A magazine from New Zealand reached out to ask some personal questions about what makes me tick. I offered these answers to give readers a look into my world.
With lifetime friend Jackie Windh.
Q: Jill, tell me a bit about yourself, where did you grow up, school, family life etc?
I grew up near Toronto, Canada in a small town called Cooksville. That village of apple orchards and farms quickly grew into the town, then city of Mississauga. My Dad worked really hard to allow my Mom to stay home and raise the kids. As the youngest of three, I had a lot of freedom. My parents were relaxed and encouraged exploration and imagination. I could roam the local woods and neighbourhoods as long as I was home by dark. I was a high achiever in school and as long as I kept my grades up, I was permitted to participate in a lot of sports and other activities. The Girl Guides of Canada helped build my foundation in the outdoor world and encouraged an environmental ethic that I still hold today.
Q: What did you study in school?
Few people know that I studied Fine Arts at York University. My specialty was in Visual Communication and Design. I tell people that I have an advanced degree in curiosity.
At a trade show, fellow tech diving women and I organized a conservation benefit. It was so rare to see us in a dress, people paid $50 for tickets.
Q: You are the world’s top female underwater explorer and have described your ideal day is to spend it below sea level, tells us what it’s like to enter the world of the unknown.
I feel very privileged to explore the underwater world, especially caves. I think my work swimming through the veins of Mother Earth gives me a unique viewpoint, one that can help people understand their connection with the planet’s lifeblood.
The dark doorways of underwater caves scare most people, but I am attracted to the constricted corridors, squeezing through, relying on delicate technology for every sustaining breath. As a filmmaker and photographer, underwater caves represent the ultimate challenge: I create fine art while monitoring fragile life support equipment at task loads that take my mind and body to the limit.
Despite the risk, I’m like a kid in a candy store, working with biologists discovering new species, physicists tracking climate change, and hydrogeologists examining our finite freshwater reserves. Probing the underground pathways of the planet, I’ve discovered grisly sources of pollution, the roots of life inside Antarctic icebergs, and ancient skeletal remains of Maya civilizations sacrificed in the cenotes of the Yucatan peninsula. It is a privilege to uncover these hidden shrines, and with my camera, share concealed mysteries, deep inside our planet.
Q: The underwater world is breathtaking. Have you had a moment when you have thought crap this is not going well, will I see the surface?
I’ve had a few close calls over the years, but fortunately, a combination of good training, careful risk assessment and redundant equipment brought me home. I think the most important message to relay is to encourage people to work on their problem management skills. If you have a really bad day, learning to control your emotions and breathing can be critical. You can’t allow your emotions to take over your practical mind. You have to be capable of taking the next best step towards survival and work towards that carefully and methodically.
With my husband Robert McClellan.
Q: Tell me about We are Water and how it relates to riding across Canada?
My husband Robert McClellan and I made a documentary about water literacy that helps people learn about where their water comes from and how they can protect it for future generations. We’ve discovered that we can make a really big impact on people when we meet and talk about the film peer to peer. When people watch our movie it has an impact, but when we speak to people face to face we build a movement. We decided to ride over 7000 km across Canada on our bicycles to tour the movie. That might seem a little crazy for a woman of 48, but it gets a bit of attention and allows us an opportunity to present the movie in ways we could never have imagined. From conversations in diners to presentations in front of big crowds, we’re meeting our tribe and helping others to carry the message of how we are connected to our water resources.
Q: What are your most memorable moments from the journey?
Getting over the Rocky Mountains was really significant for me. We actually crossed three mountain ranges – the Coastal, Selkirk Range and Rocky Mountains. I was not really sure we could do it. Seeing the hills behind me gave me a boost of confidence and the knowledge that our goal was achievable.
The other most memorable moment was when Robert crashed his bike. I watched it all in slow motion as he hit a gap in a railway crossing on a rainy, slick road and went down. I knew crashing was inevitable on a long journey, but I am thankful he was not injured too badly. Road rash, bruises and ripped rainwear eventually healed.
Robert and I doing what we love.
Q: What is your highest personal achievement?
I have had some incredible opportunities in life. I have been the first person to explore inside caves in Antarctic icebergs, gone further into deep underwater caves than any other woman and endured great physical hardships on expeditions around the world, but I look at our bike ride across Canada as one of the most challenging things I have ever done.
Q: You and your husband Robert have a very busy life, what do you do to unwind and have some personal time?
Robert and I love to hike, cycle and paddle. We love anything to do with the outdoor world. We also enjoy wandering aimlessly in new cities and towns, finding remote cafes and meeting local people. We live right on a river with the Trans Canada Trail weaving through our front yard. The recreational opportunities at home are endless.
Q: What is your favourite?
Food – Sushi
Music – Cat Stevens, Tragically Hip
Song: Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms or The Hip, Bobcaygeon
Item of Clothing – A cozy down shirt
Skin care product – Ultimate Aloe cream
In Florida with my cat Swimmer.
Animal – My cat Swimmer (he has passed on, but he really did like swimming). Okay that is worth expanding on. Swimmer came to me on a morning swim. I was doing laps at a spring called Little Devil. I heard a whimpering cry on the shore and when I looked up, a tiny kitten leapt from a stump into the cool water and swam toward me. He crawled up on my shoulder and tucked his shivering body against my neck. Looking around the park, I could find no Mother and assumed he had been dumped. I took him home on my bicycle and he stayed close by for a good long life. He never became an indoor cat, preferring to sleep in a tree that overlooked my bedroom window. He walked with me in the woods and made friends with our chickens. For a feral, outdoor kitty, he was incredibly friendly.
Q: Who is the person that most inspires you?
Canadian Scientist and Educator David Suzuki is a true inspiration. He is a poet-scientist who communicates and inspires so many people. My sister had him sign a book for me. The inscription reads, “Jill, let’s save the world together.” I treasure that!
Q: Would you like to thank anyone, family, friends, sponsors…
My husband is the first person I need to thank for his patience and support. It can’t be easy to be married to an expeditioner. He is often home waiting for news and yet he is always supporting me with a smile. My family is also a great support, instilling a love of the outdoors and encouraging me to reach for the stars. Finally, I have to thank the many manufacturers that help me continue my craft. Suunto, Hollis, Santi, Light and Motion, Fourth Element, Aquatica, Kuhl and so many others assist me with equipment and support that enables my expeditionary work. I am always grateful for their help. The diving community has also been a tremendous help in the We Are Water Project. I feel like we are creating a band of missionaries around the world that are carrying this important message. They elevate the project and help make positive change in the global community.
If you want to learn more about my past and present adventures, I am releasing my cave diving memoir. Blending adventure and science, Into the Planet is a riveting account of one of the most dangerous yet exhilarating pursuits in the world. With gripping storytelling, and radiating with intimacy, my book will transport you deep into the most exquisite, untouched corners of the earth, where fear must be reconciled and the innermost parts of the human condition are revealed. Order it now at www.IntoThePlanet.com. It will be available in bookstores everywhere on August 27, 2019.
