Jean-Michel Cousteau: the life and work of the researcher

The son of the researcher Jacques-Yves Cousteau is known no less than his famous father. Jean-Michel Cousteau is an oceanographer, producer, screenwriter and writer. Now he is one of the most authoritative French researchers. What made Jean-Michel Cousteau famous? The biography and activities of the researcher are described further in the article.

Childhood and youth

Jean-Michel was born in 1938 in the city of Toulon on the Cote d'Azur of France. His parents plunged many times underwater for exploration of the underwater world. They also instilled in their son a love for the depths, and life on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea only contributed to the hobby.

The family often traveled to different corners of the planet. A special place was occupied by sea walks and diving. It was Custo Sr. who invented the scuba. And already at the age of eight years Jean-Michelle made his first diving with him.

For his work, Jacques-Ive rented an old British minesweeper "Calypso". As a child, Jean spent the days on the ship. In an interview, he recalled with nostalgia that the ship Calypso became their home during a family vacation.

Then he did not suspect that you can live somehow differently. From an early age, he and his brother were in the company of outstanding scientists and researchers. And in his spare time the Cousteau family, as a rule, went to study the sea open spaces on a restored warship.

Underwater architect

Jean-Michel Cousteau has always admired the ocean and did not quit diving, but as a profession he chose the specialty of an architect. He achieved considerable success in this matter. After graduating from the Paris School of Architecture, he soon became a member of France's National Council for Architecture.

Meanwhile, in many expeditions and projects, Jacques-Yves was accompanied by his wife and younger son Philip. Jacques-Eve devoted several of his films to Atlantis. He was shooting in the region of the Bahamas, the Azores and the Easter Island in search of a sunken continent.

Jean-Michel went on and decided to create the underwater cities. He trainees at shipbuilding yards and begins to develop a settlement plan for the ocean floor. Jean seriously took a great interest in the project, considering it quite feasible.

In the end, he stops working on it, arguing that no one will intentionally deprive himself of human communication and sun, even for the sake of the sea depths. After Philip's death in a catastrophe, Jean-Michel Cousteau returns to oceanology to support his father.

Making Movies

During his life Jean-Michel took part in the creation of more than 70 films dedicated to one topic - the ocean. In some, he acted as a producer, in others as a screenwriter, director, or actor.

As a producer, he participated in the work on the multi-part tape "Underwater Odyssey of the Cousteau team", which his brother started to play. For this picture he was awarded several television awards ("Emmy" and "Peabody").

In the film "Enchanted River" Jean-Michel Cousteau (photo below) explores the Amazon valley. Together with the father and the rest of the team they passed the entire river completely. He also studies the legends of the island of Cocos in the film "Sharks of the Treasure Island", as a producer and director, he makes a film about Alaska, and so on.

In 2006, he creates a documentary series entitled "Oceanic Adventures." Before that, a number of films and cartoons with his participation have appeared in the DVD-version: "Study of reefs", "In search of Nemo", documentaries for the cartoon "Sponge Bob Square Pants".

Other activities

For about 20 years Jean-Michel was a member and vice-president of the Cousteau Society, created by his father. Under the name of this organization and carried out their numerous research expeditions. In 1969, he was engaged in the re-equipment of the ship "Queen Mary". Thanks to his efforts, the transatlantic liner turned into a huge Maritime Museum.

In addition to practicing oceanography with his father, Jean-Michel Cousteau is also engaged in enlightenment. He collaborates with the Los Angeles Times and other publications, where he writes about the pernicious attitude of man to nature, the consequences of which he repeatedly observed in expeditions.

Jean-Michel leads lectures about ecology in American universities, travels with them around the world. He actively promotes a conscious attitude to the ocean. For this, he even opens a program whose goal is to open the depths of the sea for the younger generation. Its participants have a unique opportunity to descend under the water in a specially designed vessel.

Relationship with father

Despite the joint passion for oceanology, Cousteau Jean-Michel maintained a not very simple relationship with his father. One of the biggest disputes in the family arose in professional activity. Father and son could not agree on the management of the Cousteau Society.

Jacques-Yves was skeptical of the talents and activities of his son. Another apple of contention was the hotel in Fiji, to which Jean sold his name. Father filed a lawsuit against him, according to which the son was required to use only the full name of Jean-Michel Cousteau in commerce.