50 Interesting Facts about Jacques Cousteau

Dan March 4, 2023

Jacques Cousteau was a French explorer, inventor, and conservationist who is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of marine biology and oceanography. Born in 1910 in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, France, Cousteau was fascinated by the sea from an early age and devoted his life to exploring its depths and raising awareness about its importance.

After serving in the French Navy during World War II, Cousteau began to develop a range of underwater exploration technologies, including the Aqua-Lung, a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus that allowed divers to stay submerged for longer periods of time. Cousteau’s innovations helped to revolutionize the field of underwater exploration and opened up new avenues for scientific research.

Throughout his career, Cousteau also made numerous documentary films and television programs about marine life and conservation, including the popular series “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.” These programs helped to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting the oceans and the creatures that inhabit them, and inspired a generation of marine biologists and conservationists.

Despite his many achievements, Cousteau was also criticized by some environmentalists for his early support of underwater oil drilling and his close ties to the French government. Nevertheless, his contributions to the field of marine exploration and conservation remain immense, and his legacy as an adventurer, inventor, and environmentalist continues to inspire and captivate people around the world.

If you are interested in knowing more about Jacques Cousteau, it’s surely a good idea to look at these 50 interesting facts about Jacques Cousteau.

1. Jacques Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910 in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, France.
2. His full name was Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
3. He was the son of a lawyer and a homemaker.
4. Cousteau was interested in the sea from an early age, and learned to swim when he was just four years old.
5. He was also interested in filmmaking and photography, and bought his first movie camera when he was 17 years old.
6. Cousteau enrolled in the French Naval Academy in 1930, and graduated in 1933.
7. He became a naval aviator, but was injured in a car accident in 1936, which forced him to give up flying.
8. Cousteau then turned his attention to diving and underwater exploration, and began developing new technologies to make underwater exploration safer and more efficient.
9. He invented the Aqua-Lung, a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, in 1943.
10. Cousteau married Simone Melchior in 1937, and they had two sons, Jean-Michel and Philippe.
11. Simone was also a scuba diver and an integral part of many of Cousteau’s expeditions.
12. Cousteau served in the French Navy during World War II, and used his underwater expertise to help the Allies.
13. After the war, he began making documentaries about underwater exploration and marine life.
14. Cousteau’s documentary films and television programs, including “The Silent World” and “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau,” helped to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting the oceans and marine life.
15. Cousteau was also an author, and wrote more than 50 books about marine life and conservation.
16. In addition to the Aqua-Lung, Cousteau invented a number of other underwater exploration technologies, including the underwater camera, the underwater sled, and the diving saucer.
17. Cousteau was a member of the Académie française, and was awarded numerous honors throughout his lifetime, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Legion of Honor.
18. He was also a vocal advocate for environmental conservation, and was a founding member of the World Wildlife Fund.
19. Cousteau was a pioneer in the study of oceanography, and his research contributed to our understanding of ocean currents, marine life, and the effects of pollution on the oceans.
20. Cousteau’s work also helped to establish the first marine protected areas, and paved the way for the creation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
21. Cousteau was a skilled pilot, and often used planes and helicopters to survey marine environments from above.
22. In 1971, Cousteau founded the Cousteau Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to ocean conservation.
23. The Cousteau Society is still active today, and works to educate people about the importance of protecting the oceans and marine life.
24. Cousteau was a vegetarian, and believed that eating meat was harmful to the environment.
25. Cousteau’s expeditions took him all over the world, from the Arctic to the Antarctic, and he was known for his love of adventure and exploration.
26. He once said, “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
27. Cousteau’s documentaries were filmed in both black and white and color, and often included stunning underwater footage.
28. Cousteau was also an accomplished artist, and created a number of paintings and sculptures.
29. In addition to his scientific and environmental work, Cousteau was also involved in politics, and ran for president of France in 1981.
30. He received over 1 million votes in the first round of the election, but ultimately lost to François Mitterrand.
31. Cousteau was a skilled sailor, and owned several boats throughout his lifetime, including the Calypso, which was used for many of his expeditions.
32. The Calypso was originally a British minesweeper, but was converted into a research vessel by Cousteau in the 1950s.
33. Cousteau also developed a number of underwater habitats, including Conshelf I, II, and III, which were used for long-term underwater research.
34. Conshelf III was the most ambitious underwater habitat project, and involved living and working on the ocean floor for weeks at a time.
35. Cousteau was a prolific filmmaker, and his documentaries have won numerous awards, including three Academy Awards.
36. He was also a television personality, and hosted several television series, including “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau” and “Jacques Cousteau’s Ocean Adventures.”
37. Cousteau’s work was often controversial, and he was criticized by some for his close ties to the French government and military.
38. He was also criticized for his use of technology in marine exploration, which some environmentalists saw as invasive and harmful to marine ecosystems.
39. Despite these criticisms, Cousteau remained a passionate advocate for ocean conservation and continued to work tirelessly to protect the oceans and marine life until his death.
40. Cousteau died on June 25, 1997, in Paris, France, at the age of 87.
41. He was buried at his home in Sanary-sur-Mer, France, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
42. Cousteau’s legacy lives on through his documentaries, books, and the work of the Cousteau Society, which continues to educate people about the importance of ocean conservation.
43. In 2010, Google honored Cousteau with a Google Doodle on what would have been his 100th birthday.
44. Cousteau was a member of the French Resistance during World War II, and helped to smuggle Jewish refugees out of France.
45. He was also involved in the development of underwater navigation systems, including the Diving Saucer, which allowed divers to explore deeper underwater environments.
46. Cousteau was an early advocate for the use of wind and solar power, and believed that renewable energy was the key to a sustainable future.
47. He was also an early proponent of aquaculture, and believed that fish farming could help to feed the world’s growing population.
48. Cousteau’s films and documentaries have inspired generations of scientists and environmentalists, and his work continues to influence the way we think about and protect the oceans.
49. In addition to his work in the ocean, Cousteau was also interested in space exploration, and was a member of the Committee for the Scientific Exploration of Space.
50. Cousteau’s work has been recognized by numerous organizations, including the National Geographic Society, which awarded him the Hubbard Medal in 1961.

Jacques Cousteau was a pioneer of marine exploration and conservation, who spent his life working to increase public awareness of the importance of ocean conservation. Through his groundbreaking work in underwater photography and filmmaking, he showed the world the beauty and fragility of the marine ecosystem. He was also an advocate for renewable energy, aquaculture, and space exploration, and believed that science and technology could be used to solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental problems. His work continues to inspire scientists, environmentalists, and ocean enthusiasts around the world, and his legacy lives on through the Cousteau Society, which works to educate people about the importance of ocean conservation. Jacques Cousteau’s contributions to marine exploration and conservation will be remembered for generations to come.