Spread the love
Post Views: 16

When Justin McIntaggart, a barber shop owner from Ontario, Canada, entered a global scUber competition last month, he never expected it would change the course of his life while he was underwater at the Great Barrier Reef.

The campaign by scUber, the world’s first rideshare submarine, drew more than 152,000 entries.

After being selected from all those people to be one of six lucky winners, 29-year-old McIntaggart took the opportunity to plunge in and ask his girlfriend, Kate Hartberg, 25, to take his hand in marriage – at 20 metres below the ocean’s surface in scUber on the Great Barrier Reef.

Back on land, Kate, originally from Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast, said: “Wow, I am speechless! What a beautiful surprise. Justin and I both adore the ocean, and riding in the scUber submarine was already a ‘pinch myself’ moment, but I really couldn’t believe my eyes when Justin got down on one knee.

“We were in this magnificent bubble, surrounded by stunning coral and the most bright, colourful marine life, both in awe by the whole experience.

Left to right: Justin McIntaggart, pilot Erika Bergman, Kate Hartberg

“It was just perfect, and extra special to share this moment in my home country.”

The newly-engaged couple will celebrate this week by exploring the world’s oldest rainforest, the Daintree Rainforest, and touring some of Australia’s greatest waterfalls around Cairns, before planning their dream wedding.

Their love blossomed after a long-distance friendship which started in Canada. Kate, an avid traveller, met Justin in Banff, Alberta, while on a working holiday in 2014. Fast-forward five years and the couple returned to Kate’s home state for an incredibly special milestone in their relationship. A moment Justin had been romanticising over for the past year.

The happy couple under the sea

According to ScUber, others can follow the same underwater trail if they move quickly. Available to book in Tropical North Queensland until tomorrow, 18 June 2019, the scUber experience includes a return transfer from client’s location with a ScUber car, a helicopter ride with Nautilus Aviation to the Quicksilver pontoon located at Agincourt Reef, and a one-hour ScUber experience offering stunning 180-degree views of the Reef. The exclusive experience costs AUD 3000 per couple.

 

Edited by Peter Needham