Philippe Cousteau

Who was Philippe Cousteau?

Philippe-Pierre Cousteau, Sr. was a documentary filmmaker specializing in environmental issues, with a background in oceanography. He was the second son of Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Simone Cousteau.

Born in Toulon, Philippe Cousteau first dived with an aqua-lung in 1945. He was a professional diver from the age of 7. A pilot and a witness of the advance of science in the art of diving and underwater adventure, he grew up traveling the world, learning about different cultures, and acquiring several languages.

In February 1967, Cousteau accompanied his father on the RV Calypso for an expedition to film the sharks of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. As well as being the lead photographer for the expedition, Philippe also chronicled his experiences in the 1970 publication Shark: Splendid Savage of the Sea. Until his death in 1979, he coproduced numerous documentaries with his father, including Voyage to the Edge of the World and his own PBS series, Oasis in Space, concerning environmental issues.

Cousteau lent his technical expertise to the U.S. Navy's SEALAB program. In the aftermath of aquanaut Berry L.