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.

Gaspard Bollengier, a native of Lyon, arrived at Espace mer in 2001 to take a level 1 diving course gaspard Bollengier first studied sports at university before branching off into sports organization management.

"I came back to do my internships at Espace Mer; I then worked there as a seasonal worker and went to the Maldives for two months during the winter".
He validated his master's degree, passed all the diving levels in Hyères, before following the training courses and obtaining the 1st then 2nd degree diving state certificates and a captain's diploma. First job as an instructor? "I went to work for 10 months in Paris where we dive in pits. He returned to Espace Mer, was hired on a permanent contract in 2013 and joined the company as an associate in 2017.

Gaspard likes family hikes "I live in La Garde, we often walk in the massif of the Colle noire". He appreciates "the calm and the environment. We are lucky to be in a region that is not too built up and where the environment is well preserved".

What about work?

What I like is to share the pleasure of people who are amazed. It's very gratifying and it makes things easier and more enjoyable.

It is also very satisfying, during the baptisms, to succeed in making someone who was not at ease gain confidence and who, suddenly, can enjoy the moment.

For him, the National Park Spirit brand :

First of all, it's a guarantee of quality for people. We realize that more and more people know what a national park is, but for the vast majority, Port-Cros National Park is the island. So there is undoubtedly an educational need, and we plan to increase this awareness.