Jacques-Yves Cousteau (in. June 11, 1910, Saint-André-de-Cubzac, Gironde department, France; d. June 25, 1997, Paris) was a French officer, oceanographer, scientist, explorer. He was also a writer, photographer, filmmaker, inventor, innovator and explorer of underwater life, which became known worldwide as commander of the ship Calypso.
In 1930, after finishing his studies at the prestigious Collège Stanislas history of Paris, he entered the Naval School of Brest, making gunner officer. Between 1933 and 1935 he had a mission in the Far East. At Toulon, where active on the ship "Condorcet" Cousteau had the opportunity to have first underwater experience, thanks to his friend, Philippe Tailliez. In 1936, the latter lends Fern underwater goggles, which anticipated modern diving masks. Cousteau also belonged to the intelligence service of the French navy, under which title will be sent on a mission to Shanghai and Japan) (1938, and in the USSR (1939).
He married on 12 July 1937 Simone Melchior, with whom he had two children, Jean-Michel Cousteau (1938) and Philippe Cousteau (1940), which will also participate in adventure Calypso.
