Scuba Santa dives in the Philippine Coral Reef exhibit. Photo: Carli Hermes/Cal Academy of Sciences
Santa Claus and his reindeer arrived at the California Academy of Sciences on November 25 as a part of the ‘Tis the Season for Science’ exhibit. The floor-to-ceiling winter wonderland exhibit is complete with snow flurries, caroling, festive programs, and Frosty and Holiday—a pair of live reindeer—which visitors will be able to visit the reindeer up close in the Academy’s East Garden.
As a surprise to some, visitors this week learned that Santa is a certified surface-supplied diver!
Aquarium volunteer diver George Bell donned a full Santa outfit and entertained guests at the Academy’s Philippine Coral Reef exhibit during Christmas week. With 2-way communications, he answered audience questions from kids – including some tricky ones. “I’ve been doing this for years, someone asked the names of the reindeers, and fortunately I had that one down.”
The ‘Tis the Season for Science program runs through Jan. 3.
San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays in Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco; www.calacademy.org. Admission is $24.95 for children, ages 4-11, and $34.95 for adults. Kids 3 and younger get in free.
For more information:
California Academy of Sciences
Coral Reef Aquarium Live Cam
.