The world record-holding freediver has developed a revolutionary
wetsuit that makes it possible to fly underwater like a Manta Ray.
OceanWings, the wetsuit developed by the Monegasque champion
with a group of his friends, revolutionises adventure under the seas – it's in
the shape of a wing, enabling freedivers to transform themselves into a Manta
Ray, to glide in the oceans and meet the sea giants that live there!
It's the story of both a champion and a poet. Between 1996 and 2007, Pierre Frolla set
new freediving records. Then, he
created diving schools in Monaco to make the public - especially children -
aware of the fragility of the marine world.
For this big-hearted man, adventure is above all about meeting
people and sharing. And his
passion is the sea! He has always
wanted to "become water" and merge as much as possible with the
marine environment, to meet the giants who inhabit it.
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To realise his dream, he designed a tool that
combined the grace of the Manta Ray with the discretion of the whale shark and
the speed of the dolphin...
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After four years of development with designers from the largest
dive equipment manufacturers, the prototype was perfect! It is both aesthetic and autonomous,
making it possible to glide at a very high speed while freediving; quite simply, it's a revolutionary way
to explore the oceans. The "OceanWings
- Meet the Giants" adventure could begin. A first expedition took place this summer in Monaco, with a
"gliding" dive over the Toulonnais, a wreck that contains a huge artificial
reef, and in the depths of Cape Estel. Also on our champion's agenda are swimming
with schools of hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos, racing with dolphins in the
Bahamas, gliding with the Manta Rays of Hawaii, sliding into the ocean depths with
the sperm whales of the Indian Ocean and making contact with humpback whales in
Rangiroa ... A world tour like no other!
OceanWings could not have been created without the help of...
- Guillaume Binard, designer at Aqualung's Dream Lab (one of the
largest dive equipment manufacturers for more than 70 years)
- Peyo Lizzarazu, creator of a lifejacket for surfers, who kindly
allowed Pierre Frolla to adapt it to his suit.
- Pierre Frolla's team of enthusiasts: Marc Counil, Yohan Bray, Philippe Somaini, Marcel Ginestet
and Jimmy Golaz.
- Submarine Nice, which developed a pocket to accommodate an
inflation system that gives the suit perfect autonomy.
www.pierrefrolla.com
© Alexis Rosenfeld (photos 1, 2, 4)
© Jerôme Espla (photo 3)