Port-Cros National Park Stéphane Besset, co-manager, diving instructor Bormes Plongée – Bormes-les-Mimosas

Born in the Drôme region at the foot of the Vercors mountains

more of a mountain man. Every Wednesday after school, I'd go to a little resort near my home.

He discovered the sea with his parents, who sailed around Bormes-les-Mimosas.

So when I was very young, I also went boating and discovered the coastline by sea.

His first job?

I was aski instructor, but my first diploma was the Brevet d'État de voile, which I took in 90.

He followed this up two years later with a BE in skiing. Diving?

It was by chance! I heard about a new training course for multi-skilled sea professionals in Cerbère. The aim was that, after a 20-month sandwich course, participants would be able to set up and run a diving business. I wasn't a diver, but I wanted to discover something new; it was a complete and well-funded course, so I took the plunge.

After a season in a club, it will enable him to spend time in Portugal as part of a European exchange program.

I also trained as a scuba diver, and the following year I passed my state diving diploma.

When he graduated in 93, Stéphane joined a training manager who had become his friend, in La Londe, where he ran the Club Alizée Aventure, which later moved to Bormes. Mirko Ronsmans, his current partner, joined them in 98 on graduating from the same course, and together they launched the "Bormes Plongée" adventure in 2003, motivated by the desire to offer diving in Port-Cros.

The Park is celebrating its 60th anniversary, and we'll be celebrating our 20th this year! We've always been a partner of the National Park, but when we discovered the brand... we went for it! On the one hand, because we're always trying to improve; on the other, because it's exactly what we want to pass on and share, and because the brand responds to a growing customer demand for an eco-responsible offer. Our strong point is our proximity to Port-Cros: 80% of our customers come to dive there. And we've always been keen to make them aware of the exceptional nature of the environment we're helping them to discover... both its biodiversity and its history. We also organize "wreck" courses. The idea is to try and get away from "consumer" diving. With the brand, you have access to an extraordinary amount of content. Fort du Pradeau is a mine! I'd like to say to everyone who arrives: "Go there! You'll understand everything: geology, history, evolution..." It's a fabulous enrichment. We also learn a lot thanks to the outings offered by the brand, and it allows us to meet other like-minded professionals.

Any future projects?

Yes, we're working on the concept of a hydrogen-powered boat with architects to see if it's feasible. It's very innovative... We'd also like to develop rebreather diving courses for all levels, combining them with educational content on fish, marine mammals, heritage... The rebreather is an approach that has much less impact on the environment. You realize that the fish have a completely different attitude because there are no more bubbles, no more noise... it's very meditative.