Niveau 1 FFESSM

The Niveau 1 is the entry-level FFESSM certification. At Touring Plongée Lyon, the full training sequence starts in the pool at the Centre Nautique André SOUSI in Bron, where beginners spend around ten sessions learning to handle fins, mask and snorkel, then the cylinder, regulator and BCD. Thursday evenings from 20:00 to 21:15 are the regular slot, and the pace suits people with no prior experience.

Once pool skills are solid, sessions move to the 20 m fosse at the Centre nautique Les Vagues de Meyzieu and to the prepared quarry at Chamagnieu. These inland sites bridge the gap between the controlled pool environment and open sea — visibility conditions and depth feel different, and that transition is built into the club's progression structure.

Once certified, a Niveau 1 diver can dive with a dive guide (palanquée) down to a maximum of 20 m. The qualification is FFESSM-recognised across France and compatible with European reciprocity agreements. Instructors Philippe and Nicolas oversee N1 formation, both volunteering their time as part of the club's entirely non-professional encadrement.

The season runs from mid-September through to summer, with sea outings for N1 candidates integrated into the club's Mediterranean weekend calendar — Bormes les Mimosas, St Cyr sur Mer and Estartit all feature on the annual programme.