Side Mount Profiles

A Cave Diver and prolific author, Jill Heinerth has dived deeper into caves than any woman in history. With a collection of magnificent images, from inside Antarctic icebergs to the Floridan Aquifer and subterranean Siberia, Jill shares a glimpse of a breathtaking world few will experience. An award-winning filmmaker, Jill wrote, produced, and appeared in Water’s Journey, the PBS documentary series that takes viewers on travels through the world’s greatest water systems. Hollywood filmmakers, including Lakeshore Productions (The Cave) and James Cameron, have called on her to produce difficult underwater scenes, and international magazines and new media companies look to her to document extreme environments. Jill Heinerth has been a key member of scientific and exploration expeditions with The National Geographic Society, NOAA, Texas A&M University, Bahama Caves Research Foundation, The U.S. Deep Cave Diving Team, and many others. In January, 2012, Jill led a team of cave divers, scientists, journalists and Enduro motorbike riders across the desert to the Egypt-Libya border in search of the mysteries that lay beneath the fabled Oasis at Siwa. Her accolades include being named a ＂Living Legend＂ by Sport Diver Magazine, induction into the exclusive New York Explorer’s Club and the inaugural class of the Women Diver’s Hall of Fame, as well as scores of photography and filmmaking awards. Jill was recently given the Wyland ICON award. Artist, Wyland founded the award and presents it annually to acknowledge individuals who exemplify the adventurous spirit of the underwater world and inspire others to do the same. Jill is the 7th woman to receive the icon award and join such notables (and her heroes!) as Jacques Cousteau, Lloyd Bridges, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Dr. Eugenie Clark, Rachel Carson, Zale Parry and Robert Ballard. Jill is a cave diving, rebreather, side mount and technical diving instructor, as well as an expert consultant to the diving industry.