Documentaries·Video

Swimming with a wild polar bear and documenting the Arctic's 'last ice'

Underwater explorer Jill Heinerth’s unforgettable memories documenting vanishing sea ice in our far North

Underwater explorer Jill Heinerth’s unforgettable memories documenting vanishing sea ice in our far North

My TNOT: Jill Heinerth

4 years ago
Duration 4:33
Extreme diver and explorer Jill Heinerth recalls her time exploring underneath the Arctic sea ice, and wonders if the photos she took will someday be used as images of 'extinct species.' She also reflects on the time she became the first woman to swim with a wild polar bear.

As a child, extreme diver and underwater explorer Jill Heinerth, was encouraged to watch The Nature of Things on TV, "and to be a part of it now … it's a dream come true."

While hosting Under Thin Ice, Heinerth traveled to the Arctic where she documented how Arctic wildlife is adjusting to global warming. Camping in tents on top of the sea ice, she and the crew discovered first-hand how fast the Arctic ice was disappearing. "I felt like we're filming the last ice...will this film be shown in a museum … in the future as evidence of climate change?  

But Heinerth's most memorable moment hosting the show? Becoming the first woman to swim with a polar bear. "Make no mistake, when he's swimming at you, it's to eat you."
For more, visit The Nature of Things