Santa Claus joins sharks for a holiday swim at a Rio de Janeiro aquarium

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Santa Claus has arrived in Rio de Janeiro — under water.

Starting on Saturday, he’ll be spotted at AquaRio Marine Aquarium swimming with sharks during their daily fish feeding sessions as part of the city’s Christmas festivities.

Nine-year-old Guilherme Martins Matos said he’d seen Santa — or at least an impersonator — at the mall. That was cool, he said, but this was better.

“Imagine him under water feeding the fish? It’s even cooler,” Guilherme told The Associated Press.

This version of Santa Claus is Felippe Luna, 39, a senior animal handler at AquaRio. What began as a joke among staff has become an annual tradition.

Dressed as Santa, Luna dives into the aquarium’s 924,602-gallon tank to feed marine animals, including sharks. “For the kids, seeing Santa Claus under water is already incredible. And Santa feeding a shark by hand? That’s unforgettable,” Luna said.

The Santa Claus dive runs daily at AquaRio through Dec. 25 at 1:30 p.m.

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Diver Felipe Luna, dressed in a Santa Claus suit, swims upside down while waving to a visitor, inside a tank at the AquaRio Marine Aquarium as part of an annual Christmas tradition, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/ Bruna Prado)

Diver Felipe Luna, dressed in a Santa Claus suit, swims inside a tank at the AquaRio Marine Aquarium as part of an annual Christmas tradition, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/ Bruna Prado)

Diver Felipe Luna, dressed as Santa Claus, fist bumps a visitor, from inside a tank at the AquaRio Marine Aquarium, as part of an annual Christmas tradition, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/ Bruna Prado)

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