These deep sea photos show why we need to save Cocos Island

Cocos Island receives 25 feet of rainfall a year, which accounts for its lush landscape.

Boobies and other sea birds feed from its offshore waters.

Once abundant, Ridley sea turtles were harder to find during our Cocos expedition. An increase in tiger sharks, which are not a targeted commercial species, may be affecting the population.

This raft of plastics was photographed less than a mile from Cocos Island.

Shari Sant Plummer, Code Blue president and Mission Blue board director, finds a fish stuck in a plastic pipe.

Illegal fishing rafts lure fish outside of Cocos Island National Park.

Dr. Sylvia Earle and Dr. Jorge Cortés Núñez prepare for a deep dive in the DeepSee submersible, piloted by Avi Klapfer. The DeepSee is a custom-built one-atmosphere submarine, capable of traveling to depths of 1,500 feet.

Earle before her 1,000-foot dive.

The DeepSea submarine begins its dive.

Earle has spent more than 5,000 hours exploring the ocean.

Warm ocean currents and fishing pressure from longliners have led to decreased scalloped Hammerhead sharks.

Julie Andersen, founder and Executive Director of Shark Angels, explores Alcyon Reef.

Two Bottlenose dolphins in the waters off Cocos Island.

Free diver champion Hanli Prinsloo and Fusion's Nicolas Ibarguen after a freediving training class.

Prinsloo and World Championship swimmer Peter Marshall.

Pacific Creole fish at the Dirty Rock dive site.

A feeding frenzy of Silky sharks, Galapagos sharks, Blacktip reef sharks, Bottlenose dolphins, and Yellowfin tuna drive smaller fish into a bait ball.

Stephanie Hubbard, Ocean Ramsey, Earle, Prinsloo, and Julie Andersen.