Jacques Cousteau; the co-developer of the Aqua-Lung, as well as an explorer, author, conservationist, and filmmaker; died twenty years ago today. He opened the eye of millions both to the wonders of the world beneath the sea but also the environmental damage being wreaked upon the oceans.
I remember how, as a teenager, his book, The Silent World: A Story of Undersea Discovery and Adventure , fired my imagination. While my friends were inspired by the space program I became fascinated with the world beneath the ocean. The documentary version of the book, Silent World, would earn Cousteau both the Palme d’or at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival and an Academy Award. Cousteau would win his second Oscar for his 1964 documentary, World Without Sun.
In his lifetime, Cousteau wrote more than 50 books, produced 120 television documentaries, founded an environmental protection foundation which bears his name with 300,000 members.
The vessel he used over much of his career, a former British Royal Navy minesweeper converted into a research vessel, Calypso, is now being restored in Turkey.
I grew up on his fascinating narration. A shame about his son dying from a scouting expedition. The thing that was lacking was the alck of enthusiassm of his kids to step in and continue Jaques’ work.
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A few years ago I dusted off my copy of The Living Sea, which a family friend had given to be as a boy more than 45 years ago. I was flipping through it and thinking about the great man — he was the only stranger I had ever cried for upon hearing about his death as I was driving home from work. So as I flipped through the book, going backwards as is my odd way, I came to the title page where I found his signature, which must have escaped me as a distracted 10 year old!