UPY 2025

UPY  British Waters Wide Angle - Commended
'Concealed'
Aaron Sanders

Like many UK divers, this year’s unexpected summer surge of octopus, had me out most days, excitedly searching for these incredible and otherworldly beings. Days were spent searching; numerous sightings were reported at my local dive site; yet my buddy and I often entered the water only minutes too late, missing the encounter. Until one fortunate morning, whilst exploring the kelp fronds along the back edge of our local reef, my buddy performed an exited underwater dance of amazement, franticly pointing between the kelp. Sure enough, perfectly concealed, a large common octopus (notably uncommon in the UK) sat beneath the swaying fronds. Unbothered by our presence, the octopus looked out at us, before gradually creeping forward as though to inspect us more closely. Not fully reassured that we weren’t predators the curious octopus rearranged the kelp into a curtain in front of it, as though shielding itself from us.

Judge's comment: Aaron’s portrait of an octopus peering out from the fronds of a kelp forest is a stunning portrait of one of the less commonly seen denizens of British seas.
Alex Mustard