For once, the undersea denizens of Coral World will likely be goggling at the humans in their midst Wednesday as Christina Peace and John Beck exchange wedding vows in a good 10 feet of water at the marine park.
The couple, who moved to St. Thomas last year, will be assisted by the Rev. Jeff Gargano and by Coral World's new Sea Trekkin' helmets. The bride is a Sea Trek guide and the groom is a visiting professor of chemistry at the University of the Virgin Islands.
Peace and Beck hit on the idea last year after falling in love with each other and the Virgin Islands. According to Coral World spokeswoman Ruth Butler, the ceremony will begin on land with remarks by Gargano, then the three of them, plus the best man and maid of honor, will descend beneath the waves.
The actual vows will be written on laminated cards as the underwater helmets do not provide an audio connection. The undersea part of the ceremony is expected to last 15 minutes or so, according to Butler, after which the wedding party will emerge, wet and grinning.
The bride and groom will then depart for a short honeymoon on St. John.
Anyone who is a paid guest of Coral World can witness the ceremony, which begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday. For more information, call Coral World at 775-1555.