The Galathea Festival returns to Hyères from November 21 to 24, 2024, to offer enthusiasts and curious individuals a unique dive into the marine world through exhibitions, conferences, screenings, and meetings.
This event is the unmissable meeting for all those who wish to discover the wonders and mysteries of the underwater world while learning about its conservation challenges.
Two prestigious patrons and a renowned exhibition
This year, the festival is under the patronage of Greg Lecoeur, a world-renowned underwater photographer, and Anne Joncheray, a marine archeologist diver, director of the Saint-Raphaël museum dedicated to underwater excavations. Greg Lecoeur will also present a new exhibition of his captivating images from his expedition Pelagos in the Mediterranean. These photographs illustrate the richness and fragility of Mediterranean marine ecosystems, offering the public a rare and spectacular view of this biodiversity.
A program dedicated to schoolchildren: sparking curiosity from a young age
As every year, the first two days of the festival are specially dedicated to schoolchildren, from kindergarten to high school. Students from the region will have the opportunity to participate in workshops and attend conferences designed to raise their awareness of the wonders and challenges of the marine world. These meetings with experts aim to ignite their curiosity and sensitize them from an early age to the need to preserve the oceans.
Meetings with authors and illustrators for book signings
The festival brings together numerous stands hosted by marine protection associations, artists, tour operators, and other actors of the underwater world. These stands allow visitors to discover and interact with professionals who work daily for the conservation and exploration of the marine environment. Galathea 2024 also offers a literary space where several authors and illustrators will be present for book signing sessions. Among them, Sébastien Salingue, who has just published volume 6 of his comic Divers in Apnea, as well as Franck Girelli, author of the comic Tell us about the Mediterranean – the adventures of Grandpa Grouper. These books allow the exploration of the sea from very diverse angles: artistic, humorous, committed, and sometimes poetic, and visitors will have the chance to interact with their creators.
Conferences, screenings, a show, and the photo competition
Numerous conferences will address various topics related to marine ecosystems, and screenings of films and documentaries will offer visitors a cinematic journey into the depths of the ocean. Actors Julie Duchaussoy and Franck Lorrain will perform their Stand-Up of the Ocean The World of Silence Cries Out! As every year, the festival’s photo competition will honor the most beautiful underwater shots. The results will be announced over the weekend, allowing the public to admire spectacular photographs while highlighting the beauty and importance of ocean conservation.
A commitment to recycling neoprene wetsuits
As part of its commitment to ocean conservation, the Galathea Festival is organizing, once again this year, a collection of used neoprene wetsuits. Visitors are invited to drop off their old suits on-site to give them a second life and reduce waste. With the help of CODEP06 (Departmental Committee of the French Federation of Underwater Studies and Sports of the Alpes-Maritimes), the initiative has already collected 3 m³ of neoprene since the beginning of the year, an impressive volume demonstrating the participants’ commitment.
The collected suits will be sorted and recycled on three levels, depending on their condition:
- Direct reuse for diving : The least damaged suits will be cleaned and repaired for reuse. Last year, for example, the diving club of the University of Toulon benefited from these refurbished pieces of equipment, extending their lifespan while supporting local associations.
- Upcycling with Captain Neo : For suits less suitable for diving, a second life is possible in the form of objects and accessories through upcycling. The brand Captain Neo transforms worn neoprene into creative and useful products such as bags or pouches, thus reducing waste while giving value to the material.
- Industrial recycling with Soöruz : Neoprene that cannot be reused or transformed is sent to Soöruz, a company specialized in industrial recycling of this material. It uses a unique process to recycle neoprene into new materials, extending neoprene’s life while reducing its environmental impact. For more information on this process, check out this Plongez! article. The recovery of this neoprene for Soöruz will be conducted through the Montpellier-based company Lezprit Réquipe during the festival.
This collection and recycling initiative allows participants to engage concretely for the environment while reducing their ecological footprint.
A day dedicated to posidonia: understanding and protecting our marine meadows
A special day will be devoted to posidonia, an emblematic and essential marine plant for Mediterranean biodiversity. This day, entitled Meeting Posidonia, is open to all and will be held around a series of conferences and discussions on current issues related to the preservation of posidonia meadows. Participation is free, and you can register via this link: HelloAsso – Meeting Posidonia.
The day’s program will cover various and essential themes, such as:
- The ecological state of posidonia meadows : health check of the meadows, biodiversity indicators, and current conservation status.
- Mapping and monitoring : methods and advances in mapping posidonia meadows and ways to monitor their condition.
- Impacts of human pressures : how pleasure boating, anchoring, and other activities impact these fragile ecosystems.
- Knowledge and ecological restoration : current restoration efforts and techniques used to revitalize damaged meadows.
- Awareness and international scene : awareness actions to inform the public and international initiatives to protect posidonia.
Participate in this day to dive into this fascinating subject and discover how everyone can contribute to preserving these valuable underwater ecosystems.
Practical information
Dates: from Thursday, November 21 to Sunday, November 24, 2024. Thursday and Friday morning reserved for schools. Open to the public from Friday afternoon.
Location: Casino Forum, Hyères, Var.
Price: 1-day ticket €5, 3-day pass €8, free entry for children under 14.
For more information on the full program and participation details, see the official Galathea Festival site.
opening image © greg lecoeur – we are mediterranée