We are sharing our recent interview with Arnaud Palu, He was born in the south west of France in the footsteps of the Pyrénées mountains.
He is currently serving as CEO of several businesses within Saudi Arabia Sovereign fund. He was in charge of the safety for the world record of 2007 with Herbert Nitsche diving at – 214 meters; he was part of an expedition in Greece to freedive on a 1941 sunken British submarine lying at – 55 meters; he freedived the tectonic plates of Iceland and dived inside caves without the aid of scuba equipment.
He considers himself lucky to have discovered his true passion at an early age and wants to show the world that you can find your calling too. That is the purpose of the Pressure Seekers: a portal to inspire people and help them realize that you can become who you deserve to be, at any moment in your life.
Hi Arnaud, can you please tell our readers little bit about yourself. Your background, education passion etc. ??
I was born in the south west of France, in the Pyrenees mountains, right across Spain. I am 57 years old. I dropped out of university after my first year when I realized it was not for me. I did mh national service as a Marine infantry drill sergent and right after that, I found myself working in the French Pavilion at EPCOT in Walt Disney World… that was the beginning of a life theme and the start of a self-realization: I had to carve my way through and seize opportunities coming my way. I figured that what I lacked in college degree could be compensated by grit and stubbornness. I later on also came to the realization that if opportunities were not coming my way, I had to move to find myself in their path. More of this later.
We been hearing a lot about you, so we notice your starting to gain a lot of attention how does it feel?
I started Depth Nomads out of a genuine desire to share my experience and inspire others. Gaining attention is intimidating and also exhilarating: it means more people can get out message and get some tools to transform themselves.
Can you please tell us more about your nature documentary series?
Depth Nomads is a documentary adventure series that takes individuals with personal struggles on transformative journeys in unique, lesser-known locations. Through immersive experiences and challenges tailored to their stories, the series helps them reconnect with themselves, heal, and grow. We use freediving in extreme locations as a backdrop and blend exploration and storytelling to create profound emotional and visual narratives.
What has been one of the most exciting achievements of your career so far ?
I have managed to climb the corporate ladder and make a successful career as an executive in spite of suffering severe dyscalculia. Since my brain cannot process certain combinations of numbers, I had to find a way.
What’s your goal in life you want to achieve next?
I want as many people as possible to become Depth Nomads. They do not have to join us in our adventures as such. They just have to conduct themselves as Depth Nomads. To go through life as one of us. A little bit like Paolo Coelho showing the world how you can become a Warrior Of Light. It is about embracing a spirit and realizing that we have a duty to square our shoulders, plant our feet firmly on the ground, look at life straight in the eyes and say: “I am here and. I. matter”.
What motivates you to do your best work as a film producer?
There are two reasons.
The first one is that I am driven by a deep belief in the power of storytelling to heal, challenge, and inspire. Depth Nomads is more than a series: it’s a journey of transformation, pushing people beyond their limits to reconnect with themselves. I create immersive moments that blend adventure, human connection, and emotional breakthroughs, because I know that a film has the power to change lives.
The second reason is more personal. Depth Nomads is also my legacy. It is a way for my daughter to discover parts of me she never knew. When those we love leave, we often realize how much of their lives remained in the shadows. This series is my way of leaving a trace, so those who matter to me can always remember who I was.
Did you choose this industry, as a career, or as a hobby?
Like most things in my life, this industry was never on my radar. I stumbled upon it. So when it came my way, I seized it. It is a hobby that is taking more and more place in my life. And by the look of it, it will keep growing.
Everybody needs time out. What do you do in your free time?
I freedive of course! Freediving is my safe place. Which is ironic in its own way as many people consider freediving unsafe. That is one aspect of freediving I love: it peels life to its essence. There is no cheating when you freedive: you fill your lungs with air, you immerse in the water, you stay in there, you resurface to breathe again. It is somewhat primal. If you don’t resurface, you die. And nobody wants that, right? Everything is peeled to its purest form. There is a sense of finite infinity that makes freediving quite poetic.
How can people find you and follow you online?
People can find me in a high altitude lake in some mountains, but the chance of an encounter is quite remote. Alternatively, we share our moments on Instagram: depth.nomads and on our website: www.depthnomads.com.
