News
Maldives Underwater Proposal (Watch Video)

We’ve seen some amazing sights underwater over the years, and shared some really special moments, but very few come close to the moment you see two of your friends get engaged during a dive! This is exactly what happened during our week diving from the Blue Voyager in the Maldives.
Our friend Simon Plank gave us the heads up of his plans before we left the UK hoping that we would capture the moment he proposed to his long term girlfriend Marnie Starr. A discussion with the Cruise Director at the start of the trip gave Simon the very viable option of a perfect dive site midweek, famous for a Manta cleaning station. It’s fair to say that the nerves were getting the better of Simon just before the dive – so much so he forgot to write the proposal message on the dive slate as he entered the water. Fortunately we were on hand to help out, and after slipping Simon the slate during the dive and distracting Marnie for him to get prepared, the moment happened.
I think it’s fair to say that Marnie was completely shocked! The whole world stood still for a moment as she processed what was happening… Finally she accepted, and they sealed the occasion with an underwater kiss.
There’s a great moment in the video when an over-zealous diver who is completely oblivious to what was happening was trying hard to point out a beautiful turtle cruising through the group – and yes, the Manta’s did arrive and gave us one hell of a show to mark the occasion!
A perfect moment, on a perfect dive, on a perfect trip!
For more from Richard and Hayley visit www.blackmantaphotography.com.
Marine Life & Conservation
Jeff chats to… Rowen Hemsley-Harding, third place winner of the See You at the Sea Festival Film Competition (Watch Video)

In this exclusive Zoom interview, Jeff Goodman, Scubaverse Editor-at-large, chats to Rowen Hemsley-Harding, third place winner of the See You at the Sea Festival Film Competition. The See you at the Sea Festival was an online film festival created by young people, for young people.
Rowan’s film – Ocean Art and Facts – can be seen here:
Fourth in a series of six videos about the competition. Watch the first video HERE with Jenn Sandiford – Youth Engagement Officer with the Your Shore Beach Rangers Project and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust – to find out more about the Competition. Each day this week we will be sharing one video in which Jeff talks with the young contestants about their films and what inspired them.
For more information please visit:
- Project website: www.beachrangers.com
- Cornwall Wildlife Trust: www.cornwallwildlifetrust.com
- Cornwall College: www.cornwall.ac.uk
- Our Bright Future: www.ourbrightfuture.co.uk
News
NUPG Lockdown Best of…

Usually the January NUPG meeting involves a guest judge coming to Manchester to talk through the very best images members had taken in the previous 12 months. However, this year, due to COVID19 restriction many of the members had not had the chance to dive. The NUPG committee decided to change the rules a little. So this year members judged a series of Best of the Century images online and were also invited to take part in a lockdown underwater bath tub category.
There were five categories for members to enter. Here are the winners of each…
British and Irish Close Up
British and Irish Wide Angle
Overseas Close Up
Overseas Wide Angle
Under Bath Water
The next NUPG meeting will be held on Monday 8th February and the guest speaker is John Bantin.
For more information on the NUPG please visit their website by clicking here.
Header image: Lionfish hunting in the Red Sea by John Spencer
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