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Book Review: World’s Best Wildlife Dive Sites

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World's Best Wildlife Dive Sites

Worlds Best Wildlife Dive Sites-frontcover-AThe Authors

Nick Robertson-Brown. FRPS

Caroline Robertson-Brown. Msc.

Review by Steve Millard

Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown have put together a photographic tour of 32 of the world’s best wildlife dive sites. This in itself a very subjective view, but the choices they have made are all in my opinion worthy of inclusion. The book promises to be a diver’s wish-list for finding the very best underwater wildlife experiences.

So, what makes these authors uniquely qualified to write on this topic?

World's Best Wildlife Dive SitesI have been fortunate enough to work with Nick and Caroline on many successful projects, so I know personally of their expertise, motivation and drive. For those who haven’t been lucky enough to bump into them at one of the many destinations they have covered since they started diving in 1995, Caroline has a BSC (Hons) in Biology and MSC in Animal behaviour, Nick has a BSC (Hons) in Environmental Biology, a DipEd in teaching and is a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society. They run www.frogfishphotography.com in Manchester, they help out with several environmental charities, and took on the role of Underwater Photography editors for this very website at the start of the year.

Each of the 32 chapters list the key species in the area to look for, so you can choose what wildlife you would like to see and pick the right area. The handy fact panel also gives details of what equipment to take and more importantly perhaps, when to visit, as many of the dive sites have seasonal variations. It has a few top tips for each site, and also alternate dive sites if the main site is not accessible for whatever reason.

The main chapters read like a good friend is telling you a story about the places you are going to visit; you get a realistic feeling for each place.

If you are already familiar with the authors’ work you will know that the photography in each section is going to be stunning, and there is no disappointment. There are some truly world class photos in the book taken from the Frogfish library which currently stands at 5 TB of stills.

World's Best Wildlife Dive Sites

The book has a real quality feel, and at nearly 300 pages long, is well worth the price tag.

World's Best Wildlife Dive SitesInterestingly Europe gets a look in for some the top sites, and even the UK itself. I think this is a good thing; many books omit the temperate climate dive sites and wildlife, but actually, there are some amazing experiences to be had. So for this reason I like the book even more than other similar books I have read that simply concentrate on the same tropical regions again and again. There are some great shots of Basking sharks, seals and blue sharks in the UK section. Of course the book does also cover some of the tropical regions such as Ras Mohammed in Egypt, the Yongala in Australia, Bali, Maldives, Bahamas, Florida and many more. Some of the key wildlife pictured and discussed includes Great Whites, the swimming pigs of the Exumas, manatee and all the creatures associated with the amazing Sardine run.

Who would I recommend the book to?

I think it would be perfect in a dive centre sat in the front office tantalising new divers; it would be a great coffee table book; it could be used as a resource for anyone wanting to learn more about what some of the best wildlife dive sites in the world have to offer so they could plan their next holiday. The book leaves you with laptop open, a pen and paper in hand, picking where your next holiday will be. It arms you with a lot of knowledge to go and find the right place, at the right time, with the correct kit and a great motivation to travel.

World's Best Wildlife Dive Sites

You can source it here:

www.frogfishphotography.com/exhibition.html

or here:

www.amazon.co.uk/Worlds-Best-Wildlife-Dive-Sites/dp/1921517727

Steve Millard is a leading UK based AIDA and PADI Freediving Instructor Trainer who is the owner of Apneists UK freediving group - www.freedivers.co.uk. Currently Press officer to the British Freediving Association and Performance mermaids lead coach.

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Diver Discovering Whale Skeletons Beneath Ice Judged World’s Best Underwater Photograph

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UPY

An emotive photograph showing a freediver examining the aftermath of whaling sees
Alex Dawson from Sweden named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024. Dawson’s
photograph ‘Whale Bones’ triumphed over 6500 underwater pictures entered by underwater
photographers from around the world.

“Whale Bones was photographed in the toughest conditions,” explains chair of judging
panel Alex Mustard, “as a breath-hold diver descends below the Greenland ice sheet to bear
witness to the carcasses. The composition invites us to consider our impact on the great
creatures of this planet. Since the rise of humans, wild animals have declined by 85%. Today,
just 4% of mammals are wildlife, the remaining 96% are humans and our livestock. Our way
needs to change to find a balance with nature.”

UPY

Photo: Rafael
Fernandez Caballero

Whales dominated the winning pictures this year with Spanish photographer Rafael
Fernandez Caballero winning two categories with his revealing photos of these ocean giants:
a close up of a grey whale’s eye and an action shot of a Bryde’s whale engulfing an entire bait
ball, both taken in Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico. Fernandez Caballero took ‘Grey
Whale Connection’ while drifting in a small boat, holding his camera over the side in the water
to photograph the curious whale. ‘The End Of A Baitball’ required Fernandez Caballero to dive
down and be in exactly the right place at the moment the whale lunged. “The photo shows
the high speed attack,” he said, “with the whale engulfing hundreds of kilograms of sardines
in one bite — simply unforgettable to see predation on such a scale.”

UPY

Photo: Rafael
Fernandez Caballero

Lisa Stengel from the United States was named Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 for her image of a mahi-mahi catching a sardine, in Mexico. Stengel used both a very fast shutter speed and her hearing to catch the moment. “If you listen there’s an enormous amount of sound in the ocean,” she explained. “The action was too fast to see, so I honed in on the sound of the attacks with my camera to capture this special moment.”

“It is such an exciting time in underwater photography because photographers are capturing such amazing new images, by visiting new locations and using the latest cameras,”
commented judge Alex Mustard. “Until this year I’d hardly ever see a photo of a mahi mahi,
now Lisa has photographed one hunting, action that plays out in the blink of an eye.”
The Underwater Photographer of the Year contest is based in the UK, and Jenny Stock,
was named as British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 for her image “Star
Attraction”, which finds beauty in species of British wildlife that are often overlooked.
Exploring the west coast of Scotland, Stock explained “in the dark green depths my torch
picked out the vivid colours of a living carpet of thousands of brittle stars, each with a
different pattern. I was happily snapping away, when I spotted this purple sea urchin and I
got really excited.”

Photo: Jenny Stock

In the same contest, Portuguese photographer, Nuno Sá, was named ‘Save Our Seas
Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2024, with his photo ‘Saving
Goliath’, taken in Portugal. Sá’s photo shows beachgoers trying to save a stranded sperm
whale. The picture gives us hope that people do care and want to help the oceans, but also
warns us that bigger changes are needed. “The whale had been struck by a ship and its fate
was sealed,” explains Sá. “An estimated 20,000 whales are killed every year, and many more
injured, after being struck by ships-and few people even realise that it happens.”

UPY

Photo: Nuno Sá

More winning images can be found at www.underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com.

About Underwater Photographer of the Year

Underwater Photographer of the Year is an annual competition, based in the UK, that celebrates photography beneath the surface of the ocean, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools, and attracts entries from all around the world. The contest has 13 categories, testing photographers with themes such as Macro, Wide Angle, Behaviour and Wreck photography, as well as four categories for photos taken specifically in British waters. The winners were announced in an award ceremony in Mayfair, London, hosted by The Crown Estate. This year’s UPY judges were experienced underwater photographers Peter Rowlands, Tobias Friedrich and Dr Alexander Mustard MBE.

Header image: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 winner Alex Dawson

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World’s Best Underwater Photographers Unveil Breathtaking Images at World Shootout 2023

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The winners of the prestigious World Shootout 2023 underwater photography competition were announced at this year’s BOOT Show, captivating audiences at the world’s largest diving and water sports exhibition in Dusseldorf, Germany. Hundreds of photographers from 54 countries competed across nine categories, pushing the boundaries of creativity and technical skill.

Grand Prize Winners

  • Picture of the Year: Spanish photographer Eduardo Acevedo “secured” the top Honor with the prestigious prize the “boot Dusseldorf Director’s Prize, earning an Andromeda statuette and a €2,000 cash prize.
  • Best 5 Images Portfolio: Luc Rooman from Belgium triumphed in this category, winning a dream 4-week diving trip for two to Papua New Guinea, valued at $18,900.
  • Amateur Photographer: Alexandra Ceurvorst from the USA impressed the judges with her talent, taking home the 1,000 cash prize award.

Celebrating Diversity and Innovation

This year’s competition saw 11,680 entries from 964 photographers, showcasing a remarkable spectrum of skills and perspectives. From the intricate wonders of Macro photography to the beauty of “Black Water”, the “Underwater Fashion” category added a touch of artistry and innovation, while the ever-important ” Environmental & Conservation” category served as a powerful reminder of the need to protect these fragile ecosystems.

Looking Ahead: AI and Ocean Conservation

World Shootout founder and producer David Pilosof unveiled an exciting addition for the 2024 competition: this year the Environmental category will be focusing on the impact of plastic on our oceans and future.

This category will embrace the potential of AI or other editing software as a tool to amplify the conservation message.

Entrants will submit campaigns of three original underwater photographs dealing with plastic pollution, along with their final AI assistance processing. This innovative approach encourages artistic expression while raising awareness about a critical environmental issue.

Explore the Stunning Collection

Discover the complete album of competition entries by clicking here.

For Low-resolution photos of finalist entries in eight categories, click here.

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