Elf or not, you’ll find Scuba Claus at Georgia Aquarium pretty cool

Can you be an elf to Scuba Claus? No, but you can ask the aquarium about its "Swim With the Whale Sharks" program.

OTHER FESTIVAL OF THE SEASON EVENTS AT GEORGIA AQUARIUM

Underwater Menorah

Each evening through Dec. 14, the massive underwater PVC menorah in Ocean Voyager glows with an additional fluorescent yellow candle.

Tree lighting

Each morning at 10:30 a.m. through Dec. 25, guests gather in the atrium for the tree lighting featuring a singalong with carol lyrics projected on the atrium walls.

“Symphony of Snow”

The aquarium’s entertainment staff star in this musical performance featuring holiday songs. It takes place on the main ramp in the atrium and culminates with the arrival of Santa in his sleigh. Shows take place at 12:45 and 4:15 p.m. Dec. 12-13, Dec. 19-20 and Dec. 26-27.

Holidazzle

Through Dec. 25, lights and effects dance and twinkle to a seasonal soundtrack at the top of each hour in the atrium.

Penguin waddle

Although it’s not advertised or on a specific schedule, penguins waddle through the atrium nearly every day. When arriving at the aquarium, check with an employee to see if a waddle will happen. If the birds are up to it, watch as they walk down the ramp and hop up the stairs.

Santa Claus

Kids can jump on Santa’s lap for photos Dec. 11-13 and Dec. 18-23. Breakfast with Santa, featuring food from Wolfgang Puck Catering, takes place 9-10:30 a.m. Dec. 12 ($14.95-$19.95).

Holiday hours

Georgia Aquarium flows 365 days each year. This year's holiday hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 24 and noon-6 p.m. Dec. 25. The aquarium's regular December hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. However, there are many exceptions, so check georgiaaquarium.org for the hours on the day you plan to go.

HOLIDAY GUIDE

For more ideas about gifts, decorating, where to eat and what to do, check out our Atlanta Holiday Guide at AJC.com/holidayguide.

Squeezing into a wet suit-meets-elf costume, I realize I must’ve landed on Santa’s nice list.

Scuba Claus, the Georgia Aquarium’s aquatic answer to Kriss Kringle, stands next to me, his white beard flowing down upon his waterproof red duds, that signature hat crowning his head. Today I serve as Santa’s underwater little helper during one of his holiday dives in the Ocean Voyager exhibit.

At noon and 12:30 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays until Dec. 25, Scuba Claus makes a splash in Ocean Voyager’s 6.3 million gallons of water, joining quartets of manta rays and whale sharks, along with thousands of other fish. Visitors standing in one of Ocean Voyager’s viewing areas get the rare glimpse of the big red one making like Aquaman and frolicking with the fishies.

“Don’t be surprised if the whale sharks bump right into you,” Scuba Claus said with a chuckle while debriefing me before our swim.

I quickly realize this ain’t no reindeer game. After suiting up with a mask, and an air tank and regulator, we climb down a ladder and hit the drink. Once underwater, I find myself instantly transported into another world, one occupied by fantastic creatures as magical as Santa himself.

I almost forget to breathe as I watch a massive manta, measuring nearly 9 feet across and weighing more than 250 pounds, perform sweeping backflips before my eyes. Schools of trevally, each more than 3 feet long, glide by. A longcomb sawfish, with its sharklike body and long, jagged snout, swims below.

Santa’s white gloved finger points toward the direction behind me, and I turn to see a gargantuan whale shark heading my way. They typically measure between 18 and 33 feet in length. This guy looks to be as long as a school bus.

It slowly drifts by just inches beneath me. When it fans its enormous tail, I fear it will swat me clear across the expansive tank. As close as it gets, it somehow manages to not touch me at all, but continues its casual cruise.

Following Scuba Claus’ lead, we soon find ourselves hovering above the 100-foot-long underwater tunnel. Once the aquarium guests lining the tunnel realize who’s floating in their vicinity, kids bounce and wave with delight. Camera phones go into action in paparazzi fashion as Scuba Claus and I wave back.

The two of us then approach one of the largest viewing windows in the world, spanning 23 feet tall by 61 feet wide. Although we can’t see details through the 2 feet of darkened glass, camera flashes twinkle like Christmas lights as we swim.

The half-hour trek ends, and once I unwrap myself from the wet suit, the true wonder of the experience begins to set in. Feeling as giddy as a kid crawling beneath the holiday tree, I soon understand that for this water-logged elf, Christmas came early this year.