Key Takeaways
For children raise up in the previous ' 60s and early ' 70s , there was one television staple that opened their optic to the magic of life under theocean’ssurface : " The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau . “Over the course of nine seasons , celebrated sea adventurer , Jacques - Yves Cousteau , use up TV audience on escapade around the world in his ship , the Calypso , and as John Crace ofThe Guardianput it , " Always in a ruddy woolly hat , even in swelter heat , Cousteau was like royalty … "
" Like a lot of us , I grew up watch Jacques Cousteau ’s TV series,“Dan Yaccarino , author of " The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau , " says via e-mail . " I was fascinated by the submerged photography , learning about the sea , and of course , Cousteau ’s narration . I wanted to apportion my interest with a young coevals that does n’t lie with much about him , if anything at all . "
Jennifer Berne , source of " Manfish : A Story of Jacques Cousteau , " had a similar experience . " From the meter I was very young , I was fascinate by the mystery of our planet ’s oceans and all the fascinating creatures that live them , " she say via e-mail . " I used to observe Jacques Cousteau ’s awful pic of all his submersed adventures , sitting in front of the telecasting , imagine that I was there with Cousteau and his gamble bunch . So , once I develop up and became a writer , doing a Bible about Cousteau was a natural for me . "
Cousteau instigate an entire genesis to take a deep interestingness in the deep sea , and his bequest has continued to determine modernoceanography(his grandson , Fabien Cousteau , is presently building PROTEUS , which he anticipate " the world ’s most advanced underwater scientific enquiry station and habitat to address humans ’s most critical concerns : medicinal discovery , solid food sustainability , and the impacts of climate change " ) . But there ’s so much more to Cousteau than his touch reddened hat and television persona — here are some fact to get you up to focal ratio .
Facts About “The Father of Scuba Diving”
Cousteau originally became interested in sea exploration at a immature age . After surviving a near - fatal car accident that broke both his weapon system , he started swimming in the Mediterranean Sea as a anatomy of physical rehabilitation . The problem ? He was frustrated by the modified amount of time he could pass submerged under the surface . In 1943 , Cousteau met a Gallic railroad engineer named Emile Gagnan . After some experimentation with tight air cylinders , the duo developed the firstAqua - Lung machine , intended to avail divers stay underwater for long full stop . For modern divers , this early invention is now known as a diving regulator , or demand valve , and it ’s a crucial pecker in scuba . But he also helpedinvent other types of underwater gadgets , including many of the lighting systems and waterproof cameras that are still in role today .
" He was not only an explorer , but an inventor and an militant for nature , a rare combination , " Yaccarino says .
He Was a Prolific Filmmaker, Documentarian and Writer
In addition to " The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau , " the IE co - farm several documentaries with his son Philippe ( until Philippe ’s demise in a plane smash in 1979 ) . He also co - write the book " The Silent World " with Frédéric Dumas in 1953 , and released his first colour movie documentary of the same name three years later . His other feature of speech films admit " World Without Sun " and " Voyage to the Edge of the World , " and harmonise to theCousteau Society , he serve create 115 television movie and 50 other books .
" One of my favourite thing about Jacques Cousteau is that he realized that a big part of his Book of Job was to make us all love the creatures of the sea , " Berne says . " He interpret how important it was for people to protect and maintain the sea and all the lifeforms that live there . In his own word , ' citizenry protect what they love . ' So , is n’t it great that loving was part of his strategy to protect our planet ! "
He Discovered Deep Sea Wonders and Was a Staunch Defender of Whales
Before Cousteau , very little was known about the nocturnal , deep ocean tool called thenautilus . Cousteau was the first to capture existent footage of the nautilus swim in the cryptical ocean . He also pioneer research into the communicating organisation used by dolphinfish and was among the first to document their use of sonar . And one of his most importantaccomplishmentswas his work in help to get a moratorium on commercial-grade whaling passed by the International Whaling Commission in 1986 .
He Was a Big Fan of Children
Cousteau himself was a father tofour children(sons Jean - Michel and Phillipe , who both joined their dad in subaquatic world expeditions , girl Diane and Logos Pierre - Yves ) . But beyond being a doting dad , he was inspired by the inquisitive nature of nestling .
" Jacques Cousteau loved children , " Berne says . " He especially loved kids because of the freedom with which they express themselves , their creative and odd minds , and their sense of wonder . These , of row , were the same traits that drove Cousteau to keep wanting to know more , to research and notice more , for his entire life . He also take in how important child were , because the future of our major planet rests in their hand . "
Guinness Helped Him Achieve Greatness
As Cousteau began making a name for himself , hecrossed paths withIrish millionaire Thomas Loel Guinness , a politician and descendant of Arthur Guinness , the founder of Guinness brewery . divvy up Cousteau ’s love for the sea , Guinness lent the Internet Explorer a 40 - year - old former railroad car ferry for just one franc per class . That ship became known as Calypso , the shipNational Geographicsays would " become most synonymous with the Cousteau name and fabled as a platform for marine adventure and exploration . "
FAQs
Jacques Cousteau became interested in ocean exploration at a immature age after surviving a near - fateful gondola stroke that broke both his arm . He started swim in the Mediterranean Sea as a form of physical renewal .
Jacques Cousteau have sex children and was instigate by their inquisitive nature . He believed that children concur the future tense of the major planet in their hands and respect their creative and peculiar mind .
