Canadian explorer and Sea Hero Jill Heinerth is a cave and rebreather diving pioneer and member of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame. She’s explored uncharted icebergs and filmed breathtaking underwater worlds. A passionate advocate, she inspires ocean conservation through photography, film and exploration. Her new film, Diving Into the Darkness, explores her life and trials as an explorer. She recognizes that fear should be managed, not eliminated.

When you are afraid, how does it feel (physically) in your body?

Whenever something startles me, I immediately feel my pulse rise and respirations increase. My mind explodes into a cacophony, like a bunch of chattering monkeys all speaking at once. But fear isn't always presented in a startling way. Fear is also dread or discomfort and something that brings unease. In either case, I combat those feelings with a deep, cleansing breath, much like a freediver's breathe-up before descent. As I inhale, I tell myself to leave the emotions behind and can calm the nerves and prepare myself to move forward with pragmatic, small, organized steps that lead to success.

How do you assess which risks are worth taking?

I have to ask myself if taking a particular risk is worth it. I consider myself, my family and the larger community, while thinking "what would the newspaper article say about this?" if I had an accident. I don't like to take on a risky dive unless I feel it will bring back information that I can share with the world. I want the risks I take to gather and disseminate information about water issues and climate change.

Related Reading: Celebrating Womens Dive Day With Legend Sally Wahrmann

Want to hear more about Jill? Join us for our next PADI Club Speaker Series on October 8, 2024. Sign up for Club today to be part of the conversation.

How do you know when fear is OK or when it’s telling you something is really wrong?

When I stop being scared, I should hang up my fins. I want to dive with others that have a healthy fear too. When we feel a bit of fear it means that we care about the outcome of our choices. The important thing is to deal with those fears before descending.

How do you prepare for a dive that you know will test you?

In my dive prep, I work through all the scenarios that could go wrong. I rehearse the solutions mentally and then ask myself two questions, "Am I prepared for self-rescue today?" and "Am I prepared to execute a buddy rescue in this situation?" If the answers are yes and I have completed all my pre-dive checklists, then I feel confident to handle anything that comes my way.

What is your relationship like with death?

I am not afraid of dying. We are all heading in that direction! I am only fearful about not living a full and authentic life. We all have a limited time on this earth and I want to make it count.

Do you have a spiritual practice or belief in an afterlife?

I am the daughter of a United Church pastor, and yet, I don't subscribe to organized religion. That said, I feel the presence of a universal force that unites humanity. I think we all find meaningful spiritual connections in many different forms and expressions.

What advice would you give someone who wants to train their mind to conquer their fears?

One of the most empowering things someone can do is take a freediving course and learn to breathe effectively. Breathwork is life-changing and taps into powers that you did not know you had.

What is something you used to be afraid of that you aren’t anymore?

As a child, I was afraid of the dark! It makes me chuckle today since swimming in dark caves is my superpower!

What is a limiting belief you are still holding on to?

I don't really feel constrained in my life. As a younger woman, I listened to the voices of others that tried to hold me back. I learned that those opinions and voices were not about me, but more about the person who wrote them on social media or tried to hold me back. Perhaps that is the wisdom of aging. I feel like anything is made possible through dedication and integrity.

What’s one of the best pieces of advice you have been given?

Turn off the comments section. They are not for you.

Related Reading: The Importance of Women in Diving and Conservation

If you could speak with a younger version of yourself, what advice would you give her?

Know that everything is possible and that you can achieve anything you put your mind to. In terms of more concrete advice... Control your brand. Buy a web domain and continuously populate it with things that are important to you and your future self. Work on that brand so that others will land on your curated media when they search for you online in regard to a grant, job or other opportunity.

What legacy do you wish to leave?

I have always said that I want to be the woman I wish I had met when I was ten years old. I looked hard and didn't find many mentors when I sought an unconventional career in the underwater world. I recognize that just a few minutes of my time today can make a world of difference to a similar young person. I hope that when I leave this world, it will be as someone who has mentored many and can sit back and enjoy watching their success.

What words of wisdom/motto do you live by?

Love one another.