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UPY 2026 Up & Coming - Highly Commended
'Alone in a crowd'
Keith Kirkpatrick
Keen-eyed divers in Monterey had been noticing signs of a squid run for almost two weeks. When someone finally located the spawning grounds, we assumed we were too late. When a friend and I scouted the site after work and found endless fields of egg sacs, but not many squid - our fears seemed confirmed.
We returned later that night to maximize our chances of seeing squid. As the sun set, birds were diving and whales were feeding exactly where we thought the spawning grounds were. Our excitement increased. When we descended for our second dive, we were engulfed in hordes of squid. I dove the site three more times the next day. I had to abort the second dive when my housing leaked, but after drying my housing alone in dark on shore, I rejoined the other divers and risked it for one last dive—when I finally got this lucky shot.
Judge's comment: The squid run is spectacular and rare and this picture cleverly takes us into the heart of the action, focusing on this lone individual surrounded by mating pairs. Very much worth the hasty housing repair on the beach.
Alex Mustard
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