Explorer, storyteller, and environmental journalist, Ben Raines has spent his career uncovering the mysteries of the past and the wonders of the natural world. In 2018, he led the discovery of the Clotilda, the last known ship to bring enslaved Africans to the United States—a moment that reshaped history. His book, The Last Slave Ship, chronicles this incredible find and the enduring legacy of its survivors.
Ben’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and on National Geographic and PBS. As a filmmaker, he has brought to life extraordinary stories with documentaries like The Underwater Forest and America’s Amazon, captivating audiences with stunning underwater cinematography. A U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain, he navigates the backwaters of Alabama, leading others to the hidden beauty of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.
With a background in journalism, filmmaking, and scientific research, Ben has earned national recognition for his work. Whether diving into ancient underwater forests, exploring lost shipwrecks, or shedding light on environmental conservation, Ben Raines brings a passion for discovery to Wisdom Harbour—one story at a time.
Hidden beneath the Gulf of Mexico, an ancient cypress forest lay untouched for over 60,000 years—until a powerful hurricane revealed its existence. Just off the Alabama coast, this prehistoric relic, once teeming with life, now rests 60 feet below the surface, offering a rare glimpse into Earth’s distant past. How did this forest survive beneath the sea? And what secrets do its tree rings hold about ancient climates and rising sea levels?