Prism 2 Rebreather Preparation Class

Jill Heinerth

A pioneering underwater explorer and filmmaker, Jill Heinerth has dived deeper into caves than any woman in history. With a collection of magnificent images, from Antarctic iceberg caves to the Floridan Aquifer and subterranean Siberia, Jill shares a glimpse of a breathtaking world few will experience. Recognized as a leading technical diver, she is one of the world’s experts on rebreather technology. An engaging speaker, Jill’s multimedia presentations stir audiences with life’s lessons learned during expeditions above, below and inside the earth. 

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’s accolades include being named Scuba Diving Magazine’s “Sea Hero of the Year,” 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. Jill recently received the Wyland ICON Award, a recognition she shares with several of her childhood heroes including Dr. Robert Ballard, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Rachel Carson and the legendary Captain Jacques Cousteau. 

Dozens of stories lauding Jill’s accomplishments, have appeared in National Geographic Magazine, the New York Post, London Telegraph, Wired Magazine, Sport’s Illustrated Women, prominent international diving magazines and a 21-page photo feature in Deep, China’s most prestigious outdoor adventure publication.

Jill is an industry expert in the use of closed-circuit rebreathers.  She is frequently called upon by manufacturers and international training agencies to assist in the development of new technologies and training materials. Her RebreatherPro.com blog attracts a large and loyal audience. 


Jill Heinerth is in demand as a professional keynote speaker, workshop leader and facilitator at international conferences and corporate gatherings. She is a thought leader and risk assessment expert in the field of exploration and extreme expeditions. 


Jill is a regular contributor and video expert for DIVER magazine and her photography and writing have been featured in prominent magazines and major newspapers around the world. She is the author of three books on cave diving and underwater photography.


Born in Canada, Jill lives with her husband Robert, in North Florida, where she starts most days with a refreshing swim in the clear water of her local spring.