Jean jacques cousteau biography calypso

Cousteau originally became interested in ocean exploration at a young age. After surviving a near-fatal car accident that broke both his arms, he started swimming in the Mediterranean Sea as a form of physical rehabilitation. The problem?

Fabien Cousteau

He was frustrated by the limited amount of time he could spend submerged under the surface. In 1943, Cousteau met a French engineer named Emile Gagnan. After some experimentation with compressed air cylinders, the duo developed the first Aqua-Lung device, intended to help divers stay underwater for long periods. For modern divers, this early invention is now known as a diving regulator, or demand valve, and it's a crucial tool in scuba.

But he also helped invent other types of underwater gadgets, including many of the lighting systems and waterproof cameras that are still in use today.

"He was not only an explorer, but an inventor and an activist for nature, a rare combination,&q jean jacques cousteau biography calypso3 NERIP