Underwater Proposal! Ky Ingram went deep for love, popping the question to girlfriend Louise Cobban at Portsmouth’s Blue Reef Aquarium in heart-stopping style. The 33-year-old dad-of-two from Chichester got one of the aquarium’s snorkellers to hold up a “Marry Me?” sign inside the giant tropical tank – right in front of Louise.
Romance Beneath the Waves
The couple chose the aquarium because it was where they had their first date just four months earlier. Ky teamed up with aquarist Martyn Chandler, who took his proposal note underwater on a writing slate – a tool usually reserved for maintenance and cleaning.
“When Ky told us his plan, we couldn’t say no,” said Martyn. “Helping with such a romantic gesture was a real pleasure.”
The ocean walk-through display holds a whopping 180,000 litres of seawater and features hundreds of exotic tropical fish swimming through a recreated coral reef – a stunning backdrop for a pitch-perfect proposal.
Nerves and Nervous Smiles
Ky admitted he was a bundle of nerves beforehand. “I was so worried I’d get flustered and freeze. But the moment Louise said ‘yes,’ it was pure relief and joy.”
To keep things hush-hush, staff used walkie talkies and secret codewords to set up the big moment just as the couple entered the underwater tunnel and Ky dropped to one knee.
Surprise and Delight
Louise, 23, was totally blown away. “I had no clue he was planning this. I’m still shocked he pulled it off without me guessing,” she said. “I didn’t know what to say at first, but now I’m over the moon and can’t wait to tell everyone!”
This underwater ‘yes’ makes the Blue Reef Aquarium a forever special place for Ky and Louise – and what a splashy way to seal the deal!
