Vancouver Aquarium's Scuba Claus goes diving in December to swim amidst the sealife

Santa goes diving among the sea stars. Photo courtesy Vancouver Aquarium.

If you've never seen Santa Claus underwater, he's making regular appearances at the Vancouver Aquarium this December. Each weekend through Christmas, Scuba Claus joins the halibut, rockfish, sturgeon and sea stars of the Georgia Strait at 12:30 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Between December 21-24, he'll be diving daily at 12:30 PM.

The aquarium's special winter feature is Luminescence: A Celebration of Aquatic Light, which runs through January 22, 2013. Through special exhibits and shows, you'll find out more about the world of fluorescent and bioluminescent light in the ocean. Jelly Swarm is a special light installation designed by Tangible Intervention with origami artist Joseph Wu. It features nearly a hundred jellies all aglow with LED lights. Visitors may control the lighting using a touch screen, creating patterns of light through the swarm of jellies on high. Glowing in the Deep includes Eel-lectric Lights where visitors can experience "eel energy" in action.

The Vancouver Aquarium is all about kids, and the 20-minute holiday film The Polar Express 4-D Experience includes the rumble of the train, falling snow and even the scent of hot chocolate as travelers make their way to the North Pole. The Craft Corner is a spot to make clothespin anglerfish or an anglerfish hat. Family Programs in the Underwater Arctic Gallery will explain how people and aquatic creatures live in darkness.