Best of Q: Cave diver on what draws her to dangerous depths
Underwater explorer Jill Heinerth on why she dives despite its dangers, and how she manages her own fear.
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Q15:13Cave diver on what draws her to dangerous depths
Jill Heinerth has gone farther into deep underwater caves than any woman in history. The diver has explored icebergs in Antarctica, the deep caves of Bermuda, and the oases of North Africa.
And, as if breaking records in "the world's most dangerous sport" wasn't enough, the Toronto-raised adventurer is also an award-winning filmmaker and producer for acclaimed PBS and Discovery channel documentaries.
In a conversation from the Best of Q, Heinerth joined Jian from Ottawa the morning after winning the inaugural Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration. She explains why she continues to dive despite the deaths of friends, how she manages her own fear and, despite both, why she feels more comfortable in water than on land. "When I swim through caves it's like swimming through the veins of mother earth," she told Jian.
Jill Heinerth was kind enough to share several images of her adventures with us. Here are some striking images of her journeys through "the veins of mother earth".
Photographer Nick Caloyianis captures Jill Heinerth exploring an artificial reef growing on what remains of a submerged oil rig structure. She is using a rebreather, which like a space suit, captures the diver's exhaled breath and recycles it to extend the range of divers and allowing them to interact with marine life without creating bubbles.
Sliding through a restriction in a submerged cave. Sometimes spaces are small and at other times, underwater caves can be the size of aircraft hangers.
Jill uses a Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) on a project that took her deeper into caves than any woman in history. The dive profile on this mission took her to depths of 300 feet for over five hours which then required a lengthy decompression. The total mission time: 22 hours.
Jill relaxes in the tranquil waters of Ginnie Springs. Perhaps the epicenter of cave diving education, the north Florida springs attract divers form all over the world.
