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NOVA/PBS Extreme Cave Diving expanded previews and websites are up!

PBS has created some terrific web sites with video and heaps of behind-the-scenes information about the upcoming NOVA special Extreme Cave Diving, to air on February 9th at 8pm Eastern time. Check it out here.

Nova: Extreme Cave Diving premieres on PBS February 9th at 8pm Eastern Time

Join Jill Heinerth, Wes Skiles, Kenny Broad and Brian Kakuk as they explore Bahamas Blue Holes.

Documentary Expedition Reality

These are the realities of documentary filmmaking. Most of the day is actually spent humping gear through the bush and sweating. It is a relief to get wet and cool off. Here James Barrat (Director) and Gordy Waterman (camerman, son of Stan Waterman) and Dave Strayer (Audio Recordist) film Brian Kakuk at Sawmill Sink. There is a lot of exciting science happening here, but we have to break down each action into filmable parts to put it all back together for the final film which will be released on NOVA next summer. The National Geographic article will come out at the same time.

From Abaco - Jill Heinerth

National Geographic Expedition Diving Science

All is well on the Bahama Blue Hole shoot for National Geographic. The science keeps rolling in. Some of the conditions are very challenging with high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and low or no visibility. We're using Megalodon rebreathers for collections of stygiobitic life and sampling of bio-mats. Now that we have arrived in Andros, we will be recovering some human Lucayan bones from Sanctuary and Stargate caves. Brian Kakuk, Kenny Broad and I will also search for and recover a deep speleothem from Stargate in order to date previous sea level stands. One brought out of Dan's cave has been dated up to 350,000 years old. The climate data within this sample can show what topside conditions were like in almost year by year accuracy. These samples have already revealed that several massive warming events in the past occurred extremely rapidly. Its a thrill being a part of such fascinating science, but I can't do it justice. Stay tuned next summer for National Geographic Magazine and NOVA Television.  Jill Heinerth  Pic: Dr. Tom Iliffe with cave biology sample (JH)