Wes Skiles
Role: cave diver, underwater cinematographer, explorer First appearance: 2010 ([1]) Affiliation: National Geographic; Karst Productions
Biography
Wes Skiles was a renowned explorer, cave diver, and underwater photographer and cinematographer. He produced, directed, and filmed over 100 television films, many of which won international awards and acclaim ([2]). He worked as a freelance photographer with extensive National Geographic assignments.
Skiles died on July 22, 2010, while diving off Boynton Beach, Florida. According to reports, he signaled to other divers that he was ascending but was later found at the bottom of the reef, motionless ([3]). At the time of his death, his photography and work was featured in that month’s National Geographic article on Bahamas Blue Holes, including a cover shot showing two divers exploring a beautifully-lit limestone cave ([4]).
Contributions
- Cave diving cinematography: Pioneered underwater cave filming and exploration, producing over 100 television films ([5]).
- Bahamas Blue Holes documentation: Explored and documented the Blue Holes of the Bahamas alongside environmental anthropologist Kenny Broad, work that was featured as a National Geographic cover story in August 2010 ([6]).
- Posthumous recognition: Named National Geographic “Explorer of the Year” (alongside Kenny Broad) at the “Evening of Exploration” event in June 2011, in recognition of their extraordinary achievements in exploring and documenting the Blue Holes of the Bahamas ([7]).
Timeline
- 2010-07: Featured in National Geographic cover story on Bahamas Blue Holes ([8])
- 2010-07-22: Died while diving off Boynton Beach, Florida ([9])
- 2011-06: Posthumously named National Geographic “Explorer of the Year” alongside Kenny Broad ([10])
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jul 23, 2010: Cave Diver And Underwater Cinematographer Wes Skiles Dies ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 24, 2011: Wes Skiles Named As National Geographic Explorer Of The Year ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 23, 2010: Cave Diver And Underwater Cinematographer Wes Skiles Dies ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 23, 2010: Cave Diver And Underwater Cinematographer Wes Skiles Dies ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 24, 2011: Wes Skiles Named As National Geographic Explorer Of The Year ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 23, 2010: Cave Diver And Underwater Cinematographer Wes Skiles Dies ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 24, 2011: Wes Skiles Named As National Geographic Explorer Of The Year ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 23, 2010: Cave Diver And Underwater Cinematographer Wes Skiles Dies ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 23, 2010: Cave Diver And Underwater Cinematographer Wes Skiles Dies ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 24, 2011: Wes Skiles Named As National Geographic Explorer Of The Year ↩
- Cave diver and underwater cinematographer Wes Skiles dies (article) ↩
- Wes Skiles named as National Geographic Explorer of the Year (article) ↩