Born June 11, 1910,
Saint-André-de-Cubzac, France

Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s name is virtually synonymous with exploration of the earth’s oceans and rivers. A leading expert in oceanography, he has used documentaries, television programs, and books to educate the public on the diversity of sea life and the importance of the world’s oceans. It was in 1944, while diving off the coast of Toulon in the Mediterranean Sea, that Cousteau became mesmerized by the beauty of reefs and the sea’s underwater habitats.

Using his winning personality and celebrity status, Cousteau has also spoken out on conservation issues, suggesting that so-called industrial progress has placed civilization in jeopardy. He argued, for example, that nations that dumped radioactive waste and mustard and nerve gases underwater were endangering the planet’s safety.

Early interest in photography

Cousteau’s childhood interests in photography and...