The sunset on board the Brigantine

Philippe Bernardi, from Hyero, has been passionate about diving and freediving since his teenage years. He holds a BTS and a degree from the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers and started his professional life as an engineer in industrial electronics.

He joined the Espace Mer diving center in 1986, created 2 years earlier by Patrick and Béatrice Despinois, and became an active member, then the president in 1991. He will remain as such for eight years.

At the same time as his professional life, he also passed his state diving certificates, 1st and 2nd degree. "I loved my job, but I wanted to be adventurous, to live outdoors... without a tie! But at the time, sport was not considered a serious profession. He took out loans and became a partner in 2000. He took over the reins of the company in 2007. A risk-taker? Philippe Bernardi moderates "It was a great period, everything was to be done... We lived the golden age here!

Today Espace Mer welcomes 5,000 "diving" clients per year and 4,000 for other activities (snorkeling, kayak-paddle and boat trips) that have been developed progressively over the past 12 years.

The four shareholders are salaried year-round and the center employs about fifteen seasonal workers between April and October.

I have no regrets, the most beautiful satisfaction is to enjoy the activity that we love; we are in one of the most beautiful places in the world with an exceptional wealth of wrecks nearby ... but it is 7 days a week and the regulatory aspect is heavy.

The Port-Cros National Park, for him :

It is first of all a philosophy. And what I like is when the philosophy leads to concrete action. This is the case with the Esprit Parc National product offer. But I think we are either in the spirit or we are not! For my part, I have always been very attached, as a professional, to be a field interlocutor for the National Park, because we work in nature on a daily basis, and we can witness its state and its evolution.

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.