2026 International Cave Diving Conference

Dr. Chris Werner

Director Woodville Karst Plain Project (WKPP)

Dr. Christopher Werner is the Project Director and President for the Woodville Karst Plain Project. He is a passionate explorer, scientist, writer, and filmmaker, and has been involved with the WKPP for the past 30+ years. He has explored, mapped, and conducted scientific research of the underwater cave systems in Wakulla, Leon, and Jefferson counties, where he continues to dive to this day.  He is a Florida licensed Professional Geologist, working as a hydrogeological consultant for various projects across the state, and earned a B.S. from University of Pittsburgh in Earth and Planetary Studies, M.S. from Florida State University in Geology, and a Ph.D. from Florida State University in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics.  Formerly, he was a Vice-President of Shell Exploration & Production Company, where he led multidisciplinary exploration teams across the world exploring for petroleum resources and oversaw multiple evaluations of corporate acquisitions.

Brent Kiomall

Divers Atlas

Brent is an explorer driven by a lifelong curiosity for what lies beneath the surface. After serving as an infantryman in the U.S. Army in 2005, he earned an engineering degree and led major energy projects before launching his own company. Since 2018, Brent has focused his passion on SCUBA diving, becoming a certified cave and rebreather diver while documenting remote underwater environments. Through his platform, Brent Dives, he shares compelling content that inspires a global audience to explore and protect the underwater world. As a co-founder of Divers Atlas, Brent is committed to building a lasting resource for the diving community. Above all, he values his role at home as a husband to Sarah and father to their daughter, Lena.

Serafino Bohrer-Pavados

Divers Atlas

Serafino Bohrer-Pavados (aka Fino BP) wears a few hats, equal parts pilot, diver, and conservationist. Fino brings a serious attitude towards safety, leadership, and the responsibility of exploration. Fino’s military career has centered on leading teams in high-risk environments where preparation accountability, and decision-making are critical. That same mindset now guides his approach to diving, from planning and execution to safety advocacy.

James Mott

Tech Diving Instructor and Co-host of The Great Dive Podcast

James Mott was an early adopter of the DIR philosophy, starting with GUE in the early 2000’s, and later becoming a founding instructor and now Instructor Trainer for UTD Scuba Diving. He has also been a PADI instructor since 1998, and holds additional certifications from nearly every agency in scuba. A veteran of the Great Lakes area diving community, he started working at Don’s Dive Shop in 1991 and later co-founded Sea The World Scuba Center in 1996. A Great Lakes shipwreck enthusiast, Conch Republic ally, shark conservation companion, and cave diving tourist… he has an honest interest in all things underwater. Passionate about educating the diving community and sharing an underwater philosophical base, James aims to provide infinite possibilities to all divers willing to reexamine their underwater behavior.

Bryan Buescher

Conserving our Caves and the Floridan Aquifer

Bryan Buescher has been scuba diving since 1999, and cave diving since 2003. A resident of High Springs, FL since 2018, he is a recipient of the Sheck Exley Award and the 2025 NSS-CDS Conservation Award.

Bryan is actively involved in a collaborative project with the University of South Florida to establish a water quality baseline within the Mill Creek cave system (also known as Alachua Sink). He has played a leading role in efforts to reduce the impacts of rapid development in the surrounding area.

With more than 30 years of experience working on complex projects in environmentally sensitive settings, Bryan brings a unique combination of technical, civic, and business expertise. He has served in elected governmental roles for 21 years, while simultaneously owning and operating five separate businesses.

Jon Lillestolen

Sump Explorer and Cave Rescuer

Jon is a seasoned diver and explorer who specializes in sump exploration—the challenging discipline of blending dry caving with cave diving to discover new passages. He has dedicated his career to large-scale projects aimed at unlocking the secrets of the deepest caves in the Western Hemisphere, as well as extensive systems throughout the Appalachian Mountains. Beyond exploration, Jon leverages his specialized skillset to assist emergency agencies with technical and cave rescues across Tennessee and Virginia. Most recently, he applied these decades of experience to help navigate the unique complexities of a high-stakes flooded mine rescue in West Virginia.

Dr. Frauke Tillmans

DAN, VP of Research

Dr. Frauke Tillmans holds a degree in Neuroscience, and a Ph.D. in Human Biology from the University of Ulm, Germany. She oversees research initiatives in diving injury and fatality monitoring, population health, and diving physiology including acute diving injuries as well as long-term health effects of extreme exposures. She is an avid diver, dive safety officer, and dive instructor. Her experience spans recreational, technical, rebreather, scientific, and public safety diving. Throughout her scientific career she has participated in numerous projects covering a variety of medical aspects in recreational, professional, and military diving. Since leaving a position at the German Naval Medical Institute in 2019 to relocate to the United States, she has become DAN’s point of contact for global scientific collaborations and is in charge of DAN’s research grant program and STEM-focused internship program, inspiring young scientists and prospective physicians to pursue a career in diving and hyperbaric medicine. Dr. Tillmans is also an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a visiting scientist at the University of California, San Diego.

Tessa Skiles

Karst Productions, LLC

Tessa Skiles is a conservationist, underwater photographer/cinematographer, and impact filmmaker dedicated to sharing the unseen realms of Florida’s freshwater systems and the threats they face. Her film credits include American Amazon (PBS Nature), The Fellowship of the Springs (Prime), Protect Our Paradise (Discover Florida), Day Zero (Prime), and numerous regional projects focused on freshwater and groundwater protection. Her work also extends beyond filmmaking into educational programming and community-centered campaigns to support groundwater conservation.