Why does Jérôme from BeFreeToDive offer freediving, snorkelling and diving near Antibes on Manawa?

Vincent Pinto is Manawa's Sales Director. Previously Regional Manager France for the booking website, he helped launch the venture in 2015. A keen skateboarder, splitboarder and snorkeller, he has discovered many of the sports offered on the website.

Interview with Jérôme from BeFreeToDive

Jérôme, manager of BeFreeToDive, and the members of his team are experienced state-certified diving instructors. They offer customers from all over the world the chance to discover freediving, snorkelling and diving in Villeneuve-Loubet in the Baie des Anges, near Antibes, as well as boat trips to learn more about the cetaceans of the Mediterranean. Here's a look back at his collaboration with Manawa.

Diving, snorkelling and free-diving

Scuba diving, also known as underwater diving, is an activity that involves exploring the seabed using special equipment to breathe underwater for 20 minutes or much longer. The diver is equipped with a mask, fins and a stabilising jacket connected to the tank by a regulator.

Snorkelling consists of swimming with a mask, fins, and snorkel to observe the fauna, flora, and underwater features closest to the surface. It's an activity that's accessible to all, less technical and less demanding than diving or freediving, but still offers an incredible underwater experience.

Freediving is the practice of holding your breath in water while wearing fins, a mask and a snorkel. It's a great activity, somewhere between scuba diving and snorkelling. It involves learning a few techniques, accessible to all, to enable you to enjoy the seabed by going in and out of the water without having to worry about equipment.

Why is BeFreeToDive working with Manawa.com?

Vincent Pinto: Hello Jérôme! First of all, could you tell us about BeFreeToDive and the activities you offer?

Jérôme LAN: Of course. BeFreeToDive is an underwater activity centre based in Villeneuve-Loubet, in the Port de Marina Baie des Anges, in the Alpes Maritimes. All our activities take place between Nice and the Lérins Islands, near Cannes, mainly around the Cap d'Antibes. We offer diving, snorkelling, aquatic excursions, boat trips... So many different activities, with marine awareness always at the heart of our work.

Vincent : When did you set up BeFreeToDive? How did you decide to embark on this adventure?

Jérôme : I set up the company in 2012, but I've been working in diving since 2003. I've worked as a salaried and freelance instructor in France and abroad, in a variety of destinations: Asia, Egypt, Central America, etc. When I came back, I decided to set up my own business. At the beginning, I was alone with my boat, but now there are up to 8 of us on board in the summer, and I have two boats.

Vincent : Great. So you've been working in diving for a long time now. Why did you decide to settle in Antibes in particular?

Jérôme : I'm originally from the area, I learnt to swim here, and since I was very young I've always loved being at sea. When I reached a certain age and wanted to settle down, I naturally went back home.

Vincent : What do you enjoy most about your job?

Jérôme : I like to define the centre not just as a diving centre, but as a mixed centre for different underwater activities. We try to develop different offers every year, which is interesting from a commercial point of view and also allows us to vary the fun. Today, for example, we have quite a few weekly products in summer, designed specifically for children. The aim is always the same: to get people into the water and help them discover the wider marine world. We also try to do a bit of teaching, to raise our customers' awareness of the marine environment and to promote good practices to limit our impact. In this way, we are trying to contribute, in our own small way, to environmental awareness, and to work in a more eco-responsible way.

Vincent: Could you tell us more about the work you do with your customers to raise awareness of the need to protect the marine environment?

Jérôme : Absolutely, we have undergone training with ethologists and other marine environment specialists, and we have obtained the HQWW - Whale-Watching - label, which certifies operators who are committed to offering activities that respect marine and coastal flora and fauna. Today, we offer 'blue escapes' in the Pelagos Sanctuary to our customers, which are educational outings about the marine environment, during which it is possible to spot cetaceans as well as birds, turtles and fish, always respecting the animals and complying with the recommendations of scientists and experts.

Vincent : Great, we're going to give more prominence to this label that you've got in your activities pages, because it's sure to interest our customers. Coming back to our collaboration, do you remember when you started working with Manawa?

Jérôme : Yes, it was in 2017. I think we met for the first time at the Salon de la Plongée.

Vincent : Yes, exactly! I came to see you on your stand at the Salon de la Plongée. We put your activities online in the summer of 2017 and you had your first bookings in August of the same year.

Jérôme : Yes, that's right. And today, you're the main organisation I work with for booking activities online.

Vincent : If you can remember, how would you assess the "setting up" part of your partnership with Manawa and the construction of your offers on the platform? Did everything go smoothly?

Jérôme : Yes, it was easy, from memory. Above all, I really liked our first contact: I felt the dynamic side of the company, and that there were passionate people on the other side. You quickly realise that you specialise in outdoor activities. And your interface is well designed. Compared to others, it's more efficient, more intuitive...

Vincent : Great. In terms of what you've gained, could you tell us a bit more about what you've gained from working with Manawa today?

Jérôme : The figures are rising steadily, which is really positive for me. Above all, it's in line with the growth in my direct sales, so it's an excellent complement. What's good, too, is that it's quite flexible in terms of the slots for each of the activities, so it allows me to optimise my schedule.

Vincent : Are there any differences between BeFreetoDive customers and the customers you get from Manawa?

Jérôme : The customers are broadly the same in terms of level - they're often beginners... However, in terms of origins, during the summer we attract more foreign customers, probably thanks to increased visibility online. So sometimes people from far away, who have discovered BeFreeToDive via platforms such as Manawa, join us. As such, it also brings me customers who wouldn't have been likely to come because of their location.

Vincent : If you had to give us the three most important things Manawa has done for you since we started working together, what would you say?

Jérôme : I'd say that Manawa gives me visibility, additional sales, and the flexibility to organise myself.

Vincent : What aspect of our collaboration has impressed you the most so far?

Jérôme : What I particularly liked was your initiative to come and test our activities on site. This is crucial, because as resellers of our activities and a source of visibility, it's essential to have an in-depth knowledge of the partner. You're the only ones to have done this. After that, I also appreciate your partner blog and all the resources you make available to professionals to help them sell online. I'm thinking that this could be of great help to people starting out in business. The 'support' aspect in general is very important for small and medium-sized businesses.

Vincent : Would you recommend Manawa to other outdoor professionals? What do you remember about working with us?

Jérôme : Yes, I'd advise them to give Manawa a try. What I like is that you're outdoor specialists, you're professionals, and the management and follow-up of bookings is always done efficiently, even when you have to reschedule with customers because of the weather, for example.

Vincent : Great, thank you very much for your feedback. Last question. You've been working in the water for several years now. Could you tell us about your most memorable experience?

Jérôme : Once, while freediving in Indonesia, I came face to face with an orca. It was totally unexpected for me, because I associated orcas with cold waters. I was with a friend and we were torn between fear and wonder. The orca came within 4 metres of us. It was short, but intense. I remember feeling my heartbeat in my chest and saying to myself "calm down", trying to stay present. It was a beautiful experience and I'll never forget it.

Like Jérôme, you too can join the first booking site dedicated to outdoor and adventure activities by proposing your activities on Manawa.com: Join us!