JILL HEINERTH – A pioneering underwater explorer, Jill Heinerth has dived deeper into caves than any woman in history. Selected for the inaugural class of the Women Divers Hall of Fame, her recent awards include the Wyland Icon and Scuba Diving Magazine’s Sea Hero of the Year. Recognizing a lifetime of contributions to advancing underwater exploration, in 2013, Jill was presented with the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration by the Royal Canadian Geographic Society. The author of several books about diving Jill currently has two titles on Amazon.com’s extreme sports “Top 100” bestseller charts. She is an active filmmaker, author, a regular Diver Magazine columnist and a highly regarded technical diving instructor. Her company, Heinerth Productions, Inc. specializes in independent publishing, new media content creation, and underwater videography. Jill Heinerth’s professional credentials includes PADI CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer in addition to teaching for several rebreather and cave diving agencies.
RENEE POWER – Since 1994 Renee Power has participated in dozens of underwater research projects and public education outreach efforts with the Cambrian Foundation. With the Foundation dive team, she has explored and surveyed thousands of feet of new passages in Mexico and Florida caves. Renee is an active NSS-CDS Basic Cave Instructor as well as a PADI Master Instructor. She served as Expedition Dive Safety Officer for projects in Bermuda and Florida, designing detailed safety and evacuation protocols specific to those regions. Renee is an active PADI Master Instructor. Her technical training certifications include Full Cave, Trimix and the Prism Topaz Closed Circuit Rebreather. Renee is a Disabled Diver International Instructor and has served in the Deptherapy Program with wounded military veterans. Her favorite students are the ones she helps empower to overcome their greatest challenges, obstacles and fears.
Jill Heinerth was invited by Chantelle Taylor Newman to join the team of Diver Medic and Aquatic Safety Magazine as a Technical Advisor and contributor. Read their current issue. Cover: Diver Ron Carmichael at Blue Grotto Spring. Photo: Jill Heinerth
Jill Heinerth has just released a new book. The Kindle book is available on Amazon and is free for members of Kindle Unlimited. Amazon Prime members can borrow the book through the Lending Library. All other interested readers can purchase the eBook for a very reasonable $9.99. Underwater Video for Scuba Divers is a comprehensive guide to shooting underwater video for anyone form GoPro users to budding professionals. Topics cover such diverse areas as composition to underwater lighting and file formats to memory cards.
In July, Jill Heinerth was invited to England by Suunto UK to participate as the 2015 Visiting Luminary for TEKCamp at Vobster Quay. The week long event brought together aspiring technical divers from across the country to learn from mentors in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. The instructional team included pioneering divers, explorers and instructors who worked with individuals to help them improve their skills and focus on future plans.
Jill Heinerth recently returned from the UK after making a series of talks that included spreading a water literacy message through her We Are Water Project. Heinerth spoke at numerous diving clubs and venues and also a group at Portsmouth IBM called Connecting Women. Jill’s trip was sponsored by Suunto UK who have been incredibly supportive of the We Are Water Project. Shown here: The Suunto UK Team and supporters from the inland dive site Wraysbury Dive Center.
On July 14, 1935 Penelope Powell and Graham Balcombe made what is considered to be the first cave dive. It was conducted at Wookey Hole in England. This historic site is still open to the small membership of divers belonging to the Cave Divers Group (CDG). On the day following the anniversary Jill Heinerth was invited to dive by members Duncan Price, Gavin Newman and Claire Cohen. Swimming from the cave resurgence through to Sump 22 fulfilled a dream for Heinerth who has had her sight focussed on visiting the historic site for more than 20 years. Wookey Hole is…
On July 7, 2015 Jill Heinerth had the opportunity to assist in the documentation of the recovery and delivery to provincial conservators of the sextant from the WWII shipwreck SS Rose Castle. The Rose Castle was sunk on November 2nd, 1942 by a German U-Boat that was attempting to disrupt the supply of high grade iron ore coming from Bell Island, Newfoundland, Canada. The event also marks the only time a torpedo struck land in what is now Canadian soil. 28 crew were lost, but many were saved by citizens of the island. The sextant was discovered by diver Luc Michel…
Shirley Kasser wrote and excellent blog post on the realities of pee valves for women. Read here.
This post is provided by Gretchen M. Ashton, CFT, SFT, SFN, NBFE, Founder ScubaFit, LLC Co-author ScubaFit© Diver Course – also approved as the PADI ScubaFit© Diver Distinctive Specialty Hi Jill and Renee, I enjoyed reading your book Women Underwater; particularly the section on fitness for diving, and more specifically fitness for women divers. Often this discussion includes gender differences such as size, body shape and the unique health and medical concerns of women. I also think women are more interested in being comfortable than men which leads some women to seek out solutions and others to simply choose not to participate. Although generations of…
Chester the manatee is making his debut! I approved the final proof this morning and placed an order for the first shipment of books. I am really excited to offer up a beautifully illustrated children’s book that will help instill and environmental ethic at an early age. Sometimes I am not sure if it is too late to change the core values and daily practices of adults, but I know I can help kids to love their water resources and want to protect them. I’ll make a post as soon as the books are available of sale. All proceeds continue…
We’re very close to releasing a children’s book that will help teach lessons about water conservation. Beyond that message, it helps build self esteem in kids to teach them that anything is possible and that their own unique qualities will help save the world! We want every young person to feel empowered to take on great things. The book is a part of the mission of We Are Water and we hope to publish it in numerous languages for a wide audience.
Women Underwater – The Comprehensive Guide to Women in Scuba Diving, reaches out to women with specific information about their place in diving. With detailed guidance on equipment, medical issues and social factors, this book reaches women with inspiring stories from mentors who have forged a career in unique underwater fields. Authors Jill Heinerth and Renee Power tackle topics for both recreational and technical divers while featuring their vast experience in instruction, consulting and working in a field predominantly governed by men. At times humorous yet also deadly serious, the book answers delicate questions about hygiene, equipment fit and dealing with sexism. Printed in full color and generously illustrated, Women Underwater will be a welcome resource for any woman diver.