Salut Bonjour !
Montreal, Canada, May 29, 2013
At the occasion of the IMAX Great White Shark 3D opening on May 31 at the Science Center of Montreal, François Leduc and William Winram were invited to join award-winning tv host Gino Chouinard on Quebec’s favourite* morning show: Salut Bonjour ! to talk about freediving, breaking world records and to promote the film.
GCh: the film suggests that sharks are much less of a predator and more of a prey?
FL: sharks’ vital enemy is mankind which kills sharks to the tune of several tens of millions of individuals every year, thus threatening many shark species and the health of the oceans.
GCh: is the great white shark dangerous?
WW: there is danger associated with diving with this animal, but it has nothing to do with how it is portrayed in the film Jaws or on Shark Week of Discovery Channel. The animal is timid and very cautious.
GCh: is it true you are less likely to be killed by a great shark shark than an elephant or hippopotamus?
FL: yes, it is true; in the film it is also stated you have more chances of dying from falling out of bed than from a great white shark
GCh: François, what was your role in the film?
FL: I was in charge of William and his colleague Fred Buyle‘s safety, so that each could watch each other’s backs, while they were diving with the great white sharks up close and placing tags on the animals
GCh: why hold your breath?
FL: it gives us freedom of movement, unencumbered by heavy equipment, and when it comes to getting close to the animals, because we don’t make sounds or emit bubbles, we are part of their element
GCh: William, what do you place on the sharks?
WW: a telemetric tag to allow scientists to follow them, it is applied with a modified speargun, the dart stays under the skin of the animal with the tag attached; it is placed next to the dorsal fin.
Living in Montreal and curious about freediving?
You are in luck, Montreal is home to the biggest freediving community in the province.
Local club: Club d’Apnée Sportive de Montréal
Local school: ApneaCity
Canadian freediving federation: AIDA Canada
* with an average minute audience of over 350,000 Monday through Friday, the Salut Bonjour ! show has a 42% market share!
Watch the Salut Bonjour ! segment here