For decades, Jill Heinerth has been exploring hard-to-reach cave systems deep underground in water and ice around the globe. She was the first person to attempt a three-hour dive inside an Antarctic iceberg.
Through her expeditions, films, and publications, she aims to raise awareness of a vital yet increasingly threatened resource: groundwater. She maps underground water systems to demonstrate the effects of climate change on sensitive cave ecosystems.
Additionally, she promotes women in diving and incorporates the knowledge of indigenous communities into her projects.
We only protect what we know.
Jill Heinerth
"We only protect what we know." Guided by this belief, Jill Heinerth has spent over 30 years exploring the fascinating and often hidden underwater worlds of our planet. As a leading figure in modern cave exploration, she has undertaken groundbreaking expeditions to places no one has ever seen before, from North America's underground groundwater streams to Mexico's deepest cenotes.
Heinerth is a passionate diver, dedicated scientist, filmmaker, and author. In 2001, she embarked on the first dive into the underground cave systems of an Antarctic iceberg—an extremely demanding mission that posed enormous scientific and physical challenges.
She combines research, environmental awareness, and public outreach in her work, leading international projects to map underground water systems and document the effects of climate change on sensitive cave ecosystems.
Photo: © Jill Heinerth
Jill Heinerth wants to use the prize money to explore the Ottawa River caves and to inspire the next generation with a workbook for young underwater explorers, also available online for free.
Social Media channels
