First dive with Bormes Plongée

Born and raised in Belgium, Mirko Ronsmans arrived in France in 1996. His first contact with the water, with a tank on his back,

was in the swimming pool with my father, who was passionate about diving.

After a short two-year course at medical school,

I realized that this wasn't what I wanted to do, so I turned to diving and enrolled in a training course that was quite innovative at the time, called "Agent polyvalent des métiers de la plongée". Scheduled to last a year in Argelès, it included several qualifications: a state diving diploma, courses in English, accountancy, mechanics, a lifeguard's certificate and training as a marine biology initiator.

There he met a teacher who ran a nautical base in Bormes-les-Mimosas with his future partner, Stéphane Besset. Mirko landed a summer internship with him at the "Alizée aventure" club, and became a partner at the end of the 98 season. He completed his training with a diploma as a swimming sports educator (BEESAN) and a federal^2nd degree diving diploma (MF2). The "Bormes plongée" adventure began four years later.

We were frustrated by the fact that we only offered diving courses on the beach, and we wanted to go to Port-Cros. So, when we met a professional who had a boat and needed support, we teamed up.

Mirko and Stéphane worked with both entities until 2009, before concentrating on Bormes Plongée. Their first collaboration with the National Park dates back to 2004

when we took part in the campaign to eradicate Caulerpa taxifolia in Port-Cros. We then became partners of the establishment through the diving charter.

The structure has grown

with the desire to offer quality services, and to remain on a human scale: not to become a factory for divers... In fact, our slogan in 2000 was already " A shared passion, a different spirit.

In 2012, Bormes Plongée, a partner of the local tourist office, became the first diving club in France to be awarded the "Qualité tourisme France" label.

This reinforced our desire to go even further in the quality of our welcome.

The club was also awarded the "Blue Ocean" label for its commitment to eco-responsibility (SSI certification), and joined François Sarrano's "Longitude 181" association to speak up for marine animals. The Esprit Parc National brand?

We quickly realized that it corresponded not only to our personal convictions, but also to our desire to promote our strong point, which is offering dives in the waters of the National Park. So, as we had hoped, it will give us a further boost. And it also reinforces our determination to defend the diving regulations, because we're well aware that this environment is our livelihood: the more the regulations are respected, the more our business will survive. I joined the Conseil Économique Social et Culturel du Parc national de Port-Cros in 2022 as rapporteur for the nautical commission, which strengthens our ties with the Park, and we're very happy to forge new ones through the brand with other local players.

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.