A tribute to Wes Skiles

Wes Skiles, widely acknowledged as the world's premiere underwater
videographer, died on 7/21/2010 during an open water dive near Boynton
Beach, Florida, after just completing a National Geographic assignment.

This Video Tribute was shown as a dedication of the Video Salon at the 2010
NSS Convention in Essex Junction, Vermont to the memory of Wes Skiles, a
giant in underwater photography and a wonderful human being. Wes was a
frequent winner in the Salon, and served several times as a juror. We will all
miss him greatly.

Below is the obituary published in the Gainesville Sun on 7/25/2010:

SKILES, WESLEY C.

Wesley Cofer Skiles, age 52, of High Springs, FL passed away in Boynton Beach, FL on Wednesday July 21, 2010. Mr. Skiles was born on March 6th 1958 in Jacksonville, Florida to James E. Skiles II and Marjorie Glenna Cofer Skiles. Wes graduated from Englewood High School in Jacksonville with a passion for science. As Wes would say, he then enrolled in the School of Life and pursued a degree in 'Curiology.' Wes was bigger than life and his passions were infectious. He touched so many in his hope to educate about the springs and underground aquifers. When he began exploring caves as a teenager, he pursued the adventure of going where no one had ever been. He began to see the deterioration of Florida's underground world and made it his mission to show the world what was happening through powerful images. This led to the formation of Karst Environmental Services with his partner of twenty-seven years Pete Butt. His extraordinary gift for photography and filmmaking grew into Karst Productions. Through both companies he used his passion to protect Florida's waters. Wes is survived by his wife Terri Skiles, son Nathan Skiles, daughter Tessa Skiles, a brother James Edward Skiles, III, his wife Sharon and their children Jimmy and Jessica, and a sister Shirley Spohrer, her husband George and their daughter Alexandra, Jacklyn Paulson, Cathy and Dean Andersen, Michael and Layla Paulson, friends and business partners Pete Butt and Georgia Shemitz, and all those whose lives he touched. A Memorial Service and Celebration of Wes's life will be held at Ginnie Springs 5000 NE 60th Ave. High Springs, FL 32643 on Wednesday, July 28th. The Memorial Service will begin at 6:00 pm followed by a Celebration of Wes's life. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made in Wes's name to: The Alachua Conservation Trust
Milam Funeral and Cremation Services 311 S. Main Street Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 376-5361.

There is also a wonderful tribute to Wes on the
National Geographic Web site.