Lakhasly

Master of the Deep

1 The Wright Brothers made it possible for man to fly with the birds. Jacques Yves Cousteau made it possible for man to swim with the fish. Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910, in France. He learned to swim when he was only four years old. He learned to dive underwater at the age of thirteen. After he graduated from school, he decided to join the sea forces; therefore, he entered the French navy. He also wanted to become a pilot, flying airplanes from and landing on ships. However, before his pilot's examination, he broke his two arms in a car accident. He was sent to a naval base in Toulon, where he swam in the Mediterranean Sea every day to strengthen his arms. He also tried using goggles to protect his eyes while swimming under water. A new, unexplored world was opened to Cousteau. In 1936, he began his career with undersea exploration. Exploration of the seas became his job.Sof

2 Cousteau had dreamed of swimming free underwater. At the time, those who dived underwater wore heavy suits. They also wore helmets to protect their heads. These limited the movements of the divers. Emile Gagnan and Cousteau designed the aqua-lung, which is an underwater breathing tool. The aqua-lung, which could provide air to the diver, was first tested in 1943. Since then, divers have been able to swim in the sea without being attached to an air hose connected to the ship.

3 When World War II ended in 1945, Cousteau continued his exploration of the ocean and sea depths. He used a small, old, American ship called the Calypso. He also approached the National Geographic Society (NGS) for support. The Society provided him with money to continue his submarine explorations. In return, Cousteau would provide NGS with photographs of submarine life. Cousteau also developed an underwater camera, and filmed his journeys under the sea. Two of his films, "The Silent World" (1956) and "The Golden Fish" (1959) won film awards.

✓ Cousteau's first journey with the National Geographic Society began in 1955. For four months, he explored the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean to film a full-length movie. The Calypso was a well-organized ship. It carried twenty tons of fresh water. There were 26 men on board and one woman, Cousteau's wife. During the cruise, Cousteau and his men dived at least four times a day. At the time, the undersea world was new and unknown. Cousteau felt that the seas and oceans waited to be discovered. He also felt that each dive was like a visit to another planet. The undersea scene, the plants, the living creatures, and the atmosphere were all new. By the end of the cruise, the Calypso had sailed 24,000 kilometers in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean. The crew had filmed the pure and natural sea world.