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Brice Portolano

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On the rocky shores of Cassis in southern France, the whole village has gathered and the excitement rises as Lionel Franc prepares to dive from 98 feet—his highest ever. After a few minutes of deep concentration, Franc steps forward, raises his arms and jumps into the void. Three seconds later, he enters the water at a speed of 60mph. His trainer and two lifeguards move in to make sure he is safe. He quickly emerges making the OK signal with his hands.

At 45, Franc is one of the few cliff-divers in the world to enter the water head-first. Known around town as Loulou, Franc began diving as a boy and was trained by Jean-Michel Beaujon, who was a student of Father Simon, a famous cliff diver with the nickname “the flying-priest.” Franc is a father of three and follows an intense physical training plan, dives year round, and, by all accounts, has dedicated life to performing dives from such heights.

Over the last year, French photographer Brice Portolano spent time with Franc in the calanques—steep-walled inlets of limestone in southern France—and returned with a collection of incredible images. Here, Portolano shares a few of his favorites and a window into the cliff diver’s world.

Environment

The Grace and Serenity of the World's Greatest Cliff Diver

At 45, Franc is one of the few cliff divers in the world to enter the water headfirst.

Brice Portolano

Published: Nov 4, 2015