The Great Scuba Drive, Day 2: Surrey to Central London

Published 6 months agoon November 5, 2025

**Join Rico Anselmi and Sophie Shields as they take on The Great Scuba Drive — an ambitious month-long diving road trip from Cornwall to Scotland.**

From freshwater lakes and historic quarries to dramatic coastal sites and wild northern lochs, the duo are exploring the best of UK diving while documenting every moment along the way. Their mission is to showcase the beauty, challenge, and community spirit of cold-water diving — and inspire others to dive into the adventure.

Today was all about changing pace and stepping outside our comfort zone. After the calm of the Cornish coast, we swapped countryside tranquillity for the energy of the city. Sophie had been nominated in two categories at The British Photography Awards, so we caught a train into Central London to attend the ceremony at The Royal Lancaster Hotel.

The hustle and bustle of the capital felt worlds away from the peace, open spaces, and fresh air of Cornwall but It was exhilarating and exciting.

Being surrounded by so many talented photographers was an honour. Listening to their stories, learning about their projects, and seeing such a range of incredible images was both humbling and inspiring. Although there were no wins this time, it was a privilege to be shortlisted and to celebrate photography in all its forms.

After the ceremony, we took a wander through Central London, soaking in the lights and atmosphere, with a quick stop at Selfridges before catching the train back to Dorking. The journey back gave us time to reflect on the day and to catch up on messages from divers and dive groups reaching out with encouragement, invitations, and dive site suggestions. We have been blown away by how warmly The Great Scuba Drive has been received within the dive community.