Jill Heinerth

Jill Heinerth is one of the world’s premier underwater explorers, and the first person to dive inside iceberg caves. An acclaimed polar explorer, cave diver, author, speaker, filmmaker, and climate advocate, Jill is the first Explorer-in-Residence of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Her memoir, Into the Planet – My Life as a Cave Diver, has been praised by the Wall Street Journal, Oprah Magazine, and the New York Times. Her children’s graphic novel The Aquanaut is a Blue Ribbon Selection for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Jill is a Fellow of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, Underwater Academy of Arts and Sciences, Women Divers Hall of Fame and the Explorers Club, which awarded her with the William Beebe Award for ocean exploration.

“I want to be regarded as an accomplished explorer rather than as an accomplished female explorer. I want to encourage people of all identities to fulfill their dreams despite imposed gender barriers. I want other women to know that difficult endeavors are possible, and success is worth celebrating.”