Arantxa wishes a merry Christmas surrounded by sharks. The Spanish tennisplayer Arantxa Sánchez Vicario gave up tennis for a moment on Christmas Eve and took part in a proposal that every year the Aquarium of Barcelone does, entity that chooses famous people to dive with its sharks and wish a merry Christmas.

Other player, Carlos Moyá, was also invited to do the same, but a pharyngitis has made the people in charge of the Aquarium advise Carlos not to dive, because he wasn'tin perfect conditions.

Arantxa dived in an 'ocean', which reproduces the marine ecosystem where sharks and over 4000 fishes of 80 different species live to wish a merry Chistmas and to convince in favour of the preservation and defence of the sea.

Arantxa was there together with 8 divers in an aquarium as big as 3 olympic swimming pools, where they had a banner with these words: Felices Navidades Azules (Merry Blue Christmas)Arantxa said that the experience had been unforgettable and it was relaxing to be surrounded by fishes, and said it could be a good way to face with calmness a final." In the beginning I had fear and respect, but if you respect sharks, they respect you"

Pictures of this event are at Off Court Gallery 1999.