Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a French naval officer, explorer, conservationist, filmmaker, innovator, scientist, photographer, author and researcher who studied the sea and all forms of life in water. He is best known for his extensive underwater exploration and his invention of the Aqua-Lung, which allowed people to explore the depths of the ocean. Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910 in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, France. He was the son of Daniel and Elizabeth Cousteau, and had two brothers, Pierre-Antoine and Philippe.
Cousteau was a bright student and was accepted into the French Naval Academy in 1930. He graduated in 1933 and was assigned to the battleship Dupleix. During his time in the navy, Cousteau developed an interest in the sea and began to explore the depths of the ocean. He was also an avid photographer and filmmaker, and his work was featured in several documentaries.
In 1937, Cousteau met engineer Émile Gagnan, who had developed a new type of underwater breathing apparatus. Cousteau and Gagnan collaborated to improve the device, which they named the Aqua-Lung. The Aqua-Lung allowed divers to stay underwater for extended periods of time, and it revolutionized underwater exploration. Cousteau and Gagnan founded the company La Spirotechnique to manufacture and distribute the Aqua-Lung.
In 1943, Cousteau and his crew embarked on their first major expedition, a voyage to the Mediterranean Sea. During the expedition, Cousteau and his crew explored the sea and discovered many new species of fish and other marine life. The expedition was documented in the film The Silent World, which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1956.
In 1950, Cousteau founded the French Oceanographic Campaigns (FOC), which was dedicated to the exploration and study of the sea. The FOC conducted numerous expeditions and research projects, and Cousteau and his crew documented their findings in several films and books.
In the 1960s, Cousteau became increasingly involved in conservation and environmental protection. He founded the Cousteau Society in 1973, which was dedicated to the protection of the world's oceans and marine life. He also wrote several books and articles about the environment and conservation.
Cousteau died on June 25, 1997 at the age of 87. He was a pioneer in underwater exploration and conservation, and his legacy lives on in the work of the Cousteau Society and other organizations dedicated to the protection of the environment. His work has inspired generations of scientists, explorers, and conservationists, and his name will forever be associated with the exploration and protection of the world's oceans.