| Prev - | Back to 2026 Winners | - Next |
UPY 2026 Coral Reefs - Highly Commended
'Chromatic Reef'
Bryan H. Blauvelt
Fiji lingered on my travel radar for more than fifteen years before I made my first dives there in October, 2025. “Chromatic Reef” was captured on the final dive of a ten night adventure aboard the Nai’a liveaboard, at Coral Corner in the renowned Vatu-i-Ra Conservation Park.
I back-rolled off the skiff, deflated my BCD, and dropped beneath the surface. Inspired by a healthy reef so densely encrusted in lush soft corals and sea fans, I found that pinpointing one composition amongst the explosion of color and texture became an enjoyable challenge. I spotted this branching fan adorned with delicate pink and peach corals and was instantly drawn in. Framed against the deep blue water above, it became the natural focal point of my image. A perfect finale to a fulfilling trip, capturing why Fiji is celebrated as one of the world’s most vibrant and popular diving destinations.
Judge's comment: Life upon life, shape upon shape, colour upon colour. There is no habitat that can rival a coral reef for its exuberance of animal life, which is expertly concentrated into a stunning single frame by Bryan Blauvelt.
Alex Mustard
You can use the Prev/Next buttons or left and right cursors to go to the previous or next image.
