Jacques Cousteau day

Ninety-seven years ago today, Jacques Cousteau was born in France.  He led an exciting and purpose-filled life of discovery as a scientist, photographer, filmmaker, and most of all, a conservationist. Cousteau's talents as a filmmaker led to the development of the popular documentary television series "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau". In a unique way, it allowed people around the world to explore the mysteries of the ocean from their sofa, which in turn encouraged the average person to care about marine life and preservation.

Part of popular culture, Cousteau was immortalized in music by John Denver with the song, "Calypso", and he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the United States in 1985. 

Although he passed away in 1997, his name remains synonymous with the sea and sea exploration, as well as respect for creatures living in the deep.  His work lives on through The Cousteau Society for the protection of ocean life, a group which now has hundreds of thousands of members.