Scuba Diving Santa Hits Florida Keys

 

KEY LARGO, Fla. - Those who had ventured out of their luxury Florida vacation villas had the sight of 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 the jolly man 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.

Celebrating John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park’s 50th Anniversary

Called the "crown jewel of the state park system," divers, snorkelers and Keys visitors can thank the late Miami Herald editor John Pennekamp for helping to create the first undersea park in the United States, dedicated December 10, 1960.

Saturday, Dec. 11 — FREE Family Event
Florida State Parks Event — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Inside John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park — free park admission

* Educational Fair & Environmental Expo — fun for the entire family!
* Featured Speaker: Dr. Sylvia Earle, oceanographer, explorer and Time Magazine's first "Hero for the Planet"
* Environmental Exhibits
* Children's activities
* Fifty-year oral history & stories by former Park Managers & Staff

Key Largo Annual (Evening) Boat Parade - "50 Years Under the Sea"
Celebrating John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park’s 50th

These were some of the celebrations that took place to mark the golden jubilee and those who ventured out of their Florida villas got a free outing with some everlatsing memories at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park


For more information visit

http://www.fla-keys.com/pennekamp50/events.cfm

Florida Key West Scuba Diving

The Florida Keys reef is the world’s third largest barrier in the world. The place seems to be designed for scuba diving. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the place to dive in; the best way to get there will be book a spot on the dive boat for the size of your group. The expensive option would be that of a private charter. It will be a sensational scuba diving experience in different areas of the reefs being so famed that they have names. Some of the reef areas the divers would encounter are the Benwood wreck, French Reef, Snapper Ledge, Key Largo Dry Rocks and Pillar Corals. 

The Benwood wreck has a depth range of 25-45 feet. It’s a wreck of a ship used for practice by the armed forces now it’s become the home of corals and fish. The bows are intact and are a worthy reef to see. French Reef boasts of Christmas caves and 40 foot caves.20-25 feet deep snapper ledge is one exciting place in the reef where you can gaze at the Christ of the Abyss statue. Pillar Rocks is 15-25 ft deep and has the largest pillar coral patches that grow vertically to give a visual treat.

Once you are done with scuba diving its necessary to have a place to stay in so it would be better to get a dive resort booked beforehand like the way you booked your Florida Rental Villa