Wes Skiles honored with advanced screening of James Cameron's "Sanctum"

In 1988, 22 explorers were trapped underwater in Pannikin Plains, a dangerous cave system in the remote Nullarbor plain in south-central Australia.  An unexpected rainstorm caused parts of the cave system they were diving in to collapse.

Among the 22 explorers was the late Wes Skiles— recognized as one of the world's foremost underwater explorers as well as a renowned photographer, diver and environmentalist from High Springs, Fla.  Skiles survived the ordeal, continuing to explore and document dive sites across the globe, until his untimely death last year.

Now, his 1988 adventure will come to life in 3-D on the big screen, and before it premiers nationwide on Feb. 4, “Sanctum” will be shown for one advance screening at the Regal Royal Park Stadium 16 in Gainesville. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 2, and only 238 tickets are being sold.

In July, Skiles was found motionless on the ocean floor by other divers during a shoot about three miles offshore South Florida.   Autopsy reports failed to pinpoint a cause of death.

The film, co-written and produced by Australian explorer Andrew Wight, with Academy Award- winning executive producer James Cameron, was already in the works before Skiles’ death, and he had worked on the project as well.

Now, according to a press release issued by Florida’s Eden, the advance screening is being held in honor of Skiles and to benefit the cause he dedicated his life’s work to: Florida’s natural springs.

All proceeds from the screening will go to the non-profit organization, Florida’s Eden, specifically to benefit two of its projects; the Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute and The Blue Path Campaign.

For more information on how to help Florida’s springs, or to buy tickets, visit http://floridaspringsinstitute.org.