Scuba Diving Santa Brings Holiday Cheer To Keys

KEY LARGO (CBS4)- A scuba diving Santa Claus submerged off Key Largo to deliver a bit of holiday cheer to inhabitants of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Santa Claus was played by Spencer Slate, owner of Key Largo's Atlantis Dive Shop, who has been donning the jolly man's attire for years and dives to offer up underwater holiday photo opportunities for his customers as a fundraiser for local children's charities.

During his subsea excursion Friday afternoon, near John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Santa encountered a large goliath grouper that seemed quite fascinated with "Santa" throughout much of the dive.

Pennekamp Park, which falls within Sanctuary boundaries, recently marked its 50th birthday. It's the first underwater preserve in the United States.