A novel method of explosive welding by the use of underwater shock waves is introduced and the possible practical applications are explored. This technique employs underwater shock waves for the uniform acceleration of a thin plate to satisfy the requirement of a vertical collision velocity in the order of a few hundred m/s or more in the explosive welding process. Though the inclined set up introduces a locational variation of welding conditions appropriate welding parameters can be chosen within the weldability window Multi layered explosive welding of thin plates and the welding of various difficult-to-weld materials are demonstrated.