Deep impact: the underwater photographers bringing the ocean’s silent struggle to life

Kerim Sabuncuolu - just one winner in this year's Ocean photography awards - tells the story behind his picture of a moray eel that also shows the wider perils of ghost fishing'

In July, off the Turkish port city of Bodrum, Kerim Sabuncuolu stepped from the edge of a boat into the azure Aegean Sea and began to descend. A scuba diver with more than 30 years' experience, he took up underwater photography in 2002 and has since devoted considerable amounts of time and money to his out-of-control hobby" - capturing the wonders of the ocean on camera so that the less fortunate people above" can also marvel at them.

Related: Ocean Photographer of the Year 2021 winners - in pictures