By Vladimir Shelyapin – Wikimedia

Top 10 Interesting facts about French explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau


 

Jacques-Yves Cousteau wore several hats, he was a French naval officer, an explorer, an archaeologist, an innovator and an author.

His love for swimming led him to take up a new career that never crossed his mind. He started swimming after he had an accident and could no longer serve as a naval pilot.

Jacques introduced the world to what life underwater is like through his films and published book, The Silent World: A Story of Undersea Discovery and Adventure.

He started the French Navy’s undersea research group. Jacques owned a ship he called Calypso. He took her to all sea explorations and used her for oceanographic research.

Through his marine research, Jacques created awareness of endangered species. His award-winning films are The Silent world and World Without Sun.

Here are more interesting facts about Jacques Cousteau.

1. Jacques Cousteau initially wanted to be a naval pilot

By Alfred T. Palmer – Wikimedia

Jacques-Yves Cousteau joined the French navy with no plans of exploring the water but to be a pilot. His dream of becoming a pilot was crushed when he got involved in a car accident.

He broke his arm and took up swimming to regain strength on his arm. Jacques could not proceed with his pilot training due to the injury.

This was when he discovered his true passion. He had some homemade goggles which he used underwater. When he got back to the navy, he spent two years at sea as a second lieutenant.     

2. Jacques Cousteau invented Aqua-Lung

The invention of the Aqualung changed the history of deep-sea diving forever. Divers were now able to have access to the underwater world for long periods.

This first Aqualung was a twin-hose apparatus. It was created during World War II. They were now able to explore and film the ocean depths that had remained hidden for years.

The compressed air cylinders were invented about the same time. Jacques and his partner, Gagnan, connected it to snorkel hoses, bodysuits and the aqua-lung.   

Another underwater innovation by Jacques was the waterproof camera that could withstand high pressure. It was during this time that he shot two documentaries 18 Meters Deep and Shipwrecks.  

3. Jacques Cousteau served in the military as a spy

Photo by Craig Whitehead on Unsplash

Right before the start of World War II, Jacques got enlisted into the French intelligence services.  

He worked for the French Resistance and his role included reporting the movements of Italian troops to the Allied Forces.

Jacques received several awards including the highest medal, Legion of Honour, for his efforts. He continued serving in the navy after the war to clear underwater mines.

While working in clearing the underwater mines, he continued with his own underwater explorations.

4. Jacques Cousteau also developed an underwater camera

Cousteau was also influential in the invention of the waterproof camera that could withstand the high pressure of deep water.

Together with his team, they came up with several other great inventions like the first submersible scooters, a mini-submarine and many lighting systems still used today.

5. Jacques Cousteau pioneered underwater archaeology

By Vladimir Shelyapin – Wikimedia

In 1948, Jacques together with expert divers and academic scientists went for an underwater expedition in the Mediterranean Sea. Their mission was to find the Roman shipwreck Mahdia.

This operation was the first underwater archaeology to be done using self-contained diving apparatus.

Two years later, Jacques bought a minesweeper from the British. He turned it into an oceanographic boat, he named her Calypso.

During one of his underwater explorations, Jacques broke the world record when he dove 300 feet underwater.

In 1951, Cousteau took a sabbatical from the Navy to work on his own sea expeditions.

6. Jacques Cousteau’s television show was the first under the sea documentary

Conducting underwater archaeology was not a cheap operation. Jacques used the opportunity to raise funds as well as educate the public on life underwater.

He published his first book in 1953, The Silent World, which he turned into an award-winning film.  

The success of the film and the book allowed him to get enough finances for another expedition. He also got sponsored by the French government and National Geographics in explorations of the Indian Ocean.

Through his documentaries and films, Jacques created awareness of the mysteries and attractions of the underwater world.

He launched an hour-long television program in 1966. The TV series ran for nine seasons. 

7. Jacques Cousteau was an advocate for the protection of sea animals

Photo by Giachen’s World on Unsplash

To document his underwater explorations, Jacques wrote several books such as The Shark in 1970, Dolphins in 1975, and Jacques Cousteau: The Ocean World in 1985.

The books and the films that he produced had environmental messages that pleaded for more protection of ocean flora and fauna.

He founded the Cousteau Society in 1973 to raise awareness of the ecosystems of the underwater world. The society grew and had more than 300,000 members globally.

Before being an advocate for the preservation of life underwater, Jacques used to be a spearfisherman. During one of his explorations, he accidentally killed a baby whale.  

8. Jacques Cousteau helped stop underwater dumping of nuclear waste

Cousteau’s love for the environment led him to organize a popular campaign against a French-government plan. The plan involved dumping nuclear waste into the Mediterranean Sea in 1960.

He also opposed nuclear power because the government was not dealing with the waste properly.

Jacques led the campaign with a group of women and children. They were able to make a train with nuclear waste turn back.

9. Contrary to his advocacy to protecting sea life, Jacques Cousteau’s undersea documentary cost the life of sharks

While filming The Silent World, several seas lives were killed including many sharks and a baby whale. His boat, Calypso, collided with the baby whale.

During the filming of this documentary, Jacques was a little concerned about marine life. After the baby whale accident, the crew shot sharks that were attacking the injured baby whale. He was heavily criticized for this. 

10. Jacques Cousteau believed that people could live under the water

Photo by Gerald Schömbs on Unsplash

Cousteau believed that medical science would one day create an invention that would allow humans to live underwater.

He envisioned a reversible surgery that would give people gills like a fish, capable of extracting oxygen from the water. Jacques believed that the procedure would be reversible to allow humans to live back on land.

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