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Cousteau, Jacques-Yves: a biography. Why is Jacques-Yves Cousteau famous? Biography, research, inventions Jacques Yves Cousteau scientist

Jacques-Yves Cousteau was definitely a genius. First, he gave the world an aqualung, then he devoted his life to the sea and brought the study of the oceans to a new level. But it was not enough for him just to swim in the seas and take pictures of marine life on camera. He wanted to change the whole world and influence the history of human civilization. In 1962, Cousteau launched an absolutely fantastic project: his team lived in houses at the bottom of the ocean for a total of three months. It was like flying into space - the whole adventure turned out to be so amazing and strange.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau dreams of resettling humanity underwater

Jacques-Yves Cousteau is an inventor, ocean explorer and author of many excellent documentaries. During World War II, Cousteau participated in the French Resistance, carried out subversive activities and received for this the highest award in France, the Order of the Legion of Honor.

He created his most important invention, scuba gear, in 1943, together with Emile Gagnan, specifically for sea sabotage. When the war ended, the discovery brought him quite a lot of money, so he was able to invest it in something completely crazy.

The original ConShelf project.

In 1950, Jacques-Yves buys the decommissioned ship Calypso and rebuilds it into a marine laboratory. From that moment until his death in 1997, Cousteau's life turns into one great pilgrimage on the waters of the ocean. Glory, honor and three Oscars for great (no kidding) documentaries will await him. But we want to tell not quite about it. There was an episode in the life of Jacques-Yves and his team when they were so ambitious that they undertook an unthinkable and fantastic undertaking for those times.

Project ConShelf I - the first underwater home in history

ConShelf I installation.

For the first time, it was possible to settle down and survive on the bottom of the sea in 1962, that is, shortly after Gagarin's flight. It is easy to guess that against the backdrop of space flight, the idea did not receive even half of the attention it deserved. Nevertheless, it was an unexpected success for everyone.

Not far from the French Marseilles in the Mediterranean Sea, the first real “underwater home” in history was located. Its dimensions were not so great: in fact, it was a metal barrel 5 meters long and 2.5 meters in diameter. The construction received the unspoken nickname "Diogenes" and became a haven for Cousteau's friends - Albert Falco (remember this name!) and Claude Wesley.

Inside the underwater house.

Oceanauts lived a week at a depth of 10 meters. If you think that the pioneers suffered all this time in an underwater hell, then you are damn wrong. Claude and Albert had a radio, TV, comfortable bunk beds, regular breakfast, lunch and dinner, their own library and constant chatter on the radio with their comrades on the Calypso. In addition, both of them swam close to the new home for 5 hours a day, studying the seabed and the inhabitants of the ocean, after which they were engaged in research work at Diogenes.

A week at the ocean base was enough to understand: it is possible to live under water and it is not as difficult as it seemed at first. The experiment required immediate continuation.

ConShelf II - the first underwater village

Already in 1963, a new project was launched, which was head and shoulders above the previous one. If ConShelf I can be called the first underwater home, then ConShelf II was already a real underwater village. Six people and a parrot constantly lived here, and many more members of the Calypso crew sailed to visit. In general, the situation was like in a normal cheerful hostel, only barracudas, jellyfish and divers swam outside the window, and for a walk "in the fresh air" you had to wear scuba equipment.

The shelf of the Red Sea, not far from the coast of Sudan, was chosen for the new experiment. ConShelf II was not a single building, but a whole complex of four structures. Surprisingly, in order to assemble and install everything, it took not so much effort and money: only two ships, 20 sailors and five divers.

Initially, it was assumed that it would indeed be a full-fledged ocean village with incredible (at that time) locks, corridors, underwater boats and oceanic observatories. In the end, I had to do everything much more modestly, but even in this form, the results are simply amazing.

The main building was built in the form of a starfish with four "arms" and a large room in the center. It was placed at a depth of 10 meters, where oceanauts could simultaneously enjoy the sunlight and calmly swim for several hours a day without experiencing problems with decompression.

One of the main goals of the experiment was just to find out whether scuba divers can descend to great depths without any problems and safely return to their underwater dwelling. As expected, it was quite real. On the surface of deep-sea divers, death from a sharp ascent and decompression sickness would have awaited, but underwater houses solved this problem.

Submarine hangar and tough experiment

In addition to the "Starfish", there was also an air hangar for a "diving saucer" - a submarine used by Cousteau's team. Waking up in the morning at a depth of 10 meters below sea level, you could drink coffee, go on a journey to a depth of 300 meters, discover a dozen unknown species of animals, and return by lunchtime to eat tuna sandwiches and tell your friends about your adventures. And all this without leaving the ocean! For the 60s, such stories sounded like fantasy on the verge of insanity.

In addition, there was another important building. Despite its austerity, the "Rocket" was in some ways even more interesting from the point of view of the entire project. This turret was located at a depth of 30 meters and was made in order to find out exactly how scuba divers will endure the extremely difficult conditions of underwater work and life.

Unlike the Sea Star, it was rather not a house, but a punishment cell: extremely little space, constant stuffiness and high pressure, an experimental mixture of helium, nitrogen and oxygen instead of air, darkness and sharks around. In general, everything to test yourself in a real stressful situation. The only thing that pleased the two volunteers, who lived here for a week, was that the helium in the mixture made their voices squeaky and funny, and the team members often called the Rocket just to chat and laugh heartily all together.

This experiment also turned out to be successful, and everyone in it proved to be excellent: the Rocket, the scuba divers, and the breathing mixture. The first thing both test subjects did when they sailed back after a terrifying week and the dangers of decompression was to smoke a full pipe of tobacco and finally get some sleep.

The simple life of simple guys at the bottom of the ocean

Jacques-Yves Cousteau smokes at the bottom of the ocean and thinks about how to move more people here from land.

Unlike the first astronauts, the first aquanauts did not experience any particular difficulties in their work. That is, of course, to live at the bottom of the ocean for a month and work in scuba gear for several hours a day is not the most trivial task. But even the composition of the team suggests that it was easier to cope with this mission than with the duties of an astronaut. The permanent residents of the underwater houses turned out to be: a biologist, a teacher, a cook, a sports coach, a customs officer and an engineer.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his team tried to create not only tolerable, but also very comfortable conditions for the discoverers. The daily diet of the underwater settlers consisted of fresh seafood and vegetables, as well as canned food and pastries. And even more: they chose their own menu by calling the chef via video link on Calypso!

Ventilation with the help of pipes made it possible to maintain such a comfortable microclimate that the inhabitants of the Sea Star did nothing but smoke pipes and cigarettes, while not forgetting to drink wine from time to time. The oceanauts received regular visits from a hairdresser and used artificial sunbathing daily to avoid losing their tan and suffering from UV deficiency.

An aquanaut swims around an underwater house with a scooter.

The aquanauts entertained themselves with conversations, reading books, chess and watching the ocean. In order to warn residents about problems with the respiratory mixture, a parrot was placed in the Starfish, which also survived the adventure quite well, although sometimes it coughed heavily. However, it is possible that this is due to tobacco smoke. Within a month, the inhabitants of the underwater village even had their favorites among the fish. So, for example, they happily met and fed the affectionate barracuda, which constantly hung around the house. The fish was given the nickname Jules and began to recognize her "by sight".

Aquanauts clean their house of algae.

This has to be done daily. In addition, thanks to living in such conditions, some unexpected details came to light. It turned out that due to increased pressure (and, possibly, an artificial respiratory mixture), wounds on the body heal literally overnight, and beards and mustaches practically stop growing. In addition, tobacco burned many times faster, and therefore smokers had to request much more cigarettes than expected.

"A world without the sun" - a triumph that deserved Jacques-Yves Cousteau

The ConShelf II project was a real triumph for Cousteau and his team. Not only did they draw the world's attention to a new perspective on human development, but they also won an Oscar for best documentary in 1965. "A World Without Sun" is an hour and a half picture that Cousteau shot during the experiment, and it produced a striking effect.

Much of the information about ConShelf II and life at the bottom of the Red Sea is best obtained from this movie. So it is worth watching even for those who do not like documentaries. Moreover, it was filmed simply amazingly: the atmosphere of life under water is mesmerizing, each frame is a ready-made screenshot for the desktop, and many moments want to be reviewed precisely because of how aesthetically attractive they are.

The climax of the film is the journey of Cousteau and that same Albert Falco on the "Saucer" - their small UFO-shaped submarine. They descend 300 meters into the depths of the Red Sea and, to the surprise of the viewer, find landscapes and life forms at the bottom of the sea that look alien. Here, aquanauts encounter a giant six-meter fish, with schools of crustaceans running like antelopes, and an orgy of crabs for several thousand people.

The ascent of Cousteau and Falco completes the entire film, and it has a stunning effect: it seems that it is you who have just risen from the seabed after an incredible month of living in an underwater house.

ConShelf III - the collapse of hopes

After the success of the ConShelf II project, Jacques-Yves Cousteau was given the opportunity to continue development and experimentation. In 1965, ConShelf III was launched, the team's third and, unfortunately, last major experiment in this area. It was even more ambitious, even more perfect, even more exciting, but still the last.

The large dome was placed at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea between Nice and Monaco at a depth of 100 meters. Six people (among them Cousteau's son, Philippe) survived for three weeks in an underwater house that was much more autonomous than the previous ones. Along the way, the oceanauts of the third project were engaged in many experiments of a purely practical nature, which were supposed to provide a lot of information for oil companies.

ConShelf III in section.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau himself and his team finally worsened relations with sponsors from the industry. Instead of pointing out the best way to extract oil from the sea shelves, researchers began to draw public attention to the problems of ecology and the fragility of the balance of life in the ocean. More about grants for the development of underwater settlements could not be dreamed of.

Underwater houses after Cousteau

American project Tektite.

Of course, in addition to the Cousteau team, other researchers were also involved in the resettlement of mankind in the ocean. In total, more than a dozen such projects have been launched in the world. But all of them were far from being so lucky with world fame, although many had no problems with funding.

"Ichthyander-67".

For example, in the USSR, the so-called "Ikhtiandr-66" was launched - an amateur project, during which divers-enthusiasts managed to build underwater housing, which became their home for three days. The Ikhtiandr-67 that followed was much more serious - two weeks of residence, a design reminiscent of ConShelf II, and experiments with various animals.

Another famous example is the three experiments of the SEALAB project, which was launched in Bermuda in 1964 and resumed in 1965 and 1969. The history of the SEALAB base itself is worthy of a separate article. Interest in underwater homes has already begun to fade, but the authors of the project were able to convince the US government that it would be extremely useful for space research. For example, it was here that future astronaut Scott Carpenter trained, who experienced the effects of isolation and pressure drops.

SEALAB III gave scientists a lot to think about and a lot of experience for aquanauts. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out the way the organizers would have liked. From the very beginning, the project was plagued by problems, accidents occurred, and fatal failures followed one after another. It all ended with the death of one of the oceanauts, Berry Cannon, who died during an emergency repair of the underwater base for reasons not fully understood.

In addition to research projects for the settlement of the seabed, there is at least one hedonistic one. Jules Undersea Lodge, converted from an old underwater base, is the only underwater hotel currently functioning. For 30 years of work, about 10 thousand people managed to visit it, many of whom are newlyweds who decided to diversify their honeymoon.

So it's safe to say that the first thing people, having barely found themselves in an underwater dwelling, engaged in sex and the issue of reproduction. It looks promising: at least, mankind will not have problems with the settlement of underwater cities of the future.

We can say that the construction of hydropolises failed before it even started, Jacques-Yves Cousteau is just an old man who has gone out of his mind, and dreams of life on the bottom of the ocean are best left to fantasy and video games. But if you look at everything from the point of view of an optimist, projects like ConShelf and SEALAB are the first, albeit too neat, steps. No man has set foot on the Moon since 1972, but we still dream of space and are convinced that in a couple of decades we will colonize Mars. The only difference between Cousteau's utopia is that we believe in it less, although it looks, in general, even more realistic.

But this is where the average person’s knowledge of the outstanding Frenchman ends, and the fact that Cousteau was also an inventor, writer, military man, Oscar winner, environmentalist, and also a member of the French Academy of Sciences is known to a select circle of his admirers .

Fun that has become the meaning of life

Jacques-Yves Cousteau was born in the glorious wine region of Bordeaux in 1910. His father, Daniel Cousteau, had an excellent education, a doctorate in law, and was involved in managing the affairs of wealthy entrepreneurs. In this regard, the family, which has two sons, constantly moved from place to place, living in the United States, then again returning to France. Because of this, Jacques-Yves did not have much interest in schooling, as he did not have true friends, he was closed in himself and had friendly relations only with his brother Pierre-Antoine.

Together with his brother, Cousteau discovered scuba diving, he loved to explore the seabed, but initially it was only child's play. Video filming with a camera once bought by parents to record family events, but later became a personal and untouchable thing of Jacques-Yves, became the same fun. He made real films, with his own plot and actors, captured the beauty of nature and animals, the cities he had visited and, of course, the sea.

Cousteau's military career

Despite the lack of much success in training, Jacques-Yves Cousteau graduated from the Jesuit College with good marks, after which he entered the Naval Academy in 1930, and after graduation he received the rank of ensign and, as part of the cruiser team, was sent to Shanghai. Traveling the open spaces of the sea, he took photographs all the time, trying to capture everything unusual and unknown around him.

Despite his love for the sea, Jacques-Yves decided to transfer to the Academy of Naval Aviation - he was attracted to the heavenly heights and it was not just a hobby, but a real dream. But the dream was not destined to come true: while driving fast in his father's sports car, Jacques-Yves got into a terrible car accident that could have ended fatally.

But higher powers had mercy on the desperate motorist who exceeded the speed limit, and Cousteau managed to survive and, despite numerous injuries, did not lose his inner core. He survived a long recovery period, managed to regain control of his paralyzed right hand, survived numerous fractures of the ribs, fingers and displacement of the vertebrae. Thus, the world has lost a pilot, but gained an outstanding researcher and scientist.

Water Explorer

In 1936, still not fully recovered after a severe accident, Cousteau was sent to the cruiser "Sufren" as an instructor. Once, during his free time from official duties, Jacques-Yves Cousteau was walking along the bustling streets of Toulon. Going into one of the shops, he came across diving goggles and bought them. After the very first dive under water, Jacques-Yves had a new hobby, exciting and unusual - the study of the depths of the sea.

From this time begins a bright period in the life of Jacques-Yves Cousteau - he acquires a new meaning, a new passion that will determine his future fate. In 1937, a happy event occurs in Cousteau's life - he marries Simone Melchior, who will later become the mother of his two sons.

At the same time, important acquaintances were made with Frederic Dumas and Philippe Taille - true friends, associates and like-minded people. Together they dive and explore the underwater world, and besides that they try to improve diving equipment.

First discoveries and successes

Jacques-Yves Cousteau, along with his team, does not stop. During the war, when the fleet in Toulon was flooded, the comrades are left without work and are engaged in editing footage that has been filmed for a long time. Thus, the first serious film by Jacques-Yves Cousteau was created under the title "18 meters under water", and when the researcher achieved its demonstration from the occupation authorities, he received the first recognition and all kinds of assistance in conducting underwater filming. The authorities provide Cousteau with film, which was in short supply at the time, some benefits, and allow filming in a militarized zone.

In 1942, Jacques-Yves Cousteau founded a film company called Jacques-Yves Cousteau's Science Film Studio. When the question arises of creating real full-length films, it becomes obvious that without special equipment it will not be possible to carry out the venture. That is why Cousteau and his team, with the assistance of engineer Emile Gagnan (an employee of a military enterprise working with gases), begin to actively work on creating an oxygen cylinder. In 1943, an apparatus was created that proved to be excellent in operation, and Cousteau received 5% of the multi-million dollar sales of his invention.

At the bottom of the seas and oceans

When the war ended and Cousteau, Dumas and Taye returned to service, they were given the task of clearing the Toulon raid. The military department financed all the expenses of the team, and also handed over the ship for personal use. Thus, the researchers received the necessary resources to carry out diving and filming the underwater world.

This was an important boost in the career of Jacques-Yves Cousteau and he was soon promoted and given complete freedom from any official duties, concentrating on his research activities. Cousteau decided at all costs to be the first and best of the explorers of the underwater expanses and to present to the world the beauty that he encountered every day on the seabed.

Active research around the world began with the acquisition of the famous Calypso ship, on board of which an entire laboratory was equipped. Ocean exploration became the basis for writing the book In the Silent World in 1953. Based on the book, a film was made that received a huge number of awards, including an Oscar and a prize at the Cannes Film Festival. The following books were also incredibly popular: "The Living Sea", "The World Ocean", "The World without the Sun", "Dolphins", "The Life and Death of Corals".

Thanks to the countless studies of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, many discoveries have been made, wonderful books have been created and fascinating books have been written. The scientist invented scuba gear, fought for nature conservation, improved the underwater movie camera and suggested the echolocation of porpoises. Cousteau was the first explorer of the seas and oceans and remains the best in this field, a man who revolutionized the study of water expanses. Jacques-Yves Cousteau died at the age of 87 until the end of his days without losing his common sense and his passion for the sea.

Main events

in 1943, together with Emil Gagnan, he invented and tested scuba gear

pinnacle of career

oceanographer, photographer, writer, filmmaker, inventor

Commander of the Order of the Legion of Honor

Knight Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit

Military Cross 1939-1945

Officer of the Order of Naval Merit

Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters

Jacques-Yves Cousteau(fr. Jacques-Yves Cousteau; June 11, 1910, Saint-Andre-de-Cubzac, Bordeaux, France - June 25, 1997, Paris, France) - French ocean explorer, photographer, director, inventor, author of many books and films. He was a member of the French Academy. Commander of the Order of the Legion of Honor. Known as Captain Cousteau

Biography

early years

Jacques Yves was born in 1910 near Bordeaux in the town with the long name of Saint-Andre-de-Cubza in the family of lawyer Daniel Cousteau and housewife Elisabeth Cousteau. His father traveled a lot not only in France, but also abroad. Thanks to this, Jacques traveled to New York and Alsace, where he learned English and German. Due to moving, the boy studied at different schools. After receiving the certificate, he decided to connect his life with the fleet and entered the Naval Academy. Despite the unsystematic nature of his secondary education, Cousteau passed his exams brilliantly and passed the competition - he was 22nd on the list of thousands of candidates who applied for a place at the academy. While studying on the Jeanne d'Arc ship, he managed to circumnavigate the world. However, at that time the young man had not yet thought about traveling, especially for the purpose of research.

Military service

in 1930, Cousteau entered the Brest Naval School. With the rank of ensign, he graduated from the military academy, and by distribution he was sent to the naval base in Shanghai. During the 2nd World War, Jacques-Yves Cousteau served in the artillery as a machine gunner, was a fighter of the French resistance, in particular, in the territory of France occupied by the Nazi troops in Toulon, together with resistance scouts, entered the commandant's office and stole important documents. At the end of the war, he was awarded the Order of the Holy Legion for his active participation in the anti-fascist partisan struggle.

Stages of life

In 1935, Jacques-Yves Cousteau decided to go to the Naval Aviation Academy, but he got into a car accident and aviation had to be abandoned. Cousteau broke his fingers on his left hand, several ribs, and his right hand was paralyzed, his lungs were also damaged. He has to spend eight months in intensive physical therapy. To restore in 1936, he entered the instructor on the cruiser "Sufren", assigned to the port of Toulon.

In 1936, for the first time, Jacques-Yves swims underwater with goggles. Amazed by what he sees, he decides to dedicate his life to underwater exploration.

In 1937 he married Simone Melihor and soon they had two sons, Jean-Michel (in 1938) and Philippe (in 1940).

In 1943, working in the difficult conditions of German-occupied France, Jacques Cousteau and Emile Gagnan invented the first safe and effective breathing apparatus under water, called scuba (from Latin aqua, water + English lung, lung = aqua-lung, “water lung ”), which Cousteau later successfully used to dive to a depth of 60 meters without any harmful consequences. This invention has become truly legendary. In 1946, the production of scuba gear was launched on an industrial scale.

In 1948, Cousteau became the captain of a corvette, and in 1950 he received a decommissioned British destroyer and converted it into a floating research laboratory, which became known worldwide as the Calypso. Jacques-Yves converted the ship into an expeditionary vessel. The ship has a helicopter landing pad, scientific equipment, an underwater observation bay, single and double mini-submarines, underwater motorcycles and dozens of scuba gear. It was on board the Calypso that the illustrious captain made many oceanographic expeditions to the Atlantic, Indian Oceans, the Red, Black, Arabian Seas and the Persian Gulf.

In 1953, Jacques Yves gained worldwide recognition as a writer. Captain Cousteau released his first book, The Silent World, and two years later it was filmed. The triumph of the film was unimaginable: the audience applauded standing for more than half an hour, and the press called it the work of the century. "Palme d'Or" in Cannes and "Oscar" were received unconditionally.

In 1956, Jacques-Yves Cousteau retired from the French Navy with the rank of captain.

In 1957, Cousteau was appointed director of the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco.

In 1959, Captain Cousteau took part in the creation and construction of the “diving saucer” sp350, the first small submarine for scientific work in the ocean. it can accommodate two people, it can be used for observations and filming at a depth of about 370 meters, the “diving saucer” allows it to go even deeper and conduct underwater research even longer than before.

In 1961, US President John F. Kennedy awards Captain Cousteau with the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society. the words are engraved on the medal: “To the man of the earth who gave people the key to the world of silence”

From 1962 to 1965, the captain and his friends conduct the first experiments to study the possibility of living under water. Team members work from one to four weeks in the so-called underwater houses they have designed.

In 1968, the United States premiered a new television series, The Underwater World of Jacques Cousteau, dedicated to the beauty of the deep sea. Several programs receive awards Emmy.

In 1973, in order to maintain and protect the natural resources of the earth, the Cousteau Society was formed in the United States. In the same year, the captain conducts several large expeditions to capture the harsh beauty of Antarctica.

in 1979, the youngest son, Philippe Cousteau, died; he participated in filming on the Catalina seaplane and, during splashdown, the plane fell into the sea.

In 1981, the Cousteau Foundation was created in Paris. The captain gathers a multinational team of scientists to study the Amazon basin. In 1985, having made the first transatlantic crossing on his newest ship, the Halcyone, which is propelled by an electric wind propulsion system, Captain Cousteau arrives in New York. And after that, both of his ships are sent on a ten-year round-the-world expedition, and the captain receives the "Medal of Freedom" from the hands of US President Ronald Reagan

In December 1990, Jacques-Yves' wife, Simone Cousteau, died suddenly of cancer. a year later, the illustrious captain married his longtime lover Francine Triplet. By that time, they already had a daughter, Diana (born in 1980) and a son, Pierre (born in 1982), born before marriage

In 1990, the Cousteau team, in order to draw the attention of the whole world to the fact that the unique nature of Antarctica must be preserved for future generations, deliver 6 children (one from each continent) to Antarctica

In 1994, Cousteau's team went on a scientific expedition to the unique people of the island of Madagascar.

In 1996, in the port of Singapore, the ship "Calypso" in a collision with a barge received a hole and sank. When the ship was raised from the bottom, it turned out that it was impossible to restore it for further oceanographic work. And in the same year, a large campaign was launched to build a new ship, Calypso-2.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau died in Paris on June 25, 1997, at the age of 87 from a myocardial infarction and was buried in the Saint-André-de-Cubzac cemetery.

Influence on descendants

Jacques-Yves Cousteau discovered the "blue continent" for many people. His work also allowed for a new type of scientific communication criticized at the time by some academics. The legendary ship "Calypso" went on a well-deserved rest, it was placed in the maritime museum of the city of La Rochelle. In accordance with the desire of the captain, the Calypso became an integral part of the museum, proving that Cousteau's work continues to live, so the team gladly and gratefully provided equipment and other items related to the life and work of the captain for display. To protect the most vulnerable water areas around the world, the "Cousteau Society" has developed and is implementing the "Water of the World" project. They hope that the peoples of the planet will take an active part in the implementation of the “water of the world” project, and in a few years a whole network of “Cousteau zones” will be created on earth. 1998 was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly as the International Year of the Ocean. Together with the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the Cousteau Society is working on several projects. One of them is a research expedition to the Caspian Sea, the natural uniqueness and environmental problems of which are well known. In November 2003, the Alcyone ship left the port of Monaco and headed for the Red Sea. The purpose of the expedition of the Cousteau Society, which lasted several months, was to study the ecological state of the Sudanese coast and measures to protect it. With special trepidation, its participants visited the places where in 1955 and 1963 Jacques-Yves Cousteau filmed the films "In the world of silence" and "The world without the sun."

Leave a military career

The oceanographic expeditions of Jacques-Yves Cousteau started on November 23, 1951, when he and his team entered the Red Sea. At that time, already an experienced diver, who dived thousands of times and took part in the development of scuba gear, Cousteau acquired a ship equipped with the latest technology before the trip.

The ship "Calypso" set off on the first of its many journeys.

The career of an expedition ship began in the military sphere - as, indeed, the path of its captain. In 1942, the ship, designed to detect mines in the water and ensure the safety of other ships, entered the disposal of the British Royal Navy. Already in 1944, his service to the crown ended. The former minesweeper was named "Calypso" in honor of the Greek nymph. His new task in the Mediterranean was the transport of goods between the islands of Malta and Gozo.

By the early 1950s, 40-year-old Jacques-Yves Cousteau had long been studying the depths of the sea. He served in the underwater research department of the French Navy, dreaming of a career as an independent scientist and expedition member. However, he could not begin to study the distant seas: he did not have enough money, he did not have his own ship. His wife Simone, using family connections, arranged for Cousteau to meet British millionaire Loel Guinness. The tycoon was so carried away by stories about the underwater world that he decided to get a ship for Cousteau.

Cozy cabins and views of the seabed

The choice of Guinness fell on the same Calypso. Having redeemed the ship, he handed it over to Cousteau for a nominal fee - one franc per year. Now the ship needed equipment for scientific work. When the furnishing work began, the Cousteau family had to sell all the most expensive things, including furs and Simone's family jewelry.

The ship needed a lot of work. Jacques-Yves and his crew had to be on board for a long time in conditions where they could only rely on each other and on the strength of the hull. After a major overhaul, comfortable cabins appeared on board the Calypso for a good rest, the ship was equipped with a new compass, radio antenna, and a “crow's nest” - an observation post.

"Ocean Treasures" Memory Library

But perhaps the most famous innovation invented by Cousteau was a special hemispherical room in the front of the ship, equipped with several portholes. It was under water at a depth of about three meters. Through the windows, researchers could observe underwater life and film. On the upper deck, inspired by Cousteau, he hung a poster with the inscription: "You must see with your own eyes." Under this slogan, the new life of Calypso began.

Amazing discoveries and cruel methods

The results of the expeditions, which took place from 1951 to 1955, were summed up in the documentary film "In the World of Silence" - one of the earliest color films in which underwater photography was used.

First of all, the team led by Cousteau explored the coral reef off the Arabian archipelago Farasan. Then, in the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, divers with a camera descended to a depth of up to 75 meters - a record at that time. Describing the extreme conditions in which the filming took place, Cousteau said:

“You can't stay here. Our minds are clouded. Fatal visions are coming."

Although water pressure rises sharply at such a depth, the researchers manage to take pictures of the bizarre coral reefs and sea creatures that scurry between them. The inhabitants of the depths responded to unexpected guests in return. The researcher recalled:

"Often webeing underwater, turn around abruptly and see the noses of numerous underwater inhabitants following us with eager interest.synagridsare limited to one contemptuous glance. Sea bass resolutely swims up close, studies us and swims away. Horse mackerels pretend to be completely indifferent, but move closer to satisfy their curiosity.

"Ocean Treasures" Memory Library

Cousteau and his team also collected coral samples for study. The methods of collecting samples, which also brought the travelers harsh criticism from conservationists, the ocean explorer later regretted. During expeditions, coral fragments were simply beaten off with hammers. And to catch the inhabitants of the underwater world, divers used, among other things, dynamite.

Tragedies in Singapore and Paris

The expeditions of the first half of the 1950s brought Jacques-Yves Cousteau worldwide fame. The film "In a World of Silence" received a number of film awards, including an Oscar. Cousteau's books have been translated into dozens of languages. Meanwhile, the explorer continued to travel on the ship, which had become a symbol of his odyssey.

During the expeditions, Cousteau also found sunken ships. One of them belonged to the ancient Romans. The scientists, whom the captain told about the find, dated the shipwreck to the 3rd century BC. And in 1954, the explorer managed to discover an oil field in the Persian Gulf.

Even having bought a second ship in the mid-80s, Cousteau continued to sometimes go to sea on the Calypso. But in 1996, off the coast of Singapore, the beloved ship collided with a barge and sank. He was taken out of the water after 17 days. The Cousteau family wanted to turn the ship into a museum, but these plans have not yet materialized.

To replace the old ship, Cousteau planned to build Calypso-2. The equipment of the ship again had to meet the latest achievements of science and technology: solar panels, equipment for a television studio, a laboratory and satellite communications could appear on board.

However, this was not destined to come true.

In 1997, Jacques-Yves Cousteau died of a heart attack in Paris.

Anna Odintsova

Jacques-Yves Cousteau is an outstanding oceanographer and just a great person. During his long and eventful life, this outstanding researcher managed to do very, very much. He will be remembered by his descendants as a talented writer, director, as well as an outstanding scientist who revealed many secrets of the underwater world, thus making an invaluable contribution to world science.

Without it, our understanding of the world of the underwater depths would not be complete. After all, the scientific contribution of this outstanding Frenchman will always remain truly invaluable.

Early years, childhood and the family of Jacques-Yves Cousteau

The future famous oceanographer was born in the French town of Saint-Andre-de-Cubzac in the Bordeaux region, which has always been famous for its warm sun and rich grape harvests. His mother was a housewife most of her life, and his father, Daniel, worked as a lawyer.

On the paternal side, our today's hero has Belarusian roots. The father of the future oceanographer moved to France from Belarus. The uncle of the oceanographer lived all his life in the BSSR.

It is quite remarkable that the real name of the oceanographer, as well as his lesser-known father, is "Bus". Only after marrying the mother of Jacques-Yves, his father decided to remake the Belarusian surname and write it down in the French manner.

Returning to other aspects of the life of the Cousteau family, we note that the parents of the oceanographer were constantly traveling. They often traveled to other cities, went to the mountains or to the seashore. Perhaps it was this way of life that predetermined the character of our today's hero.

He was drawn to new discoveries and bright achievements. Having learned to swim early, Jacques-Yves Cousteau did not climb out of the water for days. Subsequently, it became an important part of his life.

After the First World War, Cousteau Sr. found a job in an American company, and therefore the whole family was forced to follow him. In the USA, Jacques-Yves learned English well, and also began to get involved in mechanics for the first time.

It was here during one of the trips to the sea that our today's hero made his first dives. The underwater world of the ocean so fascinated the young guy that later he simply could not imagine his life without the depths of the sea.

Why did Jacques If Cousteau convert to Islam?

After returning to France, Jacques-Yves Cousteau began to create technical samples and very soon managed to construct a battery-powered machine. This engineering success brought him some money, with which he bought his first movie camera.

During this period, he was interested in many things at once, as if still unable to find himself among many hobbies. He took small sketches, was engaged in the creation of sketches of various techniques, and also went swimming in the evenings. Absolutely indifferent, our today's hero was only related to training sessions.

Because of his low academic performance, they once even wanted to expel him from school. However, his father intervened in the matter, taking the guy from the classroom on his own. At the family council, it was decided that Jacques-Yves Cousteau would go to the army. This decision suited everyone, and therefore, very soon, the young guy submitted documents to the French Naval Academy.

In the early thirties, as part of the battle cruiser Jeanne d'Arc, our today's hero made a round-the-world trip across all the seas of our planet. This event played an important role in his fate. Jacques-Yves Cousteau got acquainted with various aspects of being at sea, and also comprehended the basics of shipbuilding and maritime navigation. Subsequently, the famous oceanographer sailed on many other ships.

The path of Jacques-Yves Cousteau in science: to the depths of the sea

In 1938, Jacques-Yves Cousteau began to often dive into the depths of the sea, using only a mask and fins. During this period, for the first time, he began to seriously study the underwater world and its inhabitants.

Odyssey by Jacques Cousteau

Realizing that the existing technologies are imperfect, already in the early forties, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, together with his friend Emile Gagnan, began to create a special apparatus for diving to the bottom of the ocean. From the very beginning, it was decided that the system would operate on the basis of compressed air, which would be located in special cylinders.

As a result, in 1943, the first prototype of an aqualung was created, which was subsequently improved and refined several times. Having finally received all the necessary equipment for the study of underwater depths, Jacques-Yves Cousteau began to engage in scientific activities.

He was engaged in writing books, shooting documentaries, as well as exploring the mysterious world of the deep ocean. Since 1950, our today's hero traveled exclusively on the legendary ship Calypso, which later became a real symbol of the science of oceanography.

In 1957, Jacques-Yves headed the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, within which he began to study marine life. One of the most famous scientific discoveries of the oceanographer was the discovery of internal sonar in cetaceans. In 1973, our today's hero created a non-profit foundation for the protection of underwater inhabitants.

The Last Years of Jacques-Yves Cousteau

During his long life, the scientist created many amazing technical devices for exploring the depths of the sea. So, he is considered the author of waterproof lenses for video cameras, special submarines for the scientific study of underwater depths.

The research of Jacques-Yves Cousteau formed the basis of a series of documentaries, which were subsequently broadcast on many television channels around the world.

For his outstanding scientific research, our today's hero was consecrated to the Commander of the Order of the Legion of Honor, and was also awarded many other awards. After the death of the great explorer in 1997, he was solemnly buried in one of the cemeteries of his native town of Saint-André-de-Cubzac.

Personal life of Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Jacques-Yves Cousteau was married twice in his life. In marriage with his first wife Simone Melchior, two sons of a scientist were born. Both sons from the first marriage of our today's hero also subsequently connected their lives with science.

After the death of his first wife, Jacques-Yves remarried. His second wife was Francine Triplet, who even before the wedding gave birth to a scientist's daughter and son.