Megan cheered her disappointed mother, a longtime scuba enthusiast, by promising to take scuba lessons.
Before entering the dive shop, Megan, who is now 31, paused to pluck a plumeria blossom and tuck it behind her right ear, as had become her habit in that everblooming land. She didn't realize that by local tradition, she was showing her future instructor that she was single.
Dave, now 32, already had a full contingent of students - scuba lessons were his side job. Born in Rhodesia and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dave had come to Abu Dhabi in April to design and implement the city's water rescue operations on the main waterfront.
But he was the only instructor. And after learning that Megan spoke English, which would make it possible for him to safely teach her, Dave agreed to let her in the class. Megan's beauty was a bonus for doing so, he said.
"I totally flirted with him," Megan confessed. "You're a professional, but I'm thinking, 'This guy is really cute, he has a great accent, he's really good at what he does, and I'm totally attracted to him,' " she said. "I realized right away this is why I stayed in Abu Dhabi."
Meeting Megan also made Dave glad he had stayed put.
She earned her certification one morning. As soon as the boat docked that evening, Megan and Dave went for burgers.
How does forever sound?
In January 2010, the couple flew to South Africa so she could meet his father, Phil. Megan didn't know that Dave also bought engagement and wedding rings.
Three weeks later, the couple set out for Oman to hike in Wadi Damm, with the diamond in Dave's pocket. Border guards stopped them because their rental car's registration had expired. But hope was not lost.
