August Bank Holiday Weekend saw the St. Abbs Marine Reserve�s Splash In come of age. In the 21 years since the Splash In started, it has been going from strength to strength with a record number of 44 divers taking part this year. The advent of the affordable digital camera has enabled more people to give underwater photography a try.

The week running up to the competition was a slightly nerve-wracking time as early forecasts were suggesting that the wind would be northerly force 5 so preventing any boats getting out of the harbour. Not much fun for anyone, but especially those who had travelled several hundred miles for the competition! However, the forecasters were wrong, and when Saturday dawned the sun was shining on a flat calm sea, perfect conditions!

The Splash In is really two competitions running side by side. One for those using traditional film and one for those using digital cameras. In each, there are three categories: Marine Life Portrait, Reserve Atmospheric & Most Humorous Shot. The photographers only have the Saturday morning to capture their images, which are then judged by the audience of a slide show on the Sunday evening. This audience, which reached a record number of 160 this year, is made up of fellow photographers and general members of the public, who vote for their favourite image in each category.

Apart from the prestige of taking a winning image, there were �2,300 worth of prizes to fight for; anything from a romantic meal for two to an expensive piece of dive equipment. All prizes were generously donated by local, national & international businesses. The prizes were presented by author & founder of the Marine Reserve, Lawson Wood, assisted by Sarah Goldie (the most humorous shot category being in memory of her dad).

In the digital competition Cathy Lewis was the clear winner of the Marine Life Portrait category (and also stole the prize for Best Digital Image) with her fantastic shot of two Wolf Fish snuggling up in a crevice. Steve Bateman came in second with his close up of a flatfish half buried in the sand. The Reserve Atmospheric category was a close run thing, but Mike Clark�s image of a diver approaching an Edible Crab hiding amongst Dead Men�s Fingers just pipped JP Trenque�s black & white image to the post. In the Most Humorous Shot category, Shaun Mitchell�s Logging Bottom Time was a resounding favourite with Jane Morgan�s Snake Charmer being the runner up. Andrew Bunyan got a prize for Best Digital Beginner.

In the film competition Bill Hewitt took first place for Marine Life Portrait with his close-up of an Angler Fish, with Jason Gregory being pushed into second place with his close up of a Ballan Wrasse. In the Reserve Atmospheric category a Ballen Wrasse was popular again in, this one hiding under an overhang in Brian Jubb�s wide angle shot. So popular, in fact, that it won Best Film Image too. Peter Ladell�s picture of a shoal of coleys came in second for Reserve Atmospheric. There was an overwhelming winner for Most Humorous Shot for Jason Gregory�s comment on the Parking Charges at St. Abbs, and Peter Ladell collected another second prize for his Party Animal. Best Film Beginner was won by Julie Forrest.

The Splash In then drew to a close for another year with everyone seemingly having had a good time. Not only is the weekend great fun, but it also gives non-divers a chance to experience the beauty to be found beneath the waves at St. Abbs. No wonder that the Marine Reserve has been working so hard to protect it for over two decades!

Many thanks go to all our sponsors for their generous support, and also to William & Bob at the St. Abbs Dive Centre & Amanda at Scoutscroft Divers who helped with getting sponsors on board & generally with making the whole event such a success.

Thanks to this years sponsors:

• The Anchor Inn, Coldingham.
• Apeks.
• AP Valves.
• Aquapress.
• AquaStar Dive Centre, Eyemouth.
• Beaver Sports Ltd.
• Creels Restaurant, Coldingham.
• Cressi.
• Denney Diving.
• Alistair Crowe, Dive St. Abbs Boat Charter, St. Abbs.
• Divers Warehouse.
• Edinburgh Diving Centre Ltd.
• Rhona Goldie.
• Helios.
• Marine Conservation Society.
• Marine Quest Boat Charter, Eyemouth.
• National Trust for Scotland.
• Newcastle Dive Centre.
• Ocean Optics.
• Rock House Dive Centre, St. Abbs.
• Scoutscroft Divers, Coldingham.
• Sea & Sea.
• Seemann Sub.
• SDS Watersports.
• David & Irene McIntosh, Springbank Cottage, St. Abbs.
• Peter Gibson, St. Abbs Boat Charter, St. Abbs.
• Carol & William Isherwood, St. Abbs Dive Centre, St. Abbs.
• St. Vedas Hotel, Coldingham Sands.
• Topline Charters, St. Abbs.
• The Underwater Centre, Fort William.

2006 Digital Competition Results

Marine Life Portrait

1st Prize

Cathy Lewis, A pair of Wolf fish.

2nd Prize

Steve Bateman, A close up of a flatfish.

Reserve Atmospheric

1st Prize

Mike Clark, A diver looking at an edible crab hiding amongst dead men�s fingers on.

2nd Prize

JP Trenque, A diver swimming through a gully (black & white).

The John Goldie Most Humorous Shot

1st Prize

Shaun Mitchell, Logging bottom time.

2nd Prize

Jane Morgan, Snake charmer.

Overall Winner

Cathy Lewis, A pair of Wolf fish.

Best Beginner

Andrew Bunyan

2006 Film Competition Results

Marine Life Portrait

1st Prize

Bill Hewitt, Close up of an Angler fish.

2nd Prize

Jason Gregory, Close up of a Ballan wrasse.

Reserve Atmospheric

1st Prize

Brian Jubb, A Ballan wrasse in a cave.

2nd Prize

Peter Ladell, A shoal of coleys swimming over a reef.

The John Goldie Most Humorous Shot

1st Prize

Jason Gregory, Parking charges.

2nd Prize

Peter Ladell, A party animal.

Overall Winner

Brian Jubb, A Ballan wrasse in a cave.

Best Beginner

Julie Forrest