This year's World Champion and breakout star is without doubt Mexican u/w photographer Christian Vizl.
He only joined us in March 2012 but has demonstrated consistently high quality over such a relatively short period of time.
He is the only u/w photographer in our history to take Gold, Silver and Bronze in one year. He did this with three very different model shots that he entered in the Freshwater category. This is a good tactical move because it is a category that is under subscribed so give you better odds of being placed. These shots were so good they would have got medals in the Divers or Wide Angle categories. For good measure he also won a gold medal in the sharks category and a bronze in the Wide angle category. He has demonstrated such a wide range of skills and mastery of a broad spectrum of subjects he stood out head and shoulders.
Christian describes himself as a photographer and artist, which is confirmed by his strong graphic sense exhibited in his entries.

UK photographer Nick Blake becomes a Grand Master by building on his success in previous year with five placings this year including a Gold in temperate waters category and a silver in the Wide Angle Close Focus. The latter was a tropical waters shot but we know Nick best for his temperate waters work shot whilst diving around the UK. His usual environment is therefore a difficult one to work in, yet he always delivers the goods.