aquarium's 550,000-gallon Shark Realm exhibit, surrounded by sharks. Adventure Aquarium calls it the world's tallest underwater Christmas tree.
Families can interact with Scuba Santa and take photos through the aquarium glass during his daily dives. Elsewhere, artificial snow will fall every hour around a 20-foot Christmas tree in the Rotunda, accompanied by holiday music and lights.
The entertainment lineup includes "The Gill Who Stole Fishmas," a holiday show presented Fridays through Sundays, along with the "Merry Fishmas, Boris" puppet show, seasonal sing-alongs and story times. Mrs. Claus will lead story time on select dates.
New this year is a beach-themed Christmas tree in the Boardwalk area. The aquarium also will offer holiday photo opportunities and an add-on scavenger hunt, with a prize for everyone who participates.
Christmas Underwater takes place during regular aquarium operating hours. Admission prices vary by date, and tickets are available through Adventure Aquarium's website.
Dates: Friday, Nov. 20, through Thursday, Dec. 24, 2026
Time: During regular aquarium operating hours; Scuba Santa dives daily
Location: Adventure Aquarium, 1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ 08103
Admission: Aquarium admission required; prices vary by date. The scavenger hunt is an optional add-on.
Activities: Scuba Santa, underwater Christmas tree, indoor snowfall, holiday performances, story times and photo opportunities
Special schedule: "The Gill Who Stole Fishmas" runs Fridays through Sundays; Mrs. Claus appears on select dates
More information: Adventure Aquarium
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