Renowned underwater photographer and cave diver/explorer Wes Skiles died on Wednesday July 21, 2010 while diving off the West Palm Beach area of SE Florida, he was 52.

He had recently completed a project with National Geographic filming in the Blue Holes in the Bahamas. See Attached Link

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/08/bahamas-caves/skiles-photography

Skiles was very well known around North Central Florida for his work in mapping and photographing the many underwater caves in and around Gainesville, FL.

His incredible photography will be missed but will live on forever.

How sad.
I just read the article in National Geographic.
A brave and talented man.
May he rest in peace.
Tony

Hey Tony,

I have always been fascinated with the blue holes in the Bahamas and was looking forward to seeing that issue of Natl. Geographic.

Wes Skiles was an amazing figure. I dare say that a lot of beautiful photos of underwater caves that many of us have seen over the years were the work of Wes Skiles. He had the likes of in Jacques Cousteau his blood. Part of his obituary read:

His works included more than 100 award-winning television films, a 2005 PBS documentary on the St. Johns River called “The River Returns” and an IMAX production called “Journey Into Amazing Caves.”

I met him once many years ago at a photography exhibit and his enthusiasm for what he did was incredible, he just gleamed. He went to high school in Jacksonville, FL. and currently lived in High Springs, FL., which is about 25 miles outside of Gainesville.

Here is a photo that has been printed locally:

Tom,
That's amazing.
The day the latest issue of Nat. Geo. with the Blue Hole cover story arrived,
I read it immediately.
I've been on the out island of Eleuthera several times and they have a blue hole
there that I (only) swam and snorkeled in, so I was hoping that it was one of the
blue holes they explored. It wasn't, but I still enjoyed the article immensely.
Do you have this issue? If not, I will happily send you mine.
Tony

Tony,

Thanks for your gracious offer but I have a copy on the way.

Tom,
Sounds good!
Excellent article and, as we know, Wonderful Photography!
Tony