A vibrant portrait of an elderly man wearing a red beanie, glasses, and a light blue shirt, smiling warmly with the ocean in the background. His casual attire and cheerful expression evoke a spirit of adventure and a deep connection to marine life.
A vibrant portrait of an elderly man wearing a red beanie, glasses, and a light blue shirt, smiling warmly with the ocean in the background. His casual attire and cheerful expression evoke a spirit of adventure and a deep connection to marine life.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Historical

Historical

Jun 11, 1910

-

Jun 25, 1997

A vibrant portrait of an elderly man wearing a red beanie, glasses, and a light blue shirt, smiling warmly with the ocean in the background. His casual attire and cheerful expression evoke a spirit of adventure and a deep connection to marine life.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Historical

Historical

Jun 11, 1910

-

Jun 25, 1997

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a French naval officer, oceanographer, filmmaker, and inventor who changed the world's perception regarding the oceans through his explorations, inventions, and documentaries. Jacques Cousteau was born in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, France, in 1910; however, the sea was his playground as a French naval officer during the Second World War. Cousteau co-invented the Aqua-Lung in 1943 with engineer Émile Gagnan, the first open-circuit SCUBA. This invention helped Cousteau penetrate the ocean depths and share the findings with the audience in a manner that was impossible before.

For this reason, Cousteau's deep-sea explorations were initially motivated by his desire to unveil the mysteries of the deep. The book titled The Silent World, written by Jacques Cousteau along with Frédéric Dumas in 1953, and the movie based on this book released in 1956, presented Cousteau's innovative ideas of underwater filming. It was awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and was one of the first documentaries shot in colour to focus on the ocean depths. It later received an Oscar. Cousteau gave millions of people information and knowledge on marine life, ocean preservation, and the importance of preserving the world's water bodies through his filmmaking work.

In 1950, Cousteau bought the famous research vessel Calypso to serve as his floating laboratory and the setting for many underwater adventures. Cousteau accomplished many missions with Calypso, such as archaeological dives, marine life studies, and underwater cinematography. His TV series The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau (1966-1976) enabled viewers to meet parts of the world and creatures previously inaccessible to the public, thus making him an ambassador of the seas.

Apart from being an explorer, Cousteau was a passionate activist for the protection of the seas. In 1973, he established The Cousteau Society, a non-profit organization whose main objective is to preserve aquatic ecosystems. Due to his persistent lobbying, people all over the world started to realize the effects of pollution and overfishing on the seas. He also stopped the dumping of radioactive waste into the Mediterranean Sea in the 1960s, proving his environmentalism.

For his work, Cousteau was awarded many honors and titles during his lifetime, including the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 and admission to the French Académie française. His contributions are well documented in his production portfolio, which features over 150 television documentaries and over fifty books. Jacques Cousteau died in Paris in 1997, but his work has been continued by many followers who have inherited his principles of oceanography and environmentalism of the twentieth century.

Quotes

"The sea once it has got its hold on you never lets you go, though it may take you years to realize it."

"We need to realize that the water cycle and life cycle are interrelated."

"The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope."

"If you love something, you safeguard it."

"From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to the earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free."

"A lot of people attack the sea, I make love to it."

"The future belongs to the traveler and in all the beauty of the world that one meets while crossing ever shifting borders."

"The two indispensable liquids in the world, water and air, have turned into the world's dustbins."

"The real cure for our environmental problems is to understand that our job is to salvage Mother Nature."

"Man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free."

"When we release wild animals back to the wild, we only put them back where they rightfully belong. Man cannot grant freedom to wild animals but only deny it."

"It is the sea which becomes the universal dumping ground."

"To maintain world population at a manageable level we need to reduce the population by 350,000 people every day."

"The happiness of the bee and the dolphin is to exist. For man, it is to know that and to wonder at it."

FAQ

What was the Aqua-Lung?

Cousteau developed the first open-circuit SCUBA, the Aqua-Lung, in 1943, which enabled longer exploration of the underwater environment.

What was the significance of Cousteau's film The Silent World?

The Silent World is an underwater movie documentary that was awarded the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1956. It gave the world a color look at the deep sea.

What did the Cousteau Society do?

The Cousteau Society was established in 1973 and mainly deals with marine conservation, with the aim of protecting the oceans and sea creatures.

What did Cousteau bring to television?

Jacques Cousteau's television series The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau introduced marine investigation to households and fostered worldwide concern for oceanography and preservation.

In what way did Cousteau impact the field of environmental policy?

He was a prominent campaigner against the dumping of radioactive wastes in the Mediterranean and a champion of the sea and environmental principles.

What were Cousteau's views on marine conservation?

Cousteau was awarded many times; he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 and the Palme d'Or for his films on documentaries.

What accolades did Jacques Cousteau get?

Cousteau was awarded many times; he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 and the Palme d'Or for his films on documentaries.

What was Calypso?

Calypso was Cousteau's famous ship, which he used in underwater research, investigation, and documentary filmmaking.

What was Cousteau's opinion on overfishing?

He also opposed overfishing, stating that it was counterproductive to the balance of the marine ecosystem and the sustainability of ocean resources.

When did Jacques Cousteau move to New York?

Sensually.” As Cousteau got older, his illnesses began to subside, and he gradually became a strong swimmer. In 1920, the family traveled with Higgins to live in New York City for two years.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a French naval officer, oceanographer, filmmaker, and inventor who changed the world's perception regarding the oceans through his explorations, inventions, and documentaries. Jacques Cousteau was born in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, France, in 1910; however, the sea was his playground as a French naval officer during the Second World War. Cousteau co-invented the Aqua-Lung in 1943 with engineer Émile Gagnan, the first open-circuit SCUBA. This invention helped Cousteau penetrate the ocean depths and share the findings with the audience in a manner that was impossible before.

For this reason, Cousteau's deep-sea explorations were initially motivated by his desire to unveil the mysteries of the deep. The book titled The Silent World, written by Jacques Cousteau along with Frédéric Dumas in 1953, and the movie based on this book released in 1956, presented Cousteau's innovative ideas of underwater filming. It was awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and was one of the first documentaries shot in colour to focus on the ocean depths. It later received an Oscar. Cousteau gave millions of people information and knowledge on marine life, ocean preservation, and the importance of preserving the world's water bodies through his filmmaking work.

In 1950, Cousteau bought the famous research vessel Calypso to serve as his floating laboratory and the setting for many underwater adventures. Cousteau accomplished many missions with Calypso, such as archaeological dives, marine life studies, and underwater cinematography. His TV series The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau (1966-1976) enabled viewers to meet parts of the world and creatures previously inaccessible to the public, thus making him an ambassador of the seas.

Apart from being an explorer, Cousteau was a passionate activist for the protection of the seas. In 1973, he established The Cousteau Society, a non-profit organization whose main objective is to preserve aquatic ecosystems. Due to his persistent lobbying, people all over the world started to realize the effects of pollution and overfishing on the seas. He also stopped the dumping of radioactive waste into the Mediterranean Sea in the 1960s, proving his environmentalism.

For his work, Cousteau was awarded many honors and titles during his lifetime, including the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 and admission to the French Académie française. His contributions are well documented in his production portfolio, which features over 150 television documentaries and over fifty books. Jacques Cousteau died in Paris in 1997, but his work has been continued by many followers who have inherited his principles of oceanography and environmentalism of the twentieth century.

Quotes

"The sea once it has got its hold on you never lets you go, though it may take you years to realize it."

"We need to realize that the water cycle and life cycle are interrelated."

"The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope."

"If you love something, you safeguard it."

"From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to the earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free."

"A lot of people attack the sea, I make love to it."

"The future belongs to the traveler and in all the beauty of the world that one meets while crossing ever shifting borders."

"The two indispensable liquids in the world, water and air, have turned into the world's dustbins."

"The real cure for our environmental problems is to understand that our job is to salvage Mother Nature."

"Man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free."

"When we release wild animals back to the wild, we only put them back where they rightfully belong. Man cannot grant freedom to wild animals but only deny it."

"It is the sea which becomes the universal dumping ground."

"To maintain world population at a manageable level we need to reduce the population by 350,000 people every day."

"The happiness of the bee and the dolphin is to exist. For man, it is to know that and to wonder at it."

FAQ

What was the Aqua-Lung?

Cousteau developed the first open-circuit SCUBA, the Aqua-Lung, in 1943, which enabled longer exploration of the underwater environment.

What was the significance of Cousteau's film The Silent World?

The Silent World is an underwater movie documentary that was awarded the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1956. It gave the world a color look at the deep sea.

What did the Cousteau Society do?

The Cousteau Society was established in 1973 and mainly deals with marine conservation, with the aim of protecting the oceans and sea creatures.

What did Cousteau bring to television?

Jacques Cousteau's television series The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau introduced marine investigation to households and fostered worldwide concern for oceanography and preservation.

In what way did Cousteau impact the field of environmental policy?

He was a prominent campaigner against the dumping of radioactive wastes in the Mediterranean and a champion of the sea and environmental principles.

What were Cousteau's views on marine conservation?

Cousteau was awarded many times; he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 and the Palme d'Or for his films on documentaries.

What accolades did Jacques Cousteau get?

Cousteau was awarded many times; he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 and the Palme d'Or for his films on documentaries.

What was Calypso?

Calypso was Cousteau's famous ship, which he used in underwater research, investigation, and documentary filmmaking.

What was Cousteau's opinion on overfishing?

He also opposed overfishing, stating that it was counterproductive to the balance of the marine ecosystem and the sustainability of ocean resources.

When did Jacques Cousteau move to New York?

Sensually.” As Cousteau got older, his illnesses began to subside, and he gradually became a strong swimmer. In 1920, the family traveled with Higgins to live in New York City for two years.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a French naval officer, oceanographer, filmmaker, and inventor who changed the world's perception regarding the oceans through his explorations, inventions, and documentaries. Jacques Cousteau was born in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, France, in 1910; however, the sea was his playground as a French naval officer during the Second World War. Cousteau co-invented the Aqua-Lung in 1943 with engineer Émile Gagnan, the first open-circuit SCUBA. This invention helped Cousteau penetrate the ocean depths and share the findings with the audience in a manner that was impossible before.

For this reason, Cousteau's deep-sea explorations were initially motivated by his desire to unveil the mysteries of the deep. The book titled The Silent World, written by Jacques Cousteau along with Frédéric Dumas in 1953, and the movie based on this book released in 1956, presented Cousteau's innovative ideas of underwater filming. It was awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and was one of the first documentaries shot in colour to focus on the ocean depths. It later received an Oscar. Cousteau gave millions of people information and knowledge on marine life, ocean preservation, and the importance of preserving the world's water bodies through his filmmaking work.

In 1950, Cousteau bought the famous research vessel Calypso to serve as his floating laboratory and the setting for many underwater adventures. Cousteau accomplished many missions with Calypso, such as archaeological dives, marine life studies, and underwater cinematography. His TV series The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau (1966-1976) enabled viewers to meet parts of the world and creatures previously inaccessible to the public, thus making him an ambassador of the seas.

Apart from being an explorer, Cousteau was a passionate activist for the protection of the seas. In 1973, he established The Cousteau Society, a non-profit organization whose main objective is to preserve aquatic ecosystems. Due to his persistent lobbying, people all over the world started to realize the effects of pollution and overfishing on the seas. He also stopped the dumping of radioactive waste into the Mediterranean Sea in the 1960s, proving his environmentalism.

For his work, Cousteau was awarded many honors and titles during his lifetime, including the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 and admission to the French Académie française. His contributions are well documented in his production portfolio, which features over 150 television documentaries and over fifty books. Jacques Cousteau died in Paris in 1997, but his work has been continued by many followers who have inherited his principles of oceanography and environmentalism of the twentieth century.

Quotes

"The sea once it has got its hold on you never lets you go, though it may take you years to realize it."

"We need to realize that the water cycle and life cycle are interrelated."

"The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope."

"If you love something, you safeguard it."

"From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to the earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free."

"A lot of people attack the sea, I make love to it."

"The future belongs to the traveler and in all the beauty of the world that one meets while crossing ever shifting borders."

"The two indispensable liquids in the world, water and air, have turned into the world's dustbins."

"The real cure for our environmental problems is to understand that our job is to salvage Mother Nature."

"Man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free."

"When we release wild animals back to the wild, we only put them back where they rightfully belong. Man cannot grant freedom to wild animals but only deny it."

"It is the sea which becomes the universal dumping ground."

"To maintain world population at a manageable level we need to reduce the population by 350,000 people every day."

"The happiness of the bee and the dolphin is to exist. For man, it is to know that and to wonder at it."

FAQ

What was the Aqua-Lung?

Cousteau developed the first open-circuit SCUBA, the Aqua-Lung, in 1943, which enabled longer exploration of the underwater environment.

What was the significance of Cousteau's film The Silent World?

The Silent World is an underwater movie documentary that was awarded the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1956. It gave the world a color look at the deep sea.

What did the Cousteau Society do?

The Cousteau Society was established in 1973 and mainly deals with marine conservation, with the aim of protecting the oceans and sea creatures.

What did Cousteau bring to television?

Jacques Cousteau's television series The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau introduced marine investigation to households and fostered worldwide concern for oceanography and preservation.

In what way did Cousteau impact the field of environmental policy?

He was a prominent campaigner against the dumping of radioactive wastes in the Mediterranean and a champion of the sea and environmental principles.

What were Cousteau's views on marine conservation?

Cousteau was awarded many times; he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 and the Palme d'Or for his films on documentaries.

What accolades did Jacques Cousteau get?

Cousteau was awarded many times; he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 and the Palme d'Or for his films on documentaries.

What was Calypso?

Calypso was Cousteau's famous ship, which he used in underwater research, investigation, and documentary filmmaking.

What was Cousteau's opinion on overfishing?

He also opposed overfishing, stating that it was counterproductive to the balance of the marine ecosystem and the sustainability of ocean resources.

When did Jacques Cousteau move to New York?

Sensually.” As Cousteau got older, his illnesses began to subside, and he gradually became a strong swimmer. In 1920, the family traveled with Higgins to live in New York City for two years.

Life and achievements

Early life

Jacques Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910, in the small town of Saint-André-de-Cubzac in France. From a very young age, he was curious about technology and the sea, which later defined him as an oceanographer. Exploration was always a part of Cousteau's early years. He was educated at the Collège Stanislas in Paris and, in 1930, joined the French Naval Academy to join the French Air Army. However, a severe car accident slowed these dreams, and he turned to the seas as a new challenge.

This change of direction led Cousteau to his lifelong interest in the sea and underwater exploration. Cousteau worked with the French Navy in the Second World War, where he performed some experiments on the available diving apparatus. Working with engineer Émile Gagnan, he developed the Aqua-Lung, which changed diving by making long underwater expeditions possible. This was the start of Cousteau's journey in the sea and the marine environment.

The first dives off the French coast with the Aqua-Lung enabled Cousteau to capture the marine life firsthand, thus cementing his love for underwater filmmaking and oceanography.

Legacy

Jacques Cousteau was an explorer and an advocate of the environment. His invention of the Aqua-Lung made ocean bottoms available for research and to create awareness of the underwater world among the populace. With documentaries such as The Silent World and The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, he changed how people perceived the ocean and brought the unknown world to the living rooms of millions of people.

While using a recently invented device for underwater filming, Cousteau not only recorded the lives of sea creatures but also explained why they needed to be saved.

However, Cousteau's contribution to ocean conservation was not limited to the movies. He was primarily involved in establishing The Cousteau Society in 1973, which aimed to preserve the marine environment. His environmental work, especially his fight against nuclear waste disposal in the Mediterranean Sea, paved the way for the international campaign to maintain oceans.

Today, Cousteau is considered an inspiration for contemporary environmentalism, as his words on overfishing, pollution, and climate change are still valid.

Apart from the environmental conservation efforts, Cousteau has been an educator and a communicator of excellence. His talent for enthralling people with ocean mysteries made him one of the most famous personalities in marine biology. Cousteau paved the way for generations of oceanographers, conservationists, and explorers through his books, documentaries, and speeches.

Today, his work goes on through The Cousteau Society, which exists to this day with the mission of preserving the oceans for future generations.

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Your donation today shapes the future of how families and friends connect.
You will become a featured Ambassador.
Learn more ->

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Your donation today shapes the future of how families and friends connect.
You will become a featured Ambassador.
Learn more ->

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Milestone moments

Jun 11, 1910

Birth of Jacques Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau was born in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, France, and he grew up in a family that nurtured his inquisitiveness about nature.

Since his childhood, Cousteau was fond of exploring, which could be observed in his experiments with devices and in nature.

His passion for the sea would only increase in the course of his development, and he would become one of the greatest oceanographers in the world.

It is interesting to note that as a young boy, Cousteau was interested in mechanics and how things worked in this world.

His early exposure to technology, coupled with his curiosity, prepared him for his future invention in underwater exploration.

His parents encouraged him in his academic endeavors, and by the time Cousteau was a grown man, he was utterly obsessed with the ocean.

Jan 18, 1943

Co-Invention of the Aqua-Lung
In 1943, Jacques Cousteau and engineer Émile Gagnan designed the Aqua-Lung, the first successful open-circuit SCUBA diving equipment.

This invention allowed divers to spend more time underwater without having to be connected to a supply of air on the surface.

The Aqua-Lung introduced scientists and explorers to the ocean depths, revolutionizing the field of marine biology.

Therefore, Aqua-Lung's invention significantly shifted Cousteau's career and oceanography in general.

This new technology allowed Cousteau to explore the underwater environment in ways that had not been seen before.

The initial use of the Aqua-Lung made him record some of his first underwater scenes that captured the structural and aesthetic aspects of marine life.

Mar 12, 1956

The Silent World movie released
In 1956, Cousteau released a documentary film titled The Silent World, which brought the world closer to the underwater world.

This film was co-directed by Cousteau and Louis Malle and was one of the first films to employ underwater color photography.

It was awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and then an Academy Award for Best Documentary, thus making Cousteau known internationally.

The Silent World's success can be said to have started Cousteau's career as a filmmaker and environmentalist.

The film's beauty and story were impressive, touched the audience's hearts, and helped draw attention to the problem of ocean protection.

Cousteau was an oceanographer who made science accessible and famous through film; thus, he was a prominent figure in oceanography studies.

May 16, 1973

Creation of The Cousteau Society
Jacques Cousteau established the Cousteau Society in 1973 as a non-profit organization to conserve marine habitats.

The society was also established to educate people about the various threats facing the oceans, such as pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction.

When Cousteau assumed the helm of the society, it grew into one of the most influential organizations for ocean preservation.

The formation of the Cousteau Society was the beginning of Cousteau's crusade from explorer to activist.

He employed his leadership to champion policies that would help conserve the world's seas and water creatures.

The society is still in existence today, and it undertakes the work that Cousteau was so passionate about: making people aware of the importance of the environment.

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