Mr. Craig Smith really took the plunge when he proposed to his girlfriend Miss Lesley Carron this week.

For Mr. Smith waited until they were under 30 feet of water before he asked Miss Carron to marry him.

Despite her shock at the proposal in the Badlands six miles off the Island on Thursday, Miss Carron was able to give him the answer he wanted -- "yes''.

And that signalled the started of an underwater champagne celebration arranged by the Blue Water Divers.

Mr. Michael Burke of Blue Water Divers said: "Mr. Smith approached us and said he would like to propose to Miss Carron underwater, after they had been diving on Monday.

"He had the ring in a mollusc type clam shell and produced it while we were diving. We had taken a few things down with us including her reply written on slates. She had the option of saying No but she said Yes.

"We were under 30 to 35 feet of water in the Badlands where there are a lot of caves. We took them into a cave and popped open the bottle of champagne.'' A still startled Miss Carron said: "It was a total surprise. We had been talking about choosing different rings just before we came to Bermuda but I had no idea he was going to propose this week.'' Miss Carron, 29, is an advertising saleswoman from Chicago. Mr. Smith, 27, is in marketing and lives in Massachusetts. They met in October when Mr. Smith was working in Chicago. He is staying at St. George's Club and leaves today.

Mr. Burke said it was the first time anyone had asked Blue Water Divers to arrange a proposal underwater.

And it comes only a week after Mr. Henry De Vreede proposed to his girlfriend, Ms Esther New, by trailing a banner while he parasailed in Castle Harbour.

DOUBLE BUBBLE -- Craig Smith pops the question to his girlfriend Lesley Carron, 30 feet underwater as a fellow driver uncorks a bottle of champagne.