ESPEN, MANAGER OF THE SUBEA BRAND
I'm of Norwegian origin and I joined Decathlon 22 years ago after a master's degree in oceanography. Right before my PhD studies, I worked at Decathlon, where I discovered a world that had been unknown to me : trade, management, products… And I said to myself that was more suitable to me than my job as an oceanographer, so I decided to stay in the company. I have been diving for 25 years and today, I am PADI Rescue with some specialities. My goal for the future is to become a Divemaster and thus to be able to pass on my knowledge to others.
WHAT DO YOU DO AT SUBEA ?

I came here one and a half years ago as the manager of the Subea brand. What is rather funny is that, at the time of my job interviews, I expressed the fact that one day, I hoped to become the manager of the diving brand and that's what I am today. I wish to contribute to this project with my international view, my passion for the products and my dynamic working style. My role is to build the team best able to carry out this project in terms of skills, energy and atmosphere, and we have already built a great team of enthusiasts. I want Subea to become a great brand for Decathlon and advocate underwater wonders; that is what drives us day after day and I think we have everything it takes to be successful. I like sports products; I don't need to have the biggest brands nor the greatest features but I like well-made products that are simple, effective and really meet users' needs. It is in this direction that I want to build the brand and I often say that I'd like us to be divers' third partner.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN SCUBA DIVING ?
What attracts to me to this exceptional environment is not necessarily the technique. I am not very technical, what interests me most is undersea life : the lights, the colours, the life between 0 and 30 m deep. I have a lot of respect for the sea in general. I am attracted by the seabed, not for the impressive side of it but because it is there that one can realise how small and humble we are compared to this exceptional and majestic environment.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST BEAUTIFUL MEMORY OF AN UNDERWATER EXPERIENCE ?
When my children were young, I did not dive for years but as soon as they had the right age, we started to dive together as a family. And I have to say that my most beautiful diving memory was in Egypt, with the whole family. We were on a boat to do 3 dives per day for a week in an exceptional environment, and to see my children have fun but especially grow in the sense of becoming serious, be thoughtful, careful ... I think it's great and diving has been a very enriching experience for them.

