THE AUTHORS

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.

Are You Afraid of Dying?

By | All Posts, Cave Diving, Into The Planet Book, Women Underwater | No Comments

My parents are going to cringe when they read my book. They will have to put it down and take a deep breath. When my Mother first learned about the risks that were involved in my career of exploring and filming underwater caves, the color drained from her face. It terrifies her to imagine me squeezing through tiny spaces in submerged caves deep with the planet. One day she asked me, “are you afraid of dying?” I get that question all the time. Why would anyone want to lead a life with so many perceived risks? But, I genuinely believe…

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13 Tips that Make Cold Water Diving More Enjoyable

By | All Posts, Arctic, Cave Diving, Rebreather Diving, Sidemount Diving, Underwater Photo and Video, We Are Water, Women Underwater | No Comments

Making documentary films while immersed in the hostile, yet stunning waters of the Canadian Arctic, I need great technology to keep me warm and safe. The travel, dives, and image making all create their own set of unique challenges, and once you are in the north, there is no way to call up a dive shop for something you may have forgotten. I’ve spent many months in the polar region, most recently helping to create a film about climate change. Camping on the sea ice and then on a remote island outpost, I swam with polar bears, hovered below fighting…

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Les Escoumins – A Vibrant Underwater Garden

By | All Posts, Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Underwater Canada, Underwater Photo and Video, Women Underwater | No Comments

It’s a long journey from Ontario to the little dive shack on Highway 138, just north of the confluence of the Saguenay and Saint Lawrence rivers. Eight hours of roadway are more beautiful with every turn that I make in my trusty Subaru Outback. The multi-lane highway surrenders to winding a coastal road along the St. Lawrence River’s north shore and pauses briefly at a ferry crossing at Baie St. Catherine. The trees are showing a rusty hint of fall as the stiff breeze ushers in a cold, foggy wind. I cross over the bay in building white caps and…

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Playful Sea Lions

By | All Posts, Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Underwater Canada, Women Underwater | No Comments

British Columbia is one of the most remarkable diving destinations in the world. Bountiful marine life and healthy coastal environments lure divers to visit the emerald colored nutrient-rich waters. One of my favorite spots to visit is a small rocky islet 500 m off the southwest end of Hornby Island. It is a playground for Stellar and California sea lions. Between November and April each year, the sea lions gather in this spot to await the annual herring spawn. Around mid to late February, the visibility is obliterated from the spawn, but the sea lions are happy to feed voraciously…

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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.

Women Underwater available now!