Drawn to the Deep: The Remarkable Underwater Explorations of Wes Skiles

by Julie Hauserman

National Outdoor Book Award, History/Biography Category Dan's Cave looks like the entrance to the underworld. Two divers swim along a luminous blue-green passage, flashlights cutting through the water, a dark mass of stalactites suspended overhead. This is the breathtaking National Geographic cover photo taken by Wes Skiles (1958–2010), a top nature photographer who died in a diving accident before the issue was published. Drawn to the Deep celebrates the life of an extraordinary adventurer who braved extreme danger to share the hidden beauty and environmental truths of the planet with others. Skiles felt a pull to the water as a child, captivated by the cobalt springs of Florida. His passion for diving and his innovative camera techniques earned him assignments with National Geographic and Outside . He also took part in creating over a hundred films, many of which won international awards and acclaim. Skiles was a self-taught expert on Florida's freshwater springs and an outspoken advocate for their conservation. He went head to head with scientists and government officials who dismissed his firsthand observations of water movement through the "Swiss-cheese" karst rock of the underground aquifer. But he never gave up on his quest to disprove the prevailing scientific models or to protest what they allowed―the unchecked pumping and depletion of Florida's groundwater. Through interviews with Skiles's friends and family, along with insights from his own journals, Julie Hauserman describes the escapades and achievements that characterized his life's work. This book is the inspiring story of an explorer and activist who uncovered environmental abuses, advanced the field of underwater photography, and astonished the world with unprecedented views of the secret depths of the planet.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Science, Biography

256 pages, Hardcover

Published September 4, 2018

Reviews

[Craig Pittman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been friends with the author of this book, Julie Hauserman, for about 20 years, so I cannot say I am unbiased. We talk and laugh together and get along great. What I can say is that until I read this book, I had forgotten what a terrific writer Julie is.

There's nary a wasted word in this book, and she excels at describing the many death-defying explorations that the daredevil diver and environmental activist Wes Skiles undertook during his too-short lifetime. Whether he's cave-diving in Florida or exposing the secrets of a massive glacier in Antarctica, Wes definitely lived an action-packed life and Julie does a perfect job of describing how he became that real-life version of Indiana Jones, adventurer-for-hire.

Although Wes has been dead for a decade now, she skillfully brings him to life in these pages through his own journal entries and the testimony of friends and family members. She does not shy away from the problems he had (an addiction to pain pills and, clearly, to adrenaline) or the frustrations he expressed in dealing with politicians and polluters. I like the structure of the book, too, and how she starts it off with the best scene in his best film, "Water's Journey," a movie that is still astonishing and educating Florida residents today. If you haven't seen it yet, go look it up on YouTube and watch it. And then read this book.

[Sandra Poucher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was of personal interest, my knowing many of the people mentioned and, of course, knowing Wes (albeit from a reverent distance). Wes was truly one of the finest of personalities. Larger than life but able to communicate with anyone. As described in this book, he was fun, driven, talented, a family man who love his friends, nature, diving, and relating all of these loves to the world at large via media production. He loved Florida with all of his heart.
I was a bit disappointed by the Introduction, another attempt to explain cave divers as those adrenalin-fueled adventure-addicts. The cave divers I've known and dove with are drive largely by curiosity-fueled addiction. Describing cavers and cave divers in general as adrenaline junkies dismisses their very real interest in exploration and their contributions to the field of karst geography and hydrogeography. I do appreciate the author's very real love of Florida, and her concern about the state of our state's water resources. I sincerely hope, for the shimmering waters of this land and this planet, Wes' life and work wasn't in vain.
Wes, I miss you and will gladly blow the conch shell for your memory. No book could possibly cover all of your exploits and adventures. But this one is a good start!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells of the many adventures of Wes Skiles, a cave diver and environmentalist. Although he traveled to all parts of the world to explore caves, many of his dives were in Florida where he worked to make citizens and politicians aware of Florida's fragile water system. The book is inspirational, educational and very exciting. A great read!!!

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very easy read about the life of Wes Skiles and all his adventures. It was very interesting to follow his cave diving adventures - and his photographic pursuits for National Geographic - and his passion to save our water from destruction. Did not feel like a non fiction book at all. Truly enjoyed every minute of reading it.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous book! Loved it from start to finish!