CLARE-BASED PHOTOGRAPHER George Karbus has won the prestigious British Wildlife Photography Awards with this spectacular underwater photo.

Entitled ‘In the Living Room’, the underwater photo shows a bottlenose dolphin surfing a wave at Ballintoy in County Antrim.

Karbus, a professional free diver originally from Czech Republic, described the experience as “one of the most incredible sights you can see in the ocean”.

“The photograph was taken in the most intimidating and surf-heavy spot on the Coast of Northern Ireland,” Karbas said.

“I encountered this playful dolphin that suddenly started to surf the deep tube inside the waves.

“Each time the dolphin got into the wave, I dived underneath, held my breath and waited for the moment when he would swish through a silver barrel close enough to my lens.

“Water visibility is always very limited in Ireland, and I was very lucky to get a shot like this.”

Image: George Karbus

The winning image is included in a book that accompanies the awards, and is also being exhibited as part of a free exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London.

Karbus is already a favourite of TheJournal.ie readers; his up-close-and-personal photo of Clare’s ‘Dusty’ the Dolphin got a huge thumbs up from commenters when it was posted earlier this year.

Read: Swimmers in Clare are being warned “don’t swim with this dolphin” >

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