Underwater photographers and film-makers will be competing for a rich array of prizes in the 2010 British Underwater Image Festival (BUIF) sponsored by Cameras Underwater. The annual event is set to produce another set of outstanding images and films in the seven competition categories. Finalists of BUIF 2010 will be showcased at Dive Fest in Cornwall from 30 April to 3 May 2010, while prints will go on a month-long public display at Plymouth’s National Marine Aquarium this summer. The 2009 BUIF event attracted more than 1,000 entries, sent in by competitors from 20 different countries. This year will see the return of the BUIF Splash-in sponsored by Cameras Underwater, which will once again be held at Dive Fest. Award-winning photographer Alex Mustard, British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP) co-founder Colin Doeg, renowned British photographer Charles Hood and DIVE editor Simon Rogerson are judging the stills competition. Judging the DVD entries are BBC natural history film-maker Peter Scoones, Colin Doeg and Simon Rogerson. ‘With the final deadline for entries looming, it’s time to get your entries printed up and ready to compete in this year’s BUIF,’ said Simon Rogerson. The deadline for entries for BUIF 2010 is 20 March 2010. Send your entries with a completed entry form to: DIVE Magazine, British Underwater Image Festival, One Victoria Villas, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 2GW. Download the BUIF Entry form here. THE PRIZES STILLS SEA & SEA OPEN FIRST: £800 Sea & Sea voucher SECOND: £450 Sea & Sea voucher THIRD: £300 Sea & Sea voucher THE PADI DIGITAL UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER Live to Dive FIRST: £500 cheque SECOND: £300 cheque THIRD: £200 cheque APEKS BRITISH FIRST: Apeks Flight regulator set, worth £484.30 SECOND: Apeks Flight regulator, worth £359.14 THIRD: Apeks ATX40/DS4 regulator, worth £194.13 CPS PORTFOLIO FIRST: Tusa RS-240 reg plus SS-20 octopus, worth £370 SECOND: Seahorse waterproof laptop case, worth £220 THIRD: Tusa IQ-650 computer, worth £196 DVD MARES PROFESSIONAL FIRST: Mares Prestige package, worth £1,009.80, including: • Prestige 22 NTT regulator • Prestige NTT octopus regulator • Prestige MRS Plus BC • Puck 2 computer and console SECOND: Mares Abyss package, worth £519.90, including: • Mares Abyss 22 regulator • Mares Abyss octopus regulator THIRD: Puck Mission 3 computer and gauge, worth £309.95 A.P. VALVES BRITISH FIRST: special-edition Commando TD40 BC, worth £392 SECOND: Buddy Nexus air/nitrox dive computer, worth £359 THIRD: Buddy SMBC (red/yellow), worth £98 SCUBA TRAVEL AMATEUR FIRST: Red Sea liveaboard trip aboard Sea Serpent , worth £1,095 SECOND: £250 Scuba Travel voucher THIRD: £150 cheque WIN WIN WIN HOW TO WIN UNDERWATER PHOTO COMPETITIONS With the deadline for the British Underwater Image Festival (BUIF) approaching, judge Alex Mustard offers his top ten tips for succeeding in underwater photography competitions. Read the full article here. See the British Underwater Image Festival 2009 winners here.

BUIF SPLASH IN AT DIVE FEST

Underwater photographers will do battle in a one-day shoot-out during Dive Fest at Pentewan Sands Holiday Park, Cornwall, on 1 May. The British Underwater Image Festival (BUIF) Splash-in competition, which is sponsored by Cameras Underwater and is open to all underwater photographers, will see competitors vying for top prizes in the three categories: Wide-angle, Close-up and Fish Portrait. All images entered must be taken on the day and submitted to the Dive Fest Splash-in organisers by 7pm on Saturday 1 May. BUIF judges will name the winner at the festival's award ceremony on Sunday 2 May.

Photographers wishing to take part in the Dive Fest Splash-in on 1 May must register with the organisers before they go diving. The registration desk will be open between 7pm and 9pm on the Friday evening in the BUIF theatre at the Pentewan Sands Holiday Park clubhouse. Registration will open again between 7am and 10am on the Saturday. All images must be submitted to the Splash-in desk in the BUIF theatre by 7pm.

Wide Angle Category
FIRST: £200 voucher to spend on products at Cameras Underwater
SECOND: £100 voucher to spend on products at Cameras Underwater
THIRD: DIVE magazine goody bag

Fish Portrait Category
FIRST: £200 voucher to spend on products at Cameras Underwater
SECOND:£100 voucher to spend on products at Cameras Underwater
THIRD: DIVE magazine goody bag

Close-up Category
FIRST:£200 voucher to spend on products at Cameras Underwater
SECOND:£100 voucher to spend on products at Cameras Underwater
THIRD: DIVE magazine goody bag


For information on buying tickets to Dive Fest check out the main website at www.divefest.co.uk