"EACH GENERATION INHERITS A DUTY TO PROTECT WHAT SUSTAINED THE LAST, AND TO ENSURE IT SUSTAINS THE NEXT."
Definition: Karst
(/kärst/) noun: Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble carbonate rock such as limestone and dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes and springs above and drainage systems like sinkholes and caves underground.
Karst Productions was founded in the early 1980s by the late Wes Skiles. Wes’s vision and life's work was to explore and document Florida's fragile freshwater ecosystems, inside and out, before their dwindling beauty might be lost forever.
Over 40 years later, Wes's daughter, Tessa Skiles, carries forward the organization’s mission to explore, document, and protect waterways. With the same dedication and passion, Tessa ensures that Karst Productions remains a powerful presence, capturing and advocating for the protection of our planet's most vital water resources. Today, Karst Productions is a small, woman-owned business leading in the exciting and hard-to-reach world of underwater photography and cinematography.
TESSA SKILES
Photo by Chrissy Martinez Photography
BIOGRAPHY
Tessa Skiles is a conservation storyteller, underwater cinematographer, and impact producer known for her immersive work documenting the fragile beauty of Florida’s freshwater springs and aquifers. Following in the footsteps of her late father, National Geographic Explorer Wes Skiles, Tessa has carved her own path as a filmmaker and explorer, blending scientific insight with emotional depth to reconnect audiences with the natural world.
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As co-director of the upcoming feature documentary Underworld, Tessa brings to life a multi-layered story of legacy, loss, and discovery, drawing from tens of thousands of hours of archival footage and her own extraordinary explorations and discoveries. Her cinematography credits include American Amazon (PBS Nature), The Fellowship of the Springs (Amazon Prime), and numerous regional projects focused on springs conservation and groundwater protection. Tessa’s work has taken her into submerged cave systems, archaeological sites, and frontline communities facing ecological collapse, where she has served as a science educator, conservation photographer, film producer, and cinematographer.
Through Karst Productions, she has collaborated with PBS, Amazon Prime, the Smithsonian Institute, the Florida Springs Institute, the National Speleological Society, and numerous state agencies to elevate the visibility of unseen underwater ecosystems. Her creative leadership is also rooted in community impact, developing educational programs, building coalitions, and designing narrative campaigns that drive engagement and measurable conservation outcomes. Whether behind the camera or in a classroom, Tessa’s storytelling is bridging science, emotion, and memory to reveal what lies out of sight, and too often, out of mind.
WES SKILES
March 6, 1958 – July 21, 2010
BIOGRAPHY
Wes Skiles was best known for his groundbreaking work in educational adventure science films. Over 45 years, he created and produced more than a dozen major films for networks including PBS. He directed the IMAX film Journey into Amazing Caves and led a major National Geographic expedition to Antarctica to film the largest iceberg in recorded history. His driving mission was to create entertaining, educational films focused on the Earth’s most essential resource—water.
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Throughout his career, Wes filmed in places no one had before. His unstoppable spirit of adventure led him to remote destinations and extraordinary journeys. Skilled in both motion and still photography, he divided his time between assignments for National Geographic Magazine and producing top-tier science, adventure, and natural history programming for television.
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Wes’s ability to capture stunning visual imagery was evident in his feature for National Geographic Magazine on the North Florida springs and his award-winning A&E New Explorers film Polluting the Fountain of Youth. His dynamic storytelling style made science exciting and accessible, offering audiences an intimate connection with the environments and subjects he filmed.
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Beyond filmmaking, Wes was a passionate advocate for Florida’s natural resources. He was appointed by Florida’s governor to serve on the Florida Springs Task Force, led field trips for citizens and officials, and frequently visited local schools to teach students about protecting water resources. His commitment to environmental stewardship infused every aspect of his life. He presented his work internationally and spoke on subjects ranging from spring protection and hydrogeology to risk management and exploration.