The freediver, born in Nice in 1982, has broken the world record for deep apnea four times. In 2015, after a diving accident, he stopped competing and founded, in Villefranche-sur-Mer, the Bluenery Academy, where he teaches the therapeutic powers of breath and apnea. Today, it lends itself to the game of our interview "Self-promotion".
Talking about me in promo, a chore?
Yes, but not when I talk about my job as a freediver, my passion for the deep sea that I try to transmit in the films I shoot or the conferences I give. What I don't like is putting myself on stage. He's not my type. I probably would have chosen another profession if I had liked sunlights. At the bottom of the water, there is not much light... To discuss a subject as hot as that of safeguarding the oceans, I give the floor to experts and scientists.
In video, The Big Blue, the trailer
Read alsoHallucinations, letting go, narcosis... Julie Gautier and Guillaume Néry tell the depths of apnea
My beginnings?
I was 14 years old. One day, on my way out of school, on the bus, I did a freediving contest with a classmate. Per game. That day, he lasted two minutes and eight seconds, and I one minute and thirty seconds. This failure annoyed me deeply, and I decided to train in the evening, in my bed, to try to exceed my boyfriend's record. Gradually, I arrived at four minutes, all alone, without a teacher. While consulting the Quid, I discovered that the world record was around six minutes. So I was two minutes away from the world record. From that moment on, I thought maybe I was good at it. I then became passionate about apnea. I watched videos, read books, discovered, while watching Special Envoy, a legend of the world of apnea, Umberto Pelizzari, who became my hero, then I realized that I lived close to a freediving club in Nice. My life was beginning to take shape.
Descending to 126 meters gave me feelings of both ecstasy and worry.
Guillaume Néry
Why is freediving my passion?
The practice of this sport brings together my love for competition, for surpassing oneself, for effort, and my desire to always go further and control my body. It is a work of patience, mastery and humility, which allowed me to go into the unknown, to flirt with danger. Descending to 126 meters (my record) gave me feelings of both ecstasy and worry. That's what I'm trying to teach my daughter: the enrichment of encountering an unknown universe. We learn not to be afraid, to be bold, not to be afraid to see the world in the face.
What makes me come out of my hinges?
That we cannot impose regulatory rules concerning the cleanliness of the oceans and overfishing! Few sanctions are taken against boats that scrape the bottom of the sea, destroying fauna and flora. It's not for lack of ignorance of what's going on. We have all the figures on ocean pollution and the survival of species. We have scientists but no political will. Too often, the laws of the market prevail over reason. It puts me off, because the ocean has a very strong capacity to regenerate. Reserves have been created in France, around Port-Cros, to allow flora and fauna to repair themselves. And when protocols are applied, there is an extremely rapid change in water quality and species liveliness.
Read alsoLaury Thilleman, Chantal Thomas, Manu Payet... Meeting with 10 personalities committed to the defense of the oceans
My news?
I continue to work on apnea to relieve certain pathologies, such as stress, anxiety, through my academy, the Bluenery Academy, where I give courses, conferences, and where I test new protocols. I try to multiply partnerships with health professionals and attract new sponsors (Biotherm is one of them). During Covid, I helped patients recover their respiratory faculties.
We have all the figures on ocean pollution and the survival of species. Too often, the laws of the market prevail over reason.
Guillaume Néry
My qualities?
Patience and passion.
My faults?
My enthusiasm, which sometimes borders on naivety.
blueneryacademy.com/fr
