Tips Diving / Practical sheets

Interview with Olivier from Planet Ocean

Planet Ocean is the partner diving club of Tribord, based near the design centre in Hendaye. We asked Olivier, Planet Océan's dive master, a few questions on the subject of travelling.


Could you tell us something about Planet Océan?
Olivier : Planet Océan is a diving club located in Hendaye (Pyrénées Atlantiques) and is made up of 3 people, Olivier, Laurent and Fred, who are all officially qualified by the state and are certified PADI instructors. Aside from just introducing people to diving, there is a sense of fun at Planet Océan that is instilled before, during and after the dive so everyone is sure to have a good time.

Could you give us 3 perfect destinations for snorkelling and/or scuba diving for a small, medium and large holiday budget?
Olivier : There is no ideal destination, that depends on what you are looking for. Some people will want to see wrecks, others fish, others coral...
- For those on a tight budget who want to dive into varied watery worlds, Egypt and Corsica are cheaper yet popular destinations.
- For the average budget, Sri Lanka is a good destination as the plane ticket and the cost of living are relatively cheap.
- For those who can afford to go to the other side of the world, the Maldives and Polynesia are incredible destinations.
I would also add countries like Mexico or Guatemala in Latin America where there are some amazing dives along with the cultural riches that you can visit there.

What is the best time to go on a diving trip?
Olivier : It all depends on your availability and what you want to see… It's true that it is always nice to go to a destination with warm waters during our cold and rainy winter.
It also depends on the flora and fauna you want to see. If you want to see sharks in the red sea, it is better to wait until after November when the water is not too warm; or closer to home (in Hendaye) if you want to check out sunfish, you need to come in September or October.

Which destination did you find the most remarkable? Why?
Olivier : The Mediterranean because, when the conditions are good and the visibility is good, there are some fantastic wrecks.
Otherwise La Réunion, because as diving there is more difficult and more technical due to the wind and the currents, you have to merit seeing all those beautiful things...

Now (in November and December), what destination would you recommend?
Olivier : I would recommend going to the southern hemisphere where the summer is about to begin. Réunion is a good place as it has some really beautiful dives; or Mauritius for its beautiful beaches; Mayotte or Madagascar for a more authentic experience of the wild.

Is it preferable to be part of a diving club if you want to go snorkelling abroad?
Olivier : It is a good idea to do both! Exploring alone is good as it gives you total freedom to go wherever you want to go. But by joining a club you will benefit from lots of useful advice for making improvement, the places to go, the flora and fauna present, etc.
 

Does Planet Ocean organise any trips?
Olivier : I will offer several trips next year, but it is still too early to talk about it (unless, of course, you twist my arm or charm it out of me... lol)

Tribord also advise you to consult...

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