Unique Holiday Magic at Mandalay Bay
Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef Aquarium offers a truly unconventional holiday experience with its “Santa in the Shipwreck” event, which uniquely combines classic seasonal cheer with a dramatic, aquatic backdrop. Adrienne Rowland, Director of Shark Reef Aquarium, explained that the event started in 2002 “as a way to combine the magic of the holidays with a family-friendly and educational experience.” She noted that the event provides an “additional opportunity for locals to enjoy the aquatic creatures and create an annual holiday memory.” A key feature of the experience is the ability to see Santa alongside his unique holiday sidekick, Santa Jaws. Ms. Rowland described the large, toothy character as the aquarium’s shark mascot “Santa-fied” with “a Santa hat and vest to complete the look.” She added that when the characters appear together, “even adults can’t resist joining in on the fun.”
Diving with Sharks and Sea Turtles
The event’s most pivotal part is the daily Diving Santa farewell show in the main exhibit inside Shark Reef Aquarium. The spectacle features a real diver dressed as Santa entering the 1.3-million-gallon shipwreck exhibit, surrounded by sharks, rays, and sea turtles. Ms. Rowland detailed the strict logistics involved: “When divers enter the shipwreck exhibit surrounded by sharks, rays and sea turtles, they wear a stainless-steel chainmail dive suit for safety, and Santa is no exception.” She confirmed that the dive is meticulously managed by the team behind the scenes, noting, “The sharks rarely approach or interact with our divers.” She explained that the memorable dive “brings the magic of sharks and Santa together.”
Ms. Rowland affirmed that the event is critical during the busy season, as “Santa always plans his visit when kids are off school, just in time for those last-minute gift requests.” She emphasized the photo opportunity’s unique draw, stating that everyone “loves to see Santa but with the unique memory of seeing jaw-some creatures too.” Regarding animal welfare, Ms. Rowland noted that as an AZA-accredited facility, “we always put the health and well-being of our animals first in all our programming.” She confirmed that the photo set is specifically positioned with cameras directed away from the exhibits, ensuring “minimal impact on the animals.”
