The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau

This early TV series, produced aboard the marine research vessel 'Calypso', catalogues what is more or less Jacques-Yves Cousteau in Wonderland.

After a military career as a naval officer spanning the Second World War, during which Cousteau and Emile Gagnan developed some of the earliest serviceable scuba diving apparatus, he found the sponsorship to promote and facilitate his lifelong fascination with the wildlife of the oceans.

Through the medium of the films he made, we were able to accompany this remarkably gifted and resourceful individual as he explores different maritime habitats across the world.

Like one of the crew, we follow - episode by episode - as Captain Cousteau leads us into new underwater habitats and introduces us to many different species and illuminates their everyday lives, we share their enthusiasms and disappointments.

In many episodes, the narration (in English editions) is by Jacques Cousteu, himself. Telling the stories of the animals he has discovered and the progress of his own understanding in his own words and his own way.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau showed a generation how to get to know, love and protect the precious natural environment which lay beneath the surface of the water.

These ground-breaking wildlife documentary films set the tone for everything that came after them.

I vividly remember watching this show with an almost religious fervor. As I recall, there were generally about 4-6 shows produced each year during it's run, and each was always worth watching. Some ended up being fairly premature given more recent developments in various aspects of the science, but most were generally very well founded and provided new insights into some of the conditions of marine life and sea life behaviors.

Near the end of the run, it became more schmaltzy and wasn't as interesting as the early shows, but that could be just me growing from age 10 to age 17. It turns out that it also gave us tons of idiosyncratic and stereotypical culture references that various humorists have been using for decades.

This is one of the least exciting episodes you'll see of "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau". This doesn't mean it's bad-- just not as exciting as most. It's also among the earliest episodes in this fabulous series.

There are two main topics in this show--the most important of which is the Cousteau team trying out a new mini sub. They already had one but contracted for a pair of newer ones--subs able to dive deeper and go faster. You see the folks putting it through its paces...and this is pretty dull stuff. Additionally, the team comes upon a lot of beautiful Green Sea Turtles and you not only see them under water but also laying and hatching eggs. And, in the spirit of these old shows, the crew become involved---rescuing some of the baby turtles that would been surely eaten since these guys had the misfortune to be hatched during broad daylight so that the Frigate Birds could easily see them and eat them.

Born Jacques-Yves Cousteau, June 11, 1910, in Saint-André-DE- Cubzac, France.Jacques Cousteau co-invented the Aqua-Lung. He also ,started the French Navy's undersea research group. It was in 1951,when he began His trips to explore the ocean ,on the RV Calypso -a former WWII, British Royal Navy minesweeper. Converted into a research vessel . Being well equipped with a mobile laboratory for underwater field research. - for its time.

His films and television series, "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau"[ the TV show] ,was no less than Awesome.I, as perhaps Millions of people followed Cousteau with his crew .Traversing the World, In the Exploring of marine life and their habitats. A New and wonderful Adventure every time .

Though, towards the end, of "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau". when crew hands changed --shall I say--, As so with the films . That Magic '' That was, Jacques Cousteau and The Calypso . Sadly was lost.. I Still Honor, Sir Jacques-Yves Cousteau ,and all He has given too the world ..Forever.their is special place in my Heat for Him and His wonderful deeds ,As He is Greatly missed. -- As are his older film & shows concerning the Oceans and Seas of our Fantastic World --.JIR3/29/2015