SEA LIFE Blackpool On Christmas Day

Whilst most others will be unwrapping gifts, tucking into turkey, and watching the King’s speech, SEA LIFE Blackpool’s Head Aquarist, Scott Blacker will spend his 16th consecutive Christmas Day, donning his Santa Claus suit and tending to the aquarium’s sea creatures.

Christmas Day is the only day of the year that the aquarium is closed to visitors, so Scott always goes the extra mile to give all the marine animals, from the turtle to the black tip reef sharks and the stingrays, whether they have been naughty or nice, a day to remember by swapping his regular uniform for a Father Christmas outfit.
 
In fact, Scott is planning to spend this Christmas Eve sleeping under the Ocean habitat so he can wake-up with his much loved creatures on Christmas Day!
 
Fellow aquarist Dale Smith will join Scott at the aquarium, based on Blackpool’s famous promenade, at 9am on 25 December. To ensure nothing disrupts the sea creatures they will turn on all the lights and sounds as they would on a typical day. As on any other day they will undertake the animal and habitat checks, and test the water. All animals will be fed, including the seahorses and jellyfish, who will have six feeds in total across the day.
 
Enrichment activities are a key part of the animals care at SEA LIFE Blackpool. Phoenix the turtle will receive her usual back scrub, and three feeds, but the lettuce she usually chases around the habitat, will be replaced with seasonal sprouts!
 
Scott said: “It’s a privilege working Christmas Day as it is the only day of the year SEA LIFE Blackpool closes and we get the animals all to ourselves. There’s not many people who can say they get to spend the 25 December with magnificent sea creatures!
 
“As on any other day, the animals’ welfare is our top priority. Although, in the main it is business as usual - feeding the animals and undertaking their enrichment programmes - it has become tradition for me to dress up as Santa and sing a few carols and Christmas songs to the sea creatures - ‘We wish you a Merry Fishmas’ is very popular!
 
“Dale and I will be at the centre from 9am until 1pm. We’ll then head home to our families for Christmas dinner before returning for another couple of hours in the afternoon to undertake our final checks, turn off the lights, and wish all the other SEA LIFE teams across the UK, a Merry Christmas by sharing a picture of us in our festive outfits.”
 
Scott joined SEA LIFE Blackpool in 1998 and this year was recognised by Merlin Entertainment with a 25 year service award.
 
Visit SEA LIFE Blackpool to learn more.