“Go go go go ! As soon as the brief is finished and the clock started, the immersion is total. Siren noises, artificial mist, darkness and dimmed light directly set the mood for the team of four players (to which we joined) as they hasten to put on flippers and diving equipment at the edge of the pit. . No time to waste, you have to go find the clues that will allow you to geolocate and save the turtle eggs from pirates!
“The scenario is inspired by our dives in Marsa Shagra, in Egypt, reveals Fabrice Otiz, 44, designer of this innovative escape game and general manager of the diving center of the‘Argonaut, in Ramonville, near Toulouse. The idea came to me during the first lockdown. For lack of a client and being an escape game fan, I proposed this scenario to my colleagues to pass the time. They loved it and told me that it was absolutely necessary to show it to the public when it came back! »
The idea is simple but you had to think about it. The success is such that all slots are taken until July according to the diving instructor. “Some even came from Belgium and Spain,” he says.
Treasure hunt in the dark
Once immersed, the pressure at the start of the game quickly gives way to that of the liters of water that accumulate above the players and to the aquatic calm that only the sound of breathing in the regulator disturbs. If of course the players cannot talk to each other, tablets with pencils are provided for them to notify others of their impressions. Because underwater, no one can hear you think.
After a short time of acclimatization in the dark, everyone separates to collect the first clues which lie at a depth of five meters. The second part of the game, a little different, takes place, hang on, at no less than 15 meters! Once the maximum of clues collected, everyone goes back to try to establish the famous coordinates. Mission accomplished in 1h55 for the small team in addition to the four penalties (indications given by the instructor to help progress).
“It’s an interesting feeling to have a goal underwater and not just be there to watch,” says Emmanuel Ragon, 30, who is there for his birthday. In itself, the principle was simple but the disadvantages of diving complicate everything: the fact of not speaking, slow movements, darkness, etc. Without that, we would have won in thirty minutes. This specialist in X-ray imaging knows something about it since he has already participated in more than thirty escape games.
Simple principle, extreme conditions
Despite its relatively conventional plot, the game is far from easy, as stated by Fabrice, who has seen many play it. “One day some firefighters came very sure of themselves because they thought there would be physical challenges underwater,” he recalls amused. In the end, they took more than two hours. Even the instructors at the center went over two hours. The record currently stands at 1h23.
Greg Djadoun, 31, is aware of this, with his team, he could have done better. “We lost a lot of time going around in circles in the first part because we were missing a clue, regrets this project manager in the space field, who nevertheless has nearly 80 dives to his credit. But at least we finished under two hours, the turtles are saved! », he laughs.
A second scenario, which should involve more sophisticated hardware, is already ready and should see the light of day soon. If you also want to test your intellect and your composure at the bottom of the water, count 90 euros for an individual session, 299 euros for a session in a group of four. Level 1 diving is required.