Oceans cover most of our planet, yet we know so little about what lies beneath the surface. Most of us only catch glimpses of their depths through documentaries or the occasional aquarium visit. But for Rachel Moore, an American photographer who’s been sailing the world since 2016, the ocean is both a canvas and a cause. Her award-winning underwater photographs contain a deeper message about conservation in addition to capturing the beauty of marine life.
Related: 14 Award-Winning Photos of Marine Life and Sea Exploration
Rachel’s journey hasn’t been without heartbreak; she once photographed a whale named "Sweet Girl," only to learn the next day that it had been struck by a ship. Her work is both a celebration of ocean life and a call to action for its preservation. These 15 images, selected from Rachel’s gallery, remind us of the importance of protecting the ocean’s incredible biodiversity.
