UPY 2025

UPY  British Waters Wide Angle - Commended
'The tree of diving life'
Rick Ayrton

This was taken on a post lockdown dive at Vobster Quay Inland dive centre. A group of three of us were using scooters, enabling us to explore the whole of the site. One of the lesser visited parts of the quarry is its far west side where there is a flooded forest. A few of the trees remain standing in the fresh water, often looking eerie, skeletal and ghost-like. On this occasion I was lower than my buddies and I looked up to see them doing circuits around this lone tree and was able to capture this scene. You can almost feel the enjoyment coming off this image which I feel captures the essence of fun that can be had when diving, especially so because it was taken during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Judge's comment: I really like the frame of this image. The two divers who appear in a picture perfect poise together within the surroundings of Vobster Quay. One diver going in one direction and the other in the opposite way. The dead tree splits the two divers. Excellent composition.
- Martin Edge