Underwater weddings: 8 great places to say “I do” under the sea

Who needs a Las Vegas chapel when you can have wet ‘n’ wild nuptials under the sea? To pull off an underwater wedding, you’ll need a strong sense of adventure, a tropical location with good visibility, diving or snorkeling equipment and an officiant who is willing to go the extra nautical mile—or even just a few feet.

Photo courtesy of Nautilus Dive Tech

Since you won’t be able to speak your vows (at least not without inhaling a little salt water), most couples use waterproof slates on which they can write “I do.”

Photo courtesy of Nautilus Dive Tech

Tie the knot with a romantic underwater kiss as tropical schools of fish serve as your bridal party. And there’s no need to pay extra for wedding decor since the colorful world on the ocean floor serves as quite the impressive backdrop. Travel to one of these warm-water locales for a marriage ceremony that you’ll never forget.

Plus: Everyone knows someone who’s written these 10 out of office replies.

1. Bora Bora

It’s quite possibly the most romantic island in the world. Envision Robinson Caruso-style bungalows hovering on stilts above an aquamarine lagoon. And submerged 13 feet under those picture-perfect waters is the Te Ana Ipo wedding chapel, an underwater oasis for lovers. Bora Bora Underwater Weddings by Top Dive will jump start your journey by whisking you away on a double outrigger canoe. Rather than strapping on scuba gear, you’ll don underwater helmets that you can use to breathe normally. A Polynesian priest leads the 25-minute ceremony, including the exchange of wedding vows and elegant mother-of-pearl wedding bands.

Photo courtesy of Bora Bora Underwater Weddings

2. Cabo San Lucas

Head to the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, an area famous for it’s beaches, scuba diving and nightlife. Nautilus Dive Tech will put together an entire package for love birds, from the ceremony rehearsal in a pool to the actual wedding itself under the water in the Bay of Cabo San Lucas. Special details for the big day include an underwater bouquet and a keepsake clam shell to hold your rings.

Photo courtesy of Nautilus Dive Tech

3. Florida Keys

Get married next to the prolific Christ of the Abyss statute underwater at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. You might even see a manatee! Captain Slate has been performing weddings above and below the water in the Florida Keys for the past 30 years and he holds the Guinness Book of World Records’ record for officiating the largest underwater wedding. And as if the record itself wasn’t enough, those 55 couples said “I do” underwater wearing Halloween costumes.

Photo courtesy of Visit Florida

4. The Bahamas

Set sail with Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas and the “Island Preacha” for an underwater ceremony led by the most famous wedding officiant in the Bahamas. A non-denominational pastor, the Island Preacha will personalize your ceremony with custom-crafted vows on waterproof paper. And, yes, the rumor is true: For your marriage to lawfully be valid in this lovely island chain, you’ll need to say “I do” before the sun sets.

Photo courtesy of StuartCove’s Dive Bahamas

5. Maui

If getting married underwater isn’t quite adventurous enough for you, perhaps a wedding submerged in a shark tank is a better option. Book your ceremony through Captain Steve Hogan’s Makena Coast Dive Charters and you’re sure to have a unique experience you’ll never forget. Not only is the captain’s wife a licensed wedding officiant and published author, she’s led couples down the aisle in a shark tank. If the idea of locking eyes with a shark gives you wedding day jitters, then perhaps this drop-dead gorgeous beach in Maui would be a good alternative.

Photo courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority

6. Cozumel

Located just 12 miles off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Cozumel is known for its crystal-clear waters and white-sand beaches. If you’re looking for luxury, get whisked away to Paradise Reef and plan your wedding through Secrets Aura Cozumel. And if you’re lucky, maybe you’ll see the Splendid Toad Fish. Not found anywhere else in the world, spotting this tropical fish could signal good fortune for you both for the rest of your lives together.

Photo courtesy of Secrets Aura Cozumel

7. Fort Lauderdale

Whether you want to elope just the two of you or host an underwater wedding for all of your family and friends, the American Dive Center in sunny Fort Lauderdale can pull off either feat. While you and your partner suit up for a scuba-style ceremony, your wedding guests will snorkel the waters from above. So there’s no need for them to be scuba certified. The dive instructor serves as a notary public and will either provide standardized vows on waterproof paper, or you can make your own.

Photo courtesy of Nautilus Dive Tech

8. Trinidad & Tobago

Get married next to the largest brain coral in the world or in the Nylon Pool, a shallow area located near the Buccoo Reef. As local folklore has it, when a couple kisses beneath this “magical” pool of water, a lifetime of happiness together is guaranteed. Located off the picturesque Caribbean island of Tobago, the Dive Center at Blue Waters Inn will help you plan a dream wedding under the sea. Follow the ceremony with a private sunset dinner cruise aboard the Island Girl Catamaran and toast to the rest of your lives together.

Photo courtesy of Island Girl Catamaran

Tagged: Caribbean, Destinations, Florida, Hawaii, Mexico, Top 10 Lists