Soldier dives into commitment with a public proposal

VIRGINIA BEACH

Jake Schultheis hoped to make a splash with his proposal to girlfriend Cassidi Humphries.

On Thursday morning, the 22-year-old Army infantryman got his chance.

On his behalf, a volunteer diver stood at the bottom of a fish tank at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center and held up a sign:

"There are many fish in the sea. You are the only one for me. Will you marry me, Cassidi? Love, Jake."

Outside the tank, Schultheis got down on one knee and popped open a lighted ring box.

A surprised Humphries said, "Yes!"

Nearby guests and aquarium staff applauded for the lovebirds.

Schultheis recently returned from a nearly yearlong tour of duty in Afghanistan. He is stationed at Fort Knox in Kentucky.

The couple is visiting Hampton Roads on vacation. Humphries, 21, was born in Chesapeake.

They met through a friend on New Year's Eve in 2010, less than a week before Schultheis began his tour. Their love blossomed through phone calls, emails, Skype and a mid-deployment reunion in August.

They hope to settle in Roanoke, Humphries' hometown.

No wedding date has been set.