A graduate of the Naval School (graduated in 1930), Jacques-Yves Cousteau left the French Navy in 1957 with the rank of corvette captain after having organized—with Philippe Tailliez —the French Navy's under-water study and research group.

By 1936, Cousteau was testing several prototypes of breathing apparatus. Later, in 1943, with Emile Gagnan, he invented and manufactured the one-piece compressed-air diving suit, thus making it possible for man to explore the sea.

To speak of Jacques-Yves Cousteau is also to speak of the Calypso, that former mine-sweeper built in the United States and converted into an oceanographic research ship in 1950. In 1951—with Andre Laban —he perfected under-water television equipment before setting off on many fruitful scientific cruises: to the coasts of Greece, the Black Sea, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean. Then the three and a half year voyage across the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Bering Strait. Not to mention the excavation of an old wreck off Marseilles and various experiments with "houses under the sea" off Marseilles and in the Red Sea, where six men were to live for three weeks at a depth of 330 feet.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau also developed several models of diving saucers, including one completed in 1959, with Jean Mollard, which allows two men to descend to a depth of 1,250 feet to film, observe the depths, and bring back samples.

Captain Cousteau has also made marvellous films of under-water life, which involved unprecedented daring sporting feats. Thanks to him, the public has learnt of the life of sharks, whales, and dolphins, and is able to be a little better acquainted with the enchantment of the under-water world.

JACQUES-YVES COUSTEAU Born 1910, at Saint-André-de-Cubzac, Gironde

AWARDS AND RECORDS
Graduate of the Naval School (class of 1930)
Appointed Director of the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco in 1957
Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur for his work in the Resistance

Photo: Jacques-Yves Cousteau.. under-water exploration owes him a great deal