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Inside Scuba Issue #55
Andy Deitsch & Byron Conroy
March 08, 2026
Welcome to Issue #55 of Inside Scuba
Welcome to Issue #55 of Inside Scuba! If there is one time of year that gets every underwater photographer’s heart racing, it’s this one. We have officially moved through the 'Big Three' results window, with UPY, Ocean Art, and the DPG Masters all crowning their champions.
In this special competition round-up, we aren't just looking at who took home the gold. Instead, we’re sharing our personal favorites from across the major competitions—images that resonated with us regardless of where they placed on the official podium. From the technical mastery required to capture a split-second hatching to the artistic restraint of a black-and-white shipwreck, this issue is a celebration of the talent, patience, and sheer obsession that defines our community. Whether you entered this year and are looking for inspiration, or you’re an 'armchair judge' enjoying the world’s best imagery from your sofa, we hope these picks spark something for you.
We also sit down with the newly crowned Most Promising British Underwater Photographer, Natalie Yarrow, to discuss her rapid rise and why she believes 'shooting for yourself' is the ultimate secret to success.
Then, we catch up with James Ferrara, who won across multiple competitions this year. James takes us behind the scenes of his incredible portfolio and shares the personal journey that led him to become one of the most consistent names on the podium.
What’s happening in this edition?
Underwater Photographer James Ferrara: An Exclusive Interview
Born and raised along the East Coast of Florida, James Ferrara has spent the last 40 years centering his life around the ocean, a passion that eventually led him from childhood fishing and diving to a highly successful award winning underwater photographer. While he has served for eighteen years as a firefighter and paramedic for Martin County Fire Rescue, James has spent the last decade evolving from a GoPro hobbyist into a world-class artist, attributing his keen eye for composition to his mother’s artistic influence. His self-taught skills have garnered global recognition, with his work featured by giants like National Geographic and BBC Earth, alongside several wins in Ocean Art 2025, the Ocean Photography Awards and Underwater Photographer of a year along with a recent category win in the Nature Photo Contest. Having returned from a month-long expedition to Antarctica documenting the raw beauty of leopard seals and icebergs, James joins us to share his insights on the shift from free diving to scuba diving, his strategic approach to the world's biggest photography competitions, and his future ambitions in the industry.
“Concise Chaos” - 4th Place in Wide Angle, Ocean Art 2025. Taken in Magdalena Bay, Mexico. Sony A7RV, 28-70mm lens, f/22 @ 1/10 sec. Copyright James Ferrara.
Inside Scuba: James, it’s great to have you here. To start off, tell us a little bit about yourself—where you’re from and how you got into photography.
James Ferrara: Thanks, Byron. I’m 42 years old and I’ve lived in South Florida for pretty much my whole life. My main career is actually as a firefighter paramedic, which I’ve been doing for 18 years. Photography is my side gig, but the firefighting schedule is great because it allows me to take big blocks of time off to travel and shoot. I actually started about 10 years ago with a GoPro for my dives and just expanded from there.
Inside Scuba: Were you a diver before you picked up the camera?
James Ferrara: I was. I got scuba certified at 17, but then I got heavily into free diving for about a decade. After a few years of freedive photography I returned to scuba diving because it’s just so much easier for certain types of shots. However, those first five or six years of free dive photography really helped me. Having that urgency to get the shot before needing air helped me hone my composition skills under pressure.
In each issue of our newsletter, we will curate some top dive news from around the world. Links to each of the original articles are available.
Divernet: “Dive-boat captain loses appeal and faces jail. A federal appeals court has upheld the criminal conviction of Jerry Boylan, former captain of the California dive-liveaboard Conception, for seaman’s manslaughter related to the 2019 overnight fire that killed 34 people in his charge.”
Times of Israel: “Diver finds his second Crusader sword in 5 years off Israel’s coast. A meter-long sword, roughly dating back to the 12th century CE, has been found by chance off the Carmel Coast, in the area of Dor Beach, the University of Haifa announced on Sunday. The artifact was spotted by Shlomi Katzin, a student at the university’s Department of Maritime Civilizations, who had already found a similar sword in the area in 2021.”
Divernet: “Dive-centre spared in Fantasy Island resort fire. The dive-centre and some two-thirds of the accommodation were spared when a major fire broke out at the Fantasy Island Beach Resort Dive & Marina on Roatan on the night of 2 March. The hotel complex is located in French Harbour on the Honduran Bay island, but was relatively lightly occupied at the time. The Honduras Fire Corps responded and worked to control the blaze while evacuating the approximately 60 guests and resort staff present at the time. They were relocated to another Roatan hotel.”
Dive Magazine: “Urgent warning over full-face mask drowning risk. US safety regulators have warned snorkellers to stop using OUSPT full-face snorkel masks after reports of breathing problems that could lead to drowning. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued the alert on 5 March, advising consumers to immediately stop using the masks due to the risk of serious injury or death.”
Divernet: “Red Sea fleet: 2nd dive-boat lost to fire in 38 days. For one dive liveaboard to catch fire might be described as unfortunate – for two from the same fleet to blaze in the space of little over a month seems doubly so. “Hours ago a fire broke out on the safari yacht Golden Dolphin II, while it was docked for maintenance,” stated Egyptian Red Sea operator Golden Dolphin Safari World yesterday (28 February) in a joint announcement with the Chamber of Diving & Water Sports (CDWS). The incident occurred in Hurghada.”
X-Ray Magazine: “Announcing the 7th Annual Blue Water Film Festival. The 2026 Blue Water Film Festival (BWFF) proudly announces its honorees and official film lineup for its 7th Annual Festival, taking place March 19–22, 2026, in La Jolla, California. Presented by the Blue Water Institute, the four-day event will showcase a dynamic slate of features, shorts, and animated films, highlighting powerful storytelling at the intersection of water, environment, innovation, and human impact.”
Divernet: “Aggressor Adventures’ CEO Wayne B Brown Passes Away at 65. Aggressor Adventures has announced with profound sadness the passing of its Chief Executive Officer, Wayne Bryant Brown, who died on 3 March at the age of 65, following a private one-and-half-year battle with bile duct cancer. He was surrounded by family and close friends in his final days.”
Dive Magazine: “British dive instructor arrested in Philippines over sex offender status. Philippine Immigration authorities have arrested a British man working as a scuba-diving instructor in the central Philippines after being identified as a registered sex offender in the United Kingdom. Operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Fugitive Search Unit, operating together with the Philippine National Police, arrested former teacher Andrew Charles Beaumont, 47, on 16 February at Sitio Cabalian in Santa Fe, Romblon province.”
Deeper Blue: “NOAA Looks To Deregulate North Atlantic Right Whale Ship Strike Rules, Alarming Ocean Advocates. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced it will consider deregulation of existing rules that protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from deadly ship strikes.”
Divernet: “Dive-centre fined $10,000 for helicopter drops. On two days last June, a helicopter branded Trident Adventures was seen hovering as low as 3m above a Pacific bay in Hawaii as, on each occasion, four customers jumped out to scuba dive or snorkel. The Trident Adventures dive-centre offers what it describes as an exclusive PADI Helicopter Diver certification on Oahu’s south and west shores, where it is licensed to operate commercially. It charges just under $2,000 (£1,500) for the level 4 course, which involves dropping negatively buoyant from a chopper in full dive-gear.”
Boston Sea Rovers: Next weekend, March 14th and 15th, marks the return of the annual Boston Sea Rovers Clinic. As always, the speaker lineup is world-class, and the Saturday evening film festival is sure to be a highlight. While not yet officially listed, the festival will feature a special screening of 'ICE'—a new film by Cristian Dimitrius, which he produced while on expedition in Antarctica just last month. It’s a stunning piece of work, and you definitely won’t want to miss it!
The Ones That Stuck With Us: Byron and Andy’s Top Picks from the 2026 Season
All photo competitions are subjective; they represent the collective opinions of a handful of experts, each with their own unique tastes and preferences. Because of this, it is almost impossible for any single person to love every chosen winner. On results day, everyone’s favorite pastime is playing "armchair judge." Many people focus on the images they don’t like, rather than sitting back and enjoying the collection as a whole.
Often, when we view the results, our personal favorites are found among the awarded runners-up rather than the gold medalists. Once you learn to look past the top spots and explore the Highly Commended and Commended images, you realize they usually represent a fair, balanced, and thought-provoking portfolio of work.
For this year’s "Big Three" underwater competitions—Ocean Art, DPG, and UPY—we (Andy and Byron) decided to look across every awarded image to pick our personal top five favorites and explain exactly why they appeal to us.
Andy’s Selections
This slow-shutter shot of a juvenile pinnate batfish, taken by Luis Arpa Toribio, immediately caught my eye. It took 2nd place in the macro category of Ocean Art 2025. I love how the motion blur trailing from the fins resembles orange flames flickering behind the fish, providing a striking contrast against the deep blue background.
Because these fish are constantly in motion and typically seek shelter in dark overhangs, they are notoriously difficult to photograph. Knowing how much patience was required to execute this technique under such challenging conditions truly elevates the shot for me.
“Gliding” - Ocean Art 2nd Place Macro. Nikon Z7 in a Nauticam housing, 1x Scubalamp D-Pro with OSD snoot, ISO 100, f/11, ½ sec.
What Happens After Winning an Underwater Photography Competition?
Winning or placing in an underwater photography competition can feel like a defining moment, but it can also be strangely disorienting. Before diving into what happens next, it is worth grounding ourselves in one simple truth: competitions are subjective. They are shaped by the tastes, experiences, and biases of a specific judging panel at a particular moment in time.
An image that resonates deeply with one group may leave another entirely unmoved. This reality cuts both ways. If you don’t place, it doesn’t mean you aren’t progressing. If you do win, it doesn't suddenly make you untouchable. The healthiest approach is to view competitions as snapshots of a journey rather than a verdict on your worth as a photographer. Stay steady if you lose and stay humble if you win. After all, greatness is built on consistency; even historical figures are remembered for a lifetime of work rather than a single act.
The RAW File Check
So, how does the awarding process actually work? For those who progress into the final rounds, the first email you receive will be the RAW file check. This is often the most nerve-wracking stage. Organizers request the original, unedited files to verify authenticity and ensure that post-production has remained within the rules. This process protects the integrity of the competition, reassuring both judges and audiences that the image represents genuine underwater photography rather than digital fabrication.
Even if you know you’ve edited responsibly, handing over a RAW file can feel exposing—it is your work stripped back to its bare foundations.
My finished edit vs RAW file for UPY 3rd place….always hard to know for sure you will pass the hurdle.
The Promising Eye: Natalie Yarrow on Her Award-Winning Year
It is a thrill to see a new name rise through the ranks of the underwater photography world, especially one who combines technical curiosity with a genuine passion for the marine environment. In this edition of Inside Scuba, we sit down with Natalie Yarrow, who was recently crowned the 2026 Underwater Photographer of the Year’s Most Promising British Underwater Photographer.
From "MacGyvering" broken strobes in the Cayman Islands to capturing the intricate, "bokeh" world of Balinese hingebeak shrimps, Natalie's journey is a testament to the power of persistence, mentorship, and a bit of cold-water ambition. Here is our conversation on awards, evolution, and her mantra of shooting for yourself.
Inside Scuba: Congratulations on recently having been recognised as the most promising British underwater photographer. What did that award mean to you personally?
Natalie Yarrow: Thank you very much. It means a huge deal to me. I remember seeing this particular award a few years ago, together with the prestigious names of previous recipients. I imagined how amazing it must feel to win it, assuming I would never be in with a chance. I therefore couldn’t believe it when I received the news that I had been awarded it this year.
Inside Scuba: When you look back at your early days underwater, what were the key moments or challenges that shaped you into the photographer you are now?
Natalie Yarrow: Having had my first underwater camera for a while, I was becoming frustrated at my inability to do photographic justice to the beautiful scenes I was witnessing. I decided I needed to go right back to basics and do a workshop, and I was lucky enough to get a spot on one of Alex Mustard’s trips in the Cayman Islands. Things didn’t start off as planned. When I arrived, it transpired that I had somehow managed to break one of my strobes in transit! Alex Macgyvered a second strobe and a makeshift sync cable for me (thanks to Jon Barron’s 3D printer!), so I was still able to participate. Having survived the week with my wonky set-up, I came away with a new-found appreciation for the importance of correct technique in lighting, quality of light, composition, and subject-selection. I also left with a new group of inspiring dive-photographer buddies, and most crucially, a shopping list of new strobes and accessories…
Photo courtesy of Natalie Yarrow
To round out our competition themed newsletter, we thought for this issue, it would be worth sharing a video from the Underwater Photography show where Alex and Matt discuss the good, the bad and the ugly related to judging photo
Summary
As we close out this competition-heavy issue, we hope the insights from Natalie Yarrow and James Ferrara have inspired you to look at your own work with fresh eyes. Whether it’s Natalie’s mantra of "shooting for yourself" or James’s fascinating journey through the ranks of competitive photography, the takeaway is clear: great imagery is born from passion, persistence, and a unique creative vision.
It’s easy to feel intimidated by the "Big Three" results, but every award-winning shot started with a single breath and a lot of trial and error. Whether you’re currently planning a tropical macro mission or—inspired by our top picks—considering your first cold-water adventure, remember that the most important shot is the one you haven't taken yet.
Thank you for being part of the Inside Scuba community. We’d love to hear which of this year's winners (or which of our personal favorites!) resonated most with you—hit reply and let us know!
Stay inspired and keep shooting,
Andy & Byron
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