When the opportunity to join a freediving cruise off the Hyères Islands with Stéphane Mifsud is offered to me, I do not hesitate long before accepting it. Then, a concern arises: being a beginner in freediving, will I manage to handle it? Very soon, I am reassured, these cruises are open to all levels!
Arrival at the port of Hyères
As soon as I arrive at the port of Hyères, I discover the boat of the Odyssée Bleue, a splendid 19-meter sailboat that has just finished its first summer at sea — needless to say, it is brand new! The other participants also arrive, as does our guide for this cruise, Stéphane Mifsud, a freediving champion and the first man to surpass 10 minutes in freediving. Holder of the static discipline record, with 11 minutes 35 seconds underwater, he commands respect. His partner, Maud, joins us on the boat accompanied by their dog, Elfie, this adventure’s mascot.
There are ten of us on board for this four-day cruise! After assigning the cabins, I discover the comfort of our floating home, spacious enough for everyone. We timidly get to know each other, then Stéphane conducts an equipment check to ensure everyone is well equipped before leaving the port. We will not set foot on solid ground for four days… I experience life at sea: 800 liters of fresh water to share among ten people for our showers and dish rinsing, previously cleaned with seawater. At this point, I prefer to reveal the suspense: we will be so economical with water that Stéphane, with humor, will worry about the lack of hygiene of some…
Setting off towards new explorations
It’s time to leave the port! The sailboat arouses all curiosities and Stéphane offers a few of us the chance to participate in the maneuvers. Very quickly, the engine is cut off and we sail towards our first spot. « Nothing is really decided in advance, » Stéphane warns, « it’s a cruise à la carte. I offer you activities, including freediving exercises, and we adapt according to your interests. The diving sites can change depending on desires, the crowd present, and the weather. » QED: the rough sea not allowing us to access the Cement Wreck, we head for a small cove on the Giens peninsula to discover the semi-submerged caves.
A gentle start
The aim of this first immersion is to create a relaxing atmosphere and evaluate each person’s abilities. No exercises, just a safety reminder. We enter the water in pairs to explore. We enter the first cave where a wave of bats welcomes us. The water near the entrance is incredibly clear and light play dances to the bottom, 10 meters below. Some remain on the surface, while others begin to explore the shallow depth.
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