Therefore, in 2012, William and Fred Buyle will be assisting four different scientific expeditions, two in the Indian Ocean and two in the Pacific Ocean, working in four different locations and with six different species of sharks.

This partial funding will allow William and Fred to offer not only their support in doing the in-water work but it will finance much of the necessary equipment to help ensure that these scientific projects are successful.

Although the funding is extremely welcome and helpful, the Ocean Encounters Team is reaching out to the general public in search of individuals who are wanting to experience shark conservation in action. Their participation will help realize complete success of these expeditions.

To find out how you can make a difference in shark conservation and experience these animals up close and personal, contact sharks@oceanencounters.net.

===> To read up on the details of this expedition, click here.

Visit the Courses / Trips / Adventures page to find out more about your opportunity to learn to freedive in the Greek islands, sailing a 49-foot yacht.

The Ocean Encounters Team is off to Reunion Island on a shark tagging expedition.

Photo Fred Buyle – William face to face with a female Tiger Shark

To find out more about the event held on July 28, click here.

To find the event held at the Aquarium of the Bay on facebook and to attend, click here.

Votre lit ?
Un voilier indolent qui vous berce au rythme du clapot quelque part entre les îles d’Ulysse.

Votre réveil ?
Une eau chaude, turquoise, pétillante laissant surgir des plages de sable blanc et autre décor éblouissant.

Vos collègues de bureau ?
Quelques humains rigolos, bien choisis et palmés jusqu’aux oreilles.

Vos patrons ?
Deux aventuriers, des intimes de Poséidon, qui vous infligent des apnées au milieu de nulle part, entre paradis et île déserte.

Votre mission ?
Profiter de la beauté qui vous entoure, plonger en apnée quand bon vous semble, progresser à votre rythme grâce aux conseils personnalisés de deux champions du monde, dont la disponibilité et le sourire ne sont pas feints.

Alors ? On embarque ?

La journée commence par le bonheur des yeux. Petit thé siroté dans le silence iodé, la transparence de l’eau laisse présager une journée pleine de bleu. Quelques mètres à la rame pour rejoindre une plage à faire pâlir Robinson. William et Fred nous offre un cours d’étirements, de respiration afin de préparer le corps aux descentes qui vont suivre.
Instant zen dans un décor idyllique.

Immersion !
Direction le bleu et les descentes vers l’infini. Chacun son rythme et chaque descente sont accompagnées par William et Fred avec analyse et conseils personnalisés.

Les oreilles bloquent à la descente ? Pas de soucis, ça passera mieux demain, on en profite pour travailler le souffle et la détente sur l’atelier statique, à l’ancre du voilier. Apnée statique au milieu des bancs de poissons… ça change des piscines !
Matinée bien remplie, chacun remonte remplis de motivation pour la suite.

Et si on allait explorer une autre île magique ?

Allez on lève l’ancre, et on profite des quelques heures de navigation pour siester sur le pont au soleil, rêver sous les voiles, regarder les thons éclabousser la surface, manger un morceau tout en s’échangeant recettes gastronomiques des pays respectifs à chacun… « miam !» sera le cri de guerre de la semaine.

Après de belles heures de navigation, parfois ponctuées de rodéo avec la tempête, une crique somptueuse nous tend les bras.
On ancre ! Soleil couchant flamboyant, libre à chacun de se remettre à l’eau pour explorer les fonds, chasser les poissons, nager…
La nuit nous fait remonter à bord, la pêche a été bonne, repas au poisson frais du jour, légumes fondus aux épices, repas de prince.

Digestion sur le pont, sous la voie lactée. Compter les étoiles filantes et déjà rêver au lendemain…

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Francine Kreiss is a champion freediver, accomplished spearfisherwoman and professional underwater photographer who took part to the October 2010 freediving cruises organized by Ocean Encounters.

For more information on how you can be part of the Ocean Encounters cruise in October 2011, please visit the courses page. Hurry, only a few spots left.

Fred Buyle and William Winram were in Marseille, France, on Friday October 29th for the premiere of the first documentary of the 5 part series – Adventure Ocean Quest. The film – Great White Sharks of Guadalupe – was debuting in the 37ème Festival Mondial de l’Image Sous-Marine (37th World Underwater Film Festival).

After waiting almost 1 year for the post production it was a relief to finally see the result of some amazing Ocean Encounters – without a cage and on a breath-hold – on film to be shared with the world.

The response from the audience was overwhelmingly positive and a huge step forward in changing peoples paradigms as it relates to one of the most feared and maligned of the Oceans inhabitants. The jury of the prestigious Festival selected Great White Sharks of Guadalupe as the winner of the Palme d’Or – First prize.

When asked for comment, William and Fred responded: “We are very proud of what Pierre Frolla, Christian Pétron and ourselves were able to accomplish with long hours in the water and the usual difficulties associated with filming underwater with wild animals. We arrived on site with the desire to create an honest portrayal of the Great White shark and I think when you view this film you will see a shy, cautious and curious predator, one worthy of respect and admiration.”

Ocean Encounters hopes that this film will contribute to change people’s paradigm toward these animals whose wrongful man-eater reputation still stick to their image. On the brink of extinction (there are only 3,500 individuals left in the world’s oceans) because of a widespread shark massacre, their absence signifies less fish in our plates because of the crucial role they play in the food chain.

October 2010 cruises full and wait-listed

After last year’s success of sailing the Ionian Sea aboard a 2004 Bavaria 49-foot/15-meter sailboat, Ocean Encounters is pleased to announce that new liveaboard freediving courses in the Ionian Islands are underway.

Imagine spending 6 days and 6 nights on board a yacht with world-class breath-hold divers Fred Buyle and William Winram. Group size will be limited to 6 students for an intimate freediving/sailing experience.

Avid Watermen Fred and William will guide you through the blue waters of the Ionian Sea for you to discover and explore the underwater world the way it was meant to be experienced: while breath-hold diving.

Their teaching style includes the latest freediving techniques, environmental awareness and, of course, fun! Thanks to their extensive knowledge of the underwater world and its inhabitants, they add a primordial component that is often underestimated in freediving education.

Any level of practice is welcomed, 1*, 2*, 3* AIDA and CMAS courses are available and fine-tuning for advanced freedivers will be available.

The first cruise is leaving port on October 2nd and returning on October 8th. The second cruise is leaving port on October 9th and returning on October 15th.

Bookings were taken on a first come, first served basis due to limited spaces per trip.

If you are interested to participate in this kind of live-aboard freediving/sailing trip in 2011, send your enquiries now at info@OceanEncounters.net

The Ocean Encounters team will be showing slides of their work in the water, focused particulary around the preservation of sharks.

More information in English about this presentation can be found here, and in French, here.

The full program of the Festival is available from this link.

See you there !!

Poster for the World Under-Water Film Festival