Santas Dive for Charity at Vobster Quay

Over 100 scuba divers, attired in Santa Claus costumes, are scheduled to participate in a charitable underwater event. This gathering, taking place at Vobster Quay in Radstock, Somerset, on December 15, aims to generate contributions for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the armed forces charity, Help for Heroes. Since its inception in 2007, the organizers have accumulated £52,000 through this yearly occasion. Vobster Quay owner Amy Stanton stated, “Every year diving clubs and individuals from across the country converge on Vobster for a thoroughly festive and very silly scuba dive like no other.” She further remarked, “Seeing so many Santas waddling around the quayside in scuba diving gear is a truly surreal sight.” A record participation of 188 Santa-clad divers simultaneously entered the 36-acre freshwater lake in 2015. For the current year, a minimum of 130 participants are anticipated to endure water temperatures reaching as low as 8C. Ms Stanton elaborated, “Vobster Quay is normally a members-only site but for this event, every year, we throw open the gates and invite any, and all, qualified scuba divers to come along and join in the festive fun.” She also commented, “It has become a statement fixture in the UK diving calendar.” George Birch, a former member of the armed forces, is also an experienced participant in the Santa dive, having initially joined in 2012. He informed BBC Somerset, “You wear a dry suit with your Santa suit over the top and the organisers make sure all valves are clear of the costume so that you know you’re safe.” He humorously added, “One of the biggest problems for Vobster is that in February or March they’re still finding Santa hats floating around on the water where people didn’t tie them on properly.” Tim Clements, the operations manager, stated: “It’s a testament to the spirit of all the participants. “It’s a great community event and it’s great to see all the divers together in the winter to support good causes.” Individuals with any level of diving experience are encouraged to don their Santa attire and participate in the event. Readers can follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X, and submit story ideas via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. This content is copyrighted by BBC, 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC states it is not accountable for the content of external sites and provides information regarding its approach to external linking.