Tec Dossier – Eveline Verdier-Bollhalder

In this article, we meet tec diver Eveline Verdier-Bollhalder, and learn more about her influence in the technical diving industry. Mesley was interviewed by a member of PADI staff, and this article was originally published on the TecRec blog on February 18, 2013.

I started diving in the lakes of Switzerland (home country) in 1984, but as soon as I had my Divemaster certification, I started traveling and working abroad, like in the Maldives, the Philippines, Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, the Seychelles and La Réunion.

As a PADI Course Director and Technical Instructor Trainer, I’m traveling and teaching mainly Instructor and Technical courses in these countries.

I started technical diving 15 years ago, and it was for me a natural step in my diving career. So, I did all my technical training (Trimix, cave and CCR) in the United States, as nothing was available at this time in Europe.

One motivation was to visit and to discover deep shipwrecks in the south of France, too deep to dive with air. With Triade, an expedition over several months, we discovered some new eep shipwrecks and wrote a book about them. They are starting to be visited now by other experienced technical divers.

I specially love teaching Rebreather and Trimix courses. Deep shipwrecks are still my passion, so I dive them whenever I have some time left.

Be honest with yourself. If you have any doubt regarding yourself, your buddy, your equipment or the environment, don’t dive.

Humility, patience, and never stop learning. A tec diver needs to be very disciplined and be in good physical condition. Be aware that we are only guests. Don’t fear the sea, but always respect her.

To go deep too fast, especially with a rebreather. One needs to be patient and build up experience to manage the equipment and the conditions.

Physically, mentally and also technically. I carefully select and check all my equipment and choose my buddy. Before the dive, I mentally imagine the dive, the possible problems with the best solution. I dive only if I feel physically and mentally fit and feel good about the dive. Use checklists.

I will never forget my first dive on the Submarine Protée in the south of France over 12 years ago. Everything was perfect, the conditions, the logistics, the team and the dive! To visit this war grave as the first divers (discovered by another small submarine) was very impressing and also a little bit weird. I dove it again in June 2012 with the DIRrebreather Team, and I am happy and proud that we opened this dive site to other divers so many years ago. It’s still a very special experience.

KISS principle, reliable and safe. I try to find the best configuration for each dive.

People with the same attitude. I don’t like diving just to go deep or attempting to push the limits. Exploration and fun should be the main goals.

Be patient, built up your experience and enjoy. Choose your instructor carefully; nothing replaces experience. It should be a real professional and not a “part-time” Instructor. Once certified, it’s important to build up experience and frequently repeat the skills. Put all your chances on your side, dive and enjoy.