August Bank Holiday Weekend saw St Abbs Marine Reserve hosting its annual underwater photographic competition � the Splash In. This year�s competition saw the youngest ever entrant, Robert Grieves, aged 11 taking part. Although too young to dive and not owning an underwater camera he took his images whilst snorkelling using a disposable waterproof camera.

The unique thing about the St Abbs Splash In, compared to similar competitions, is that beginners like Robert compete alongside experienced photographers, some of whom have won national competitions. And because the winners are chosen by the audience of the Sunday night slide show rather than expert judges, images that are pleasing to the eye have as much chance of winning as those that are technically excellent.

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 two categories: Marine Life Portrait (close up images of the Reserve�s amazing marine life) and Reserve Atmospheric (wide angle shots showing the stunning underwater landscape). There is also a Most Humorous Shot category which is open to all. 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 was about 150 strong 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 nearly �2,000 worth of prizes to fight for; anything from a romantic meal for two to 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 the Marine Life Portrait category was a close run thing but Kam Arya�s moody shot of a lion�s mane jellyfish with two shiny fish sitting its bell, well out of reach of the stinging tentacles just pipped Arthur Kingdon�s close up of a squat lobster to the post. In fact, Kam�s image impressed the audience so much that it also stole the Best Digital Image prize. In the Reserve Atmospheric category Mike Clark�s shot of a diver and a ballan wrasse stole first prize, with Jean Manson�s photo of a reef festooned with sealife, including a sunstar came in second followed by Peter Ladell�s image of a diver silhouetted against the light. Andy Pickersgill got the prize for Best Digital Beginner.

This year�s film competition only had a handful of entrants, digital cameras becoming ever more popular. So much so, that this year will be the last time that there will be a film competition at St Abbs. However, the quality was high as usual with David Ireland�s shot of delicate, flower-like plumose anemones knocking Jason Gregory�s image of a northern prawn into second place for the Marine Life Portrait category. Both David and Jason had a successful year, with David winning the Reserve Atmospheric and Best Beginner prizes, and Jason taking the prize for Best Film Image.

Richard Hall�s topical comment on the summer�s weather won the John Goldie Most Humorous Shot category followed by Sam Bean�s salty sea-dog and JP Trenque�s Jaws tribute.

Although Robert, our youngest entrant did not win any prizes in the main competition, he was only 3 votes away from winning the Best Beginner Prize. In fact, the organisers were so impressed by his pictures that they awarded him a Special Award for Young Up and Comer and he received the loudest round of applause of the night.

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.
• Denney Diving.
• Alistair Crowe, Dive St. Abbs Boat Charter, St. Abbs.
• Divers Warehouse.
• Edinburgh Diving Centre Ltd.
• Rhona Goldie.
• Helios.
• The Lobster Pot, Coldingham.
• Marine Conservation Society.
• Marine Quest & Harbourside, Eyemouth.
• National Trust for Scotland.
• Newcastle Dive Centre.
• Ocean Optics.
• Rock House Dive Centre, St. Abbs.
• Scoutscroft Divers, Coldingham.
• Sea & Sea.
• SDS Watersports.
• Seemann Sub.
• David & Irene McIntosh, Springbank Cottage, St. Abbs.
• Peter Gibson, St. Abbs Boat Charter, St. Abbs.
• Carol & William Isherwood, St. Abbs Dive Centre, St. Abbs.
• Topline Charters, St. Abbs.

2007 Digital Competition Results

Marine Life Portrait

1st Prize

Kam Arya, A Lion's Mane Jellyfish.

2nd Prize

Arthur Kingdon, A long-clawed Squat Lobster.

Reserve Atmospheric

1st Prize

Mike Clark, A diver and a Ballan Wrasse.

2nd Prize

Jean Manson, A common Sunstar on a reef.

3rd Prize

Peter Ladell, Silhouette of a diver against the light.

Best Beginner

Andy Pickersgill

Best Digital Image

Kam Arya, A Lion's Mane Jellyfish.

2007 Film Competition Results

Marine Life Portrait

1st Prize

David Ireland, Plumose Anemones.

2nd Prize

Jason Gregory, A Northern Prawn.

Reserve Atmospheric

1st Prize

David Ireland, A diver next to a reef covered in soft coral.

Best Beginner

David Ireland

Best Film Image

Jason Gregory, A Northern Prawn.

The John Goldie Most Humorous Shot

1st Prize

Richard Hall, Welcome to Gloucester.

2nd Prize

Sam Bean, A Salty Sea Dog.

3rd Prize

JP Trenque, Jaws 3.

Special Award for Young Up and Comer

Robert Grieves