Laser ablation of aluminum and silver targets submerged in water has been studied. The self-reversed structure in the atomic emission lines has been observed. The results were compared with the line profile calculation based on one dimensional radiative transfer model. In the calculation the population density was assumed either Gaussian or a rectangular distribution, the latter represents the higher distribution of the ground state in the periphery of the plume. The comparison of the experiment and the calculation suggests a high distribution in the periphery region for the plume in water in comparison with the plume in air.