Picture credit score: Kirsty Andrews’ picture of barnacle-covered mussels had been counseled within the Extensive Angle class
Kirsty Andrews reviews from this yr’s Torbay BSAC Splash-In, which challenges photographers to ever extra inventive heights.
I’m penning this column nonetheless buzzing from one among my favorite occasions of the UK SCUBA diving calendar, the Torbay BSAC Splash-In.
Every year, underwater-loving sorts from close to and much descend upon Devon to place their hat within the ring – or extra particularly within the geographic space of Torbay, between Babbacombe in Torbay and Cod Rock close to Brixham, to take images, whether or not on fancy cameras or extra modest ones. Throughout a tightly managed 19-hour window from 10pm on Friday, splash-in entrants can dive, snorkel, dip their toes in rock swimming pools et cetera earlier than handing of their chosen images by 5pm on Saturday. Merriment follows: drinks, dinner and a present of everybody’s photographs, earlier than winners are topped.
For the previous a number of years, long-renowned and revered underwater photographer Peter Rowlands has carried out judging duties, and there’s additionally a preferred vote; it’s at all times attention-grabbing to see what’s a crowd pleaser. Though it’s not the principle motivator for me, the competitors has a spread of first rate prizes and I notably recognize that the most effective prize is the novices’ class, sponsored by O’Three.
What’s it that offers this competitors its successful system? To a big extent, it’s the extent taking part in subject. Everyone seems to be in the identical boat, not actually, fortunately, however all of us should make the most effective of the identical circumstances (which, in Torbay, typically embody a smattering of silt). Not like different competitions, there isn’t an in-built benefit to with the ability to anticipate the most effective circumstances or journey the world and even the most effective UK websites – only a few would declare that Torbay is the most effective UK diving, nevertheless it does have its excitements, and this can be a good alternative to point out these off.
Having the most effective, shiniest, most costly gear isn’t the important thing to success both. In fact, it’s an element, however I actually recognize that there’s a compact class and in addition a novices’ one. There are different methods to offer your self an edge and these are issues like dedication, planning, inventive considering and, after all, luck.
Not like different competitions, there isn’t an in-built benefit to with the ability to anticipate the most effective circumstances or journey the world and even the most effective UK websites
Then there’s the social facet. Personally I can’t wait to see what others have give you on the day, speaking excitedly of our finds by the bar, and being wowed by others’ efforts. This yr there was a species I’d by no means seen earlier than in Torbay, and a formidable iPhone panorama that actually caught my eye (unfortunate I’m not the decide, Dave Peake). The whispers of, who was up at midnight making an attempt an evening dive and is now actually fairly bleary eyed (that was me); who was it who clambered alongside the coastal path and scrambled down a rocky ravine to shore-dive an thrilling arch (additionally me, two years in the past; it was value it). Did one diver attempt to disguise their finest topic from their buddy? (…positively not me, though he might declare I deliberately didn’t present him 4 bobtail squid nevertheless it was an unintentional omission…)
[L] Chairman Richard Blair congratulates Malcolm Nimmo (Extensive Angle winner); [R] with Terry Griffiths (Macro winner)
Torbay BSAC have at all times been a stunning welcoming bunch and I thank Richard, Tim and their fellow divers for nice hospitality on the night. I think about if each BSAC member throughout the nation is impressed to enter subsequent yr that may very well be a little bit of a shock to their entry system, however I genuinely suppose that they’d welcome different eager divers alongside to share within the enjoyable, particularly newbie ‘togs’, as we eager photographers say.
I’d encourage different golf equipment to run their very own splash-ins too; perhaps simply so as to add one other dimension to a traditional diving weekend – it doesn’t should be fairly so organised as these Devon execs nevertheless it does carry a brand new stage of curiosity, pleasant competitors and problem to our favorite sport. Get snapping and splash in!
Editor’s word: you may view the set of successful photographs from 2024 on the Torbay BSAC web site (scroll to the underside of the web page).
Article ‘Torbay – the good leveller’ by Kirsty Andrews first revealed in SCUBA journal, Challenge 148 September 2024.
