Dr. Alexander Wilon
JP PADI OWSI 43617
Frequently Asked Questions about Underwater Weddings
Are
underwater weddings legal? Yes,
underwater weddings are legal in Australia. After the underwater ceremony is completed, the
couple sign the registers on land. At that time they receive a
marriage certificate. This is the same legal and binding document that
is issued to all couples who marry in Australia.
Do we
have to be both certified divers to get married underwater? Because
of safety issues I prefer that all parties involved in the underwater
wedding are certified divers. Contact me and I will do all I can to
assist.
Can you
teach us to dive before we get married underwater? I
am a certified PADI Instructor, but because of my status as Civil
Marriage Celebrant it could be unethical for me to also act as an Instructor
on this occasion. Write to me and I will put you in touch with your
nearest PADI Instructor.
We are
both certified divers, but some of my friends and relatives do not dive can
they still participate in our underwater wedding. Yes,
your underwater marriage can be observed from the boat . Non-divers
can hear the entire scuba wedding ceremony using the surface communication
unit located on the boat.
How can
we talk underwater? In order for
the underwater marriage to be legal, the underwater wedding party (witnesses, bride and groom and
celebrant) must be able to hear the spoken words and vows. Underwater
weddings are conducted using a special underwater mask which incorporates a
communication device. The equipment I use in my underwater weddings is
safe, comfortable and easy to use. I also conduct a safety
training session to make sure everyone is comfortable with the equipment.
Can we
have only part of the wedding conducted underwater? Yes.
Underwater weddings can be conducted and adapted to your specific needs.
We are
not from Australia. Will our underwater wedding be recognised in our
country? As a general rule, marriages performed
legally by an authorised Civil Celebrant in Australia are
recognised overseas. This is certainly true in the US and
Japan. However, it is always best to check with your Government
authority about your underwater marriage plans..
What do
we have to do in order to get married underwater? Write
to my office. I will mail you a notice of intended marriage, a
booklet with a proposed ceremony, marriage counselling brochures, an
information letter about the requirement and further documents I will need
to sight.
Do I
need to give notice to get married underwater? All
couples intending to marry (underwater or conventionally) are required
legally to notice of one month and one day. Your local court can give
approval to shorten the notice.
How
much will it cost to get married underwater? Costs
are a based on the location and the amount of equipment required.
Costs involve a fee and all expenses incurred. An itemised account
will be forwarded to you prior to formalising the underwater wedding.
Costs for a safety team comprising of two assistants will be included.
Your travel agent will inform you about other costs including travel
expenses, costs of hire of equipment and hire of a dive boat and qualified
staff.
Can you
suggest a location for our underwater marriage? I
can suggest a number of locations suitable for underwater marriages from a
safety point of view. However, as a Civil Marriage Celebrant I cannot
become involved in any commercial activity involving your underwater
wedding. As a general rule, my office will provide you with an
information centre who is familiar with underwater wedding. If you
choose a location for your underwater wedding we will need to discuss safety
and environmental issues.
How
many people need to be in my underwater wedding party? By
law two witnesses must be present during your underwater wedding. The
witnesses can be located on the boat provided they can hear all words/vows
spoken during the underwater wedding ceremony.
Photo Albums Underwater Weddings
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