Meet the marine mammals with Espace Mer

Fred Simion has always been passionate about diving and freediving and became an instructor at the age of 23. He traveled a lot, worked in IT and communication before devoting himself completely to his double passion.

I first worked in diving clubs in Spain and Egypt and I arrived in Hyères ten years ago to join Espace Mer, where I am more particularly in charge of freediving activities. The center was a precursor in creating a freediving section seven years ago.

Very involved in the development of this activity, he is also president of the Apnea commission of the Var within the French Federation of Underwater Studies and Sports (FFESSM). Every year he organizes the departmental championship of the activity.

"As a practitioner, I also do underwater field hockey," adds this discreet sportsman who does not specify that the Hyères club is French champion in several categories!

Accompanying the palm hikes?

It's important to live one's passion every day in one's element. I also appreciate the relationship with people who are never the same. And it allows me to see the evolution of the environment to which I am very attentive.

Originally from Vendée, the young captain of the Brigantin arrived in Hyères in 2001 to dive:

I immediately liked the energy of the area, which I found magnificent, and the atmosphere of Espace Mer where I boarded the Brigantin, which was the emblematic boat of the diving club. He is the one who made me want to do this job.

He spent a season as a helper on board the Hoëdic, a 27-meter tuna boat based in Le Lavandou. It was decided that he wanted to become a captain, and he left to train in Les Sables d'Olonne.

At 25 years old, he graduated and was back for the 2007 season at the helm of Hoëdic..

And one day, in Port-Cros, I see Fleur de Lampaul at anchor!

Stéphane jumped into the water to admire this famous Breton heritage boat. The crew sympathized with him and offered him to join them for the return trip to Lorient.

He will embark and, as a crew member, will stay on board for a year and a half.

We worked for the Nicolas Hulot Foundation, the Conservatoire du Littoral, with WWF we participated in the counting of cetaceans in the Pelagos sanctuary, with the PIM project for the small islands of the Mediterranean, we went to Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia... it was a great adventure.

But Stéphane has not forgotten the Brigantine, which is no longer suitable for diving. "I had acquired the experience, so I thought about how to give it a new life. He bought the boat in 2011, had masts made and rigged it as a ketch.

The idea? To propose sea trips to discover the islands and meet the cetaceans. With a principle:

We take few people and we really care!

Stéphane joined Espace Mer in 2015 and diversified its activities.