Wesley C. Skiles
Encyclopedia
Wesley C. Skiles was an American cave diving
pioneer, explorer, and underwater cinematographer
. Skiles lived in High Springs, Florida
.
and grew up there. He attended Englewood High School
where he graduated in 1976. He died on July 21, 2010 while diving near West Palm Beach, Florida.
Skiles started diving when he was eight years old and recalled that he took to water "quite like a fish." A classmate recalled the incident that sparked Skiles' interest in scuba diving
and caves. During the 1973-74 school year, the Fossil Club took a field trip to Ginnie Springs. Skiles watched several divers emerge from the spring's caves, and excitedly asked them questions about their hobby. On the ride back to Jacksonville, he kept saying, "That is what I want to do."
Skiles conducted film projects for many groups such as National Geographic. The National Geographic Antarctica expedition allowed him to be the first human to set foot on the Iceberg B-15
. His expedition to record deepwater sharks had him diving to a depth of 700 FSW for 11 hours in a "Newtsuit
".
Skiles created, directed, and was the cinematographer of the PBS
series, “Water's Journey
”. The project was an effort by Skiles to increase public awareness of their groundwater and the hydrogeological cycle
.
In addition to still photography, Skiles' work includes more than one hundred films for television that he filmed, directed, and produced.
In 2004, Skiles was awarded the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
Suncoast
Regional Emmy Award
for his work on the "Water's Journey" series.
In 2009, he received the annual HDFEST Deffie Awards for best HD documentary and best cinematography for the "Water's Journey" series. The awards are given for "accomplishments in High-Definition
Indie
Filmmaking".
In 2011, Skiles was posthumously awarded National Geographic's "Explorer of the Year" award, jointly with his longtime colleague and friend, Kenny Broad.
, on July 21, 2010. He signaled to the other divers that he was ascending because he was out of film (although not technically shooting "film" in this digital age). His body was found on the reef shortly after that. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was subsequently pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Skiles is survived by his wife Terri, and their two children Nathan and Tessa Skiles.
James Cameron
's film Sanctum
is dedicated to Skiles.
On November 16, 2010, The Florida State Parks division of The Florida DEP renamed Peacock Springs Park in Skiles honor.
Cave diving
Cave diving is a type of technical diving in which specialized equipment is used to enable the exploration of caves which are at least partially filled with water. In the United Kingdom it is an extension of the more common sport of caving, and in the United States an extension of the more common...
pioneer, explorer, and underwater cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
. Skiles lived in High Springs, Florida
High Springs, Florida
High Springs is a city in Alachua County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,863 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,139 .-Geography:High Springs is located at ....
.
Background
Skiles was born on March 6, 1958, in Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and grew up there. He attended Englewood High School
Englewood High School (Jacksonville, Florida)
Englewood High School is a public high school located on Jacksonville, Florida's southside.Rich in tradition and pride, Englewood High School was constructed in 1956 and exemplifies the concept of a "neighborhood school." Located on on the Southside of Jacksonville, Florida, this school is one of...
where he graduated in 1976. He died on July 21, 2010 while diving near West Palm Beach, Florida.
Skiles started diving when he was eight years old and recalled that he took to water "quite like a fish." A classmate recalled the incident that sparked Skiles' interest in scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
and caves. During the 1973-74 school year, the Fossil Club took a field trip to Ginnie Springs. Skiles watched several divers emerge from the spring's caves, and excitedly asked them questions about their hobby. On the ride back to Jacksonville, he kept saying, "That is what I want to do."
Career
In 1985, Skiles founded Karst Productions and continued his underwater film career. Skiles was a proponent of cave divers using their skills to assist with scientific diving projects.Skiles conducted film projects for many groups such as National Geographic. The National Geographic Antarctica expedition allowed him to be the first human to set foot on the Iceberg B-15
Iceberg B-15
Iceberg B-15 is one of the world's largest recorded icebergs. It measured around 295 km long and 37 km wide , with a surface area of 11,000 km² larger than the island of Jamaica. The mass was estimated around three billion tonnes...
. His expedition to record deepwater sharks had him diving to a depth of 700 FSW for 11 hours in a "Newtsuit
Atmospheric diving suit
An atmospheric diving suit or ADS is a small one-man articulated submersible of anthropomorphic form which resembles a suit of armour, with elaborate pressure joints to allow articulation while maintaining an internal pressure of one atmosphere...
".
Skiles created, directed, and was the cinematographer of the PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
series, “Water's Journey
Water's Journey: The Hidden Rivers of Florida
Water's Journey: The Hidden Rivers of Florida is a documentary film that tracks the path of water through the Floridan aquifer, where a team reveals the journey of water above and within the earth. Viewers are transported through a world that reveals how their lives are intertwined with the water...
”. The project was an effort by Skiles to increase public awareness of their groundwater and the hydrogeological cycle
Hydrogeology
Hydrogeology is the area of geology that deals with the distribution and movement of groundwater in the soil and rocks of the Earth's crust, . The term geohydrology is often used interchangeably...
.
In addition to still photography, Skiles' work includes more than one hundred films for television that he filmed, directed, and produced.
Awards
Beneath The Sea recognized Skiles as their "Diver of the Year" for education in 1996.In 2004, Skiles was awarded the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences or NATAS was created in 1955 to advance the arts and sciences of television. Headquartered in New York, NATAS's membership is national and the organization has local chapters around the country....
Suncoast
Suncoast Chapter
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences , which gives presents the coveted Emmy among sectors of the television industry in several award ceremonies...
Regional Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for his work on the "Water's Journey" series.
In 2009, he received the annual HDFEST Deffie Awards for best HD documentary and best cinematography for the "Water's Journey" series. The awards are given for "accomplishments in High-Definition
High-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
Indie
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
Filmmaking".
In 2011, Skiles was posthumously awarded National Geographic's "Explorer of the Year" award, jointly with his longtime colleague and friend, Kenny Broad.
Death
Skiles died while on a dive off Boynton Beach, FloridaBoynton Beach, Florida
Boynton Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 60,389 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the city had a population of 66,714 according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research...
, on July 21, 2010. He signaled to the other divers that he was ascending because he was out of film (although not technically shooting "film" in this digital age). His body was found on the reef shortly after that. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was subsequently pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Skiles is survived by his wife Terri, and their two children Nathan and Tessa Skiles.
James Cameron
James Cameron
James Francis Cameron is a Canadian-American film director, film producer, screenwriter, editor, environmentalist and inventor...
's film Sanctum
Sanctum (film)
Sanctum is a 2011 Australian 3D adventure drama film directed by Alister Grierson from a screenplay by John Garvin and Andrew Wight, and story by Wight...
is dedicated to Skiles.
On November 16, 2010, The Florida State Parks division of The Florida DEP renamed Peacock Springs Park in Skiles honor.