I prefer the color version. You really made the colors pot, and I can still see the sunburst. It is the colors that make me prefer it. The mono-chrome one is a good picture, but I think the colors look and bring more drama to the picture. The colorization on the sand really makes the whole picture pop for me.
Thanks for your feedback fromthe responses it seems about 50/50 which one people prefer and its is interesting to read peoples thoughts :)