Christophe Vignaux is a scuba diving instructor and professional skipper. At the beginning of his professional career, he coached countless students at the scuba diving school of Banyuls, on the foothills of the Pyrenees. A decade ago, he decided to set sail. At the moment, he delivers dozens of yachts each year, all around the world.
Christophe, your whole world seems to revolve around the ocean. Where does such a strong connection come from ?
In 1983, when I was 17 years old, I enrolled in the French navy. It was my first real contact with the marine world. Before that, my parents took me as a child to the sea, but nothing more. In 1984, in Toulon, I stepped foot for the first time on a sailing yacht. These experiences forged the first indestructible links that I know have with the ocean. In 1988, after leaving the navy, I started scuba diving and became an instructor. Since then, I’ve never stopped being curious about the world that awaits under the surface…
You are currently part of the Octopus Foundation’s operational team. What is your role exactly?
Firstly, alongside Sebastien Rousseau, we were asked to develop all of the necessary tools for the underwater missions. I am now also responsible for the diving’s logistical and technical organization. Each diver needs to have a precisely planned role before we put our heads under the water. During the missions, communication between the staff is limited, so the preparation is paramount for the mission’s success. During the actual dive, I make sure that the planning goes as agreed and that each diver follows his role. Lastly, I manage all of the security aspects. I supervise the entire operation and am always ready to intervene should a situation occur.
How did you join the team?
In 2007, I met with Philippe Henry while studying to become a professional skipper. We quickly became friends, et kept in touch over the years. He later became the photographer for the Octopus Foundation. When Julien Pfyffer began assembling a team, I told them I would be honored to join as a skipper and scuba diver. It’s funny because I was the one who gave Philippe his first scuba diving diploma.
Why do you enjoy working with Julien and the rest of the team?
One thing that I appreciate during my work with the Octopus Foundation is the infectious energy that comes from Julien and the others. He has this “swiss precision” that he applies to all of his projects. I love working in all of these highly diverse situations, always sea-related, and share these experiences with a competent, lively and dynamic crew. The atmosphere is always super friendly. It allows me to escape my skipper-life for a few weeks each year, when Julien requires my services.
If you should keep only one souvenir of your work for the Octopus Foundation, what would it be?
Each mission leaves us with several unforgettable souvenirs. If I really need to choose one and only, I would probably pick the June 2015 mission to Fiskardo, Greece. The crew was a large one, and it was a great challenge to manage all of these people who needed to dive on a plane wreck from the Second World War. The difficulty came from the depth of the wreck, and the many dives that were necessary to photograph it thoroughly. I keep a fond memory of the felted atmosphere. We stayed the whole time in a charming little Greek village where the inhabitants were super friendly.