PALOS VERDES, Calif. — For the last 17 years, Renee Grinnell Capozzola has gotten a rush when she gets her chance to go underwater and capture a glimpse of marine life firsthand.

"I get so excited when I know I'm going to spend the day in the ocean, and I am going to be able to see the different animals that are residing in that ecosystem and to be able to take photographs of those animals," Capozzola said.

She teaches high school biology during the school year, but she's been traveling the world, exploring our oceans and photographing sharks without fear in her free time. Over time, her passion for underwater photography showed her a change in the waters.

"I've seen coral bleaching in various areas of the world. I've seen animals that are now on the endangered species list that used to be more plentiful. I've seen a lot of non-sustainable fishing practices," Capozzola said.

That's why she's hoping her photographs will help others take a closer look at our oceans and marine life conservation. Capozzola's photography focuses on split-level photos that show life above and below water. Capozzola shared that her work led her to over 40 awards. 

This year, she received the prestigious title of Underwater Photographer of The Year 2021 award from an international competition for her photo titled "Sharks' Skylight." Capozzola is the first woman to win this award since the competition's creation dating back to 2015.

"It's my hope that this award and the exposure from this contest will help to grab people's attention to get them to care more about sharks and to protect our oceans," Capozzola said.

Until then, Capozzola will continue her work underwater in hopes of finding more shark-filled waters.

More of Capozzola's underwater photography can be found here.