UPY 2025

UPY  Wrecks - Commended
'Fortunal'
Damir Zurub

I used to work seasons in a diving center (DC Manta) on the island of Vis in Croatia so I had the opportunity to visit this wreck quite often. I took this photo on a day off, since I never took my camera with me while guiding. That made photo opportunities rare but very enjoyable.
The story told about the ship "Fortunal" is as follows: On April 10, 1997, the ship Fortunal was coming back from fishing to the port of Vis. The tired crew fell asleep, and the ship was run by the autopilot. Suddenly and unexpectedly the ship, at full speed, hit the island of Vis near the village of Okljucna and sank immediately.
Fortunal lies on a sandy bottom at the maximum depth of about 52 m. This relatively young wreck is slightly skewed to the left side, and the highest point is at a depth of 37 m.

Judge's comment: Sometimes less is more. Let the subject do the work but lift it with a delicate touch of fill light. - Peter Rowlands