Jill Heinerth tells the remarkable story of African-American sailor Lanier Phillips, one of the few survivors of the World War-Two wreck of the USS Truxtun at Chambers Cover, St. Lawrence, Newfoundland. Jill dived on the wrecks of the Truxtun and USS Pollux as part of the recent Great Island Expedition
Jill and Robert on The Great Island Expedition team Newfoundland.
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A team of divers supported by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), the Shipwreck Preservation Society of Newfoundland & Labrador and Ocean Quest Adventures have confirmed the discovery of a WWII-era B-24 Liberator Bomber that crashed upon take-off on September 4, 1943, into Gander Lake, Newfoundland with four souls aboard.
Using state-of-the-art underwater imaging equipment, the team of highly experienced divers from the Canada, the United States, and France, completed a survey dive on September 5, 2022, in the cold, tannic waters of Gander Lake. The video and images confirmed an earlier 3D sonar scan from July 2022.
Divers found the aircraft oriented upside-down on a steep ledge nearly 50 meters below the surface. Previous search and salvage efforts conducted by military divers at the time of the 1943 crash were abandoned due to extremely dangerous conditions. The aircraft, dubbed “Liberator 589D” has remained undisturbed since.
Jill and Robert take you along on an adventure walk close to home. They walk a portion of the Trans-Canada trail along the Mississippi River in Carleton Place, Ontario. River, nature sounds, birds, and a guest appearance by Lucy the Goose.
Jill interviews her friend and colleague Dr. Richard Harris, the brave cave diver and physician who was instrumental in rescuing the young Thai soccer team trapped in a flooded cave. The new National Geographic documentary film “The Rescue” is available now on your cable TV platform. Dr. Harris’ new book “Against All Odds” is available now at https://amzn.to/3t9UFek Episode 47
Jill visits East Carolina University and the marine archeologists studying Blackbeard’s ship Queen Anne’s Revenge. This leads to revelations of the vessel’s previous incarnation as the slave ship Le Concorde and how some would rather skip that part of the unpleasant history. All this plus traveling with vaccine passports, banned books and Robert doesn’t even know what day it is anymore. Episode 45.
From acclaimed underwater explorer and documentary TV presenter to trans-continental cyclist and accidental chef, here are a few things you never knew about 30-year overnight sensation Jill Heinerth. People have a perception about Jill’s life that may or may not fit reality. Moments of pure adrenaline and wondrous beauty are frequently punctuated with tough logistics and the reality of making end’s meet.
Jill shares over 20 years of experience as a brand ambassador and influencer in the underwater adventure world. Here’s a link to the Seth Godin books that Robert references in the conversation: https://amzn.to/3KY1Hts
On a Canadian blizzard snow day, Jill and Robert talk about the ducks on the river, how humans and the planet are not exactly getting along, climate change and the Three Stooges.
Jill gives her tips for cold weather diving, including what gear to wear and how to safely use suit, glove and foot heaters. Jill and Robert explain why they create all the music for their creative projects because of tight copyright regulations. Oh, and a bit about how to set up an underwater ice hockey game!
Jill travels to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada for advanced commercial vessel boat training and gets in the dunk tank. Robert and Jill share a bit about their recent cave diving trip to Florida, USA. And they discuss complacency and normalization of deviance regarding Covid-19 precautions. All this, and pens in the ears on this episode!
