KUALA LUMPUR: Swimming with sharks and stingrays while dressed as Santa Claus may sound out of the ordinary, but this is exactly what divers at Aquaria KLCC here are doing to bring joy to visitors, especially children, this Christmas season.
Among the divers taking on the role of Underwater Santa is professional diver Mohd Salwa Mustaffa. With over 17 years of diving experience, Mohd Salwa said wearing a Santa Claus costume made of velvet and faux fur while underwater is no easy task as the material becomes heavier in water, making it more challenging for him to move.
"I wear the (Santa) costume over my diving suit, so it’s essentially two layers. During feeding sessions, I usually stay in one spot and avoid moving too far. This is crucial to ensure my safety and comfort,” he told Bernama.
Mohd Salwa said during each feeding session, he swims to the bottom of the aquarium, which is four metres deep, to feed over 5,000 aquatic animals in the sprawling facility.
For Mohd Salwa, the joy and excitement of children upon seeing him dressed as Santa Claus motivate him to give his best “performance”.
"Many children have never seen Santa Claus underwater. I use simple gestures to interact with them, like waving or making heart shapes with my hands... it makes them feel so thrilled and happy.
"As for the marine animals, the moment I hold the food, they swarm around me as usual. These fish are familiar with us and comfortable being with us,” he added.
The father of four said sometimes things get comical when the Santa Claus beard gets into his mouth when he uses the oxygen regulator.
"At first, it felt strange and uncomfortable, but I got used to it over time,” he said with a laugh.
Other festivals like Hari Raya and Chinese New Year also see Aquaria KLCC divers wearing special costumes underwater.
"For Hari Raya, we wear traditional Malay attire, while for Chinese New Year, we have lion dances underwater. On National Day, we carry the Malaysian flag. It’s our way of celebrating our festivals (and important events) together.
"We are one Malaysia, regardless of race or religion. Although I’m not a Christian, I take pride in playing the role of Santa Claus underwater to bring happiness to all our visitors,” he said.
The Underwater Santas will "perform” at Aquaria KLCC at noon daily until Dec 25. – Bernama
