Gildas Lesouef

11 May 1975, France

Has worked with Franck Goddio since 2001.

Gildas started diving when he was 14 and later worked as a diving instructor. He also competed in windsurfing for a number of years. He studied philosophy at the University of Rennes.

“I love diving deep… deep descents in the open blue. I love to be on the sea, on boats, all the techniques involved in diving.”

“One dive during this mission I had an assistant. An octopus was sitting in the remains of the temple… and I teased him out of his hole… he then attached onto me between my backpack and tank, and spent the whole dive there, watching me work… it was nice to have a helper!”

“My favorite moment in this mission was when I found my first gold coin. I was using the dive scooter’s prop wash to clear a spot on the bottom, then stopped and began fanning with my hand... and unbelievably, a gold coin was just laying there, shining up at me… like it was waiting for me to come and find it! It was really fantastic!” (Gold does not oxidize… it still shines like new, even after 2,300 years.)

“Obviously, I am now addicted to the ‘thrill of discovery’!”