(Jacques-Yves Cousteau)
Jacques Yves Cousteau
The Captain, achievements, inventions and expeditions
Before and after Cousteau
Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau left his mark forever on the planet and the oceans. When Cousteau and his teams embarked aboard Calypso to explore the world, no one yet knew about the effects of pollution, over-exploitation of resources and coastal development. The films of Calypso's adventures drew the public's attention to the potentially disastrous environmental consequences of human negligence. Cousteau, through his life and his work, was a major player in the environmental movement.
The ocean's call
Jacques-Yves Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910, in Saint-André-de-Cubzac (Gironde) in France. He entered the naval academy in 1930, was graduated and became a gunnery officer. Then, while he was training to be a pilot, a serious car accident ended his 
aviation career. So it was the ocean that would win this adventurer's soul. In 1936, near the port of Toulon, he went swimming underwater with goggles. It was a breath-taking revelation.Seeking a way to explore underwater longer and more freely, he developed, with engineer Emile Gagnan, the Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, or scuba, in 1943, and the world under the sea was opened up to human beings. After World War II, Cousteau, along with naval officer Philippe Tailliez and diver Frédéric Dumas, became known as the " mousquemers " (" musketeers of the sea ") as they carried out diving experiments in the sea and laboratory. In 1950, Calypso, a former mine-sweeper, was modified into an oceanographic vessel, endowed with instruments for diving and scientific research, and the great adventure began. She and her crews explored the seas and rivers of the world for the next four decades.
Recognition
Before and after Cousteau
Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau left his mark forever on the planet and the oceans. When Cousteau and his teams embarked aboard Calypso to explore the world, no one yet knew about the effects of pollution, over-exploitation of resources and coastal development. The films of Calypso's adventures drew the public's attention to the potentially disastrous environmental consequences of human negligence. Cousteau, through his life and his work, was a major player in the environmental movement.
The ocean's call
Jacques-Yves Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910, in Saint-André-de-Cubzac (Gironde) in France. He entered the naval academy in 1930, was graduated and became a gunnery officer. Then, while he was training to be a pilot, a serious car accident ended his 
aviation career. So it was the ocean that would win this adventurer's soul. In 1936, near the port of Toulon, he went swimming underwater with goggles. It was a breath-taking revelation.Seeking a way to explore underwater longer and more freely, he developed, with engineer Emile Gagnan, the Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, or scuba, in 1943, and the world under the sea was opened up to human beings. After World War II, Cousteau, along with naval officer Philippe Tailliez and diver Frédéric Dumas, became known as the " mousquemers " (" musketeers of the sea ") as they carried out diving experiments in the sea and laboratory. In 1950, Calypso, a former mine-sweeper, was modified into an oceanographic vessel, endowed with instruments for diving and scientific research, and the great adventure began. She and her crews explored the seas and rivers of the world for the next four decades.
Recognition
Diving saucers, undersea houses and ongoing improvements to the Aqua-LungTM showed the Cousteau touch. With Professor Lucien Malavard and engineer Bertrand Charrier, Cousteau studied how to design a new complementary wind-power system, the TurbosailTM, and, in 1985, the ship Alcyone was launched, using the new invention. Today, she is the Cousteau team's expedition vessel.Through more than 115 television films and 50 books, Captain Cousteau opened up the oceans to millions of households. Made a chevalier of the Legion of Honor for his service in the Résistance, Captain Cousteau was promoted to the rank of officier then commandeur in recognition of his contributions to science. A member of the US Academy of Sciences, he was also Director of the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco for thirty years. In 1977, the United Nations awarded him the International Environmental Prize. He received the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985. Then, in 1988, he was inscribed in the UN Environmental Programme's Global 500 Roll of Honor of
Environmental Protection and received the National Geographic Society's Centennial Award. Showered with awards, he was elected to the Académie française in 1989.
Heritage
Realizing that it would take an organized effort to protect the planet, in 1974, Captain Cousteau created The Cousteau Society, a US-based, not-for-profit, membership group. Then, in 1981, Fondation Cousteau (later Cousteau Society) was born in France. From these bases of supporters, he launched a worldwide petition campaign in 1990 to save Antarctica from mineral exploitation. His effort was successful: this pristine continent is now protected, for at least 50 years. The global reach of his influence was evident when, in 1992, the Captain received an official invitation to participate in the UN Conference on Development and the Environment held in Rio de Janeiro.Captain Cousteau died on June 25, 1997, at the age of 87. The man is gone but his message has never been more alive. The Cousteau Society and Cousteau Society keep it ever in the forefront of public awareness.
Environmental Protection and received the National Geographic Society's Centennial Award. Showered with awards, he was elected to the Académie française in 1989.
Heritage
Realizing that it would take an organized effort to protect the planet, in 1974, Captain Cousteau created The Cousteau Society, a US-based, not-for-profit, membership group. Then, in 1981, Fondation Cousteau (later Cousteau Society) was born in France. From these bases of supporters, he launched a worldwide petition campaign in 1990 to save Antarctica from mineral exploitation. His effort was successful: this pristine continent is now protected, for at least 50 years. The global reach of his influence was evident when, in 1992, the Captain received an official invitation to participate in the UN Conference on Development and the Environment held in Rio de Janeiro.Captain Cousteau died on June 25, 1997, at the age of 87. The man is gone but his message has never been more alive. The Cousteau Society and Cousteau Society keep it ever in the forefront of public awareness. 
Cousteau Society :
Work of J-Y Cousteau and environmental protection
1910. On June 11, Jacques-Yves Cousteau is born in Saint-André-de-Cubzac (Gironde) in France.1923. Cousteau buys his first movie camera, and takes it apart to learn how it worked.1930. JYC enters the French Naval Academy. He pursues a military career in the French Navy until 1957.1936. The three " mousquemers " (" musketeers of the sea ") meet: Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Philippe Tailliez and Frédéric Dumas. First diving trials with rudimentary equipment.1942. The demand regulator is perfected, with Emile Gagnan. 10 Fathoms Down, Cousteau's first film, shot with breath-hold diving, is produced.1944. First scuba dives tried in the Mediterranean, near Marseilles.1948. First underwater scooter, for combat divers.1950. Calypso, a former mine-sweeper, is transformed into an oceanographic ship.1952. First underwater television equipment developed
with engineer André Laban.1953. First live undersea television broadcast.1956. The Silent World, first full-length underwater film receives the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.1957. Cousteau retires from the Navy and becomes Director of the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.1959. First two-seat diving saucer, christened Denise, or SP-350, begins its long career.1962. " Houses Under the Sea " program is launched with Conshelf I, 10 meters below the surface.1963. Conshelf II: two underwater structures in the Red Sea, one at 10 meters to house six oceanauts and the other at 25 meters with two residents.1964. Two single-seat Sea Fleas are built, capable of diving to 500 meters.1965. Conshelf III: six men live for 27 days at 100 meters below the surface, near Nice, France.1968. Launch of the television series " The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau. "1971. Publication of the encyclopedia " Planète Océan. "1972. Antarctica expedition: Calypso is equipped with a helicopter pad.1974. The Cousteau Society is founded in the US as an international, not-for-profit, environmental education organization.1981. Fondation Cousteau, now Cousteau Society, founded in France as a non-profit organization.1982. The first Turbosail is built on a converted catamaran, Moulin à Vent, for a trans-Atlantic crossing.1983. Amazon expedition begins.1984. Alcyone is built and equipped with two Turbosails.1985. Alcyone crosses the Atlantic Ocean, then travels around Cape Horn. Cousteau launches a new television series " Rediscovery of the World. "1988. Captain Cousteau is elected to the Académie française.1989. Cousteau team studies the results of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska and formulates recommendations.1990. Cousteau launches a global petition to save Antarctica. First Ecotechnie Chair is inaugurated.1991. Cousteau demands recognition of the Rights of Future Generations. UNESCO rallies to this great humanist campaign.1992. Cousteau is invited to address the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro.1993. Cousteau is appointed to the UN High Level Advisory Board on Sustainable Development and the World Bank’s Advisory Board on Environmentally Sustainable Development.1995. Cousteau resigns from the presidential advisory board, the Council for the Rights of Future Generations, in protest of France's resumption of nuclear testing.1996. Calypso is sunk by barge in Singapore.1997. Captain Cousteau dies on June 25, at the age of 87.
with engineer André Laban.1953. First live undersea television broadcast.1956. The Silent World, first full-length underwater film receives the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.1957. Cousteau retires from the Navy and becomes Director of the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.1959. First two-seat diving saucer, christened Denise, or SP-350, begins its long career.1962. " Houses Under the Sea " program is launched with Conshelf I, 10 meters below the surface.1963. Conshelf II: two underwater structures in the Red Sea, one at 10 meters to house six oceanauts and the other at 25 meters with two residents.1964. Two single-seat Sea Fleas are built, capable of diving to 500 meters.1965. Conshelf III: six men live for 27 days at 100 meters below the surface, near Nice, France.1968. Launch of the television series " The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau. "1971. Publication of the encyclopedia " Planète Océan. "1972. Antarctica expedition: Calypso is equipped with a helicopter pad.1974. The Cousteau Society is founded in the US as an international, not-for-profit, environmental education organization.1981. Fondation Cousteau, now Cousteau Society, founded in France as a non-profit organization.1982. The first Turbosail is built on a converted catamaran, Moulin à Vent, for a trans-Atlantic crossing.1983. Amazon expedition begins.1984. Alcyone is built and equipped with two Turbosails.1985. Alcyone crosses the Atlantic Ocean, then travels around Cape Horn. Cousteau launches a new television series " Rediscovery of the World. "1988. Captain Cousteau is elected to the Académie française.1989. Cousteau team studies the results of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska and formulates recommendations.1990. Cousteau launches a global petition to save Antarctica. First Ecotechnie Chair is inaugurated.1991. Cousteau demands recognition of the Rights of Future Generations. UNESCO rallies to this great humanist campaign.1992. Cousteau is invited to address the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro.1993. Cousteau is appointed to the UN High Level Advisory Board on Sustainable Development and the World Bank’s Advisory Board on Environmentally Sustainable Development.1995. Cousteau resigns from the presidential advisory board, the Council for the Rights of Future Generations, in protest of France's resumption of nuclear testing.1996. Calypso is sunk by barge in Singapore.1997. Captain Cousteau dies on June 25, at the age of 87.
