CELEBRATING 80 YEARS OF TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE

Ocean Ambassador

Philippe Cousteau

Proudly carrying on his family legacy, Philippe is working to better understand and protect our ocean playgrounds for future generations to enjoy

 

"I love that when we dive we stand on the threshold of discovery. In many ways, diving is a very personal experience for me. Every time I descend underwater, I wonder if I am feeling the same thrill that my grandfather and father felt when they tested many of the early Aqua Lung's together so long ago"
 
When and why did you start diving?
 
Diving has always been in my blood. Honestly, I don't remember the first time I breathed through a regulator. I got certified when I was 13 though, as soon as I could.
 
What is your spirit fish (or mammal/reptile) and why?
 

My spirit animal is an octopus. They are smart, resourceful, strong, and dedicated problem solvers – when they want something, they will stop at nothing to make it happen.

 
Most memorable dive experience?
 
Diving in the Red Sea on the ruins of my grandfather’s Conshelf II expedition for a BBC series Oceans.

 

How do you approach non-divers to get them excited about learning to dive?

 

Ashlan and I have the same approach, to ask them to close their eyes and imagine what it must feel like to soar through the air like a bird. Diving is the only way to truly feel the sensation of flying and the freedom that comes with it.

 

Dream dive: where and with who (alive or not)?

 

My dream dive would be to go back to Conshelf and dive there with my father Philippe Sr. He died before I was born and my grandfather told me often of the times they dove on Conshelf together so that would be my dream.

 

Favorite piece of Aqua Lung equipment?

 

My favorite equipment is our custom wetsuits that Ashlan and I designed to look like the ones my father designed decades ago and used in the Cousteau films.

 

Diving skill you are working to improve?

 

I would like to be more proficient with re-breathers for filming.

 

What steps are you taking to improve the health of our oceans? Any advice for others who want to help?

 

All of our work is focused on conservation. From our non-profit, EarthEcho International, (www.earthecho.org) a leading youth education organization that reaches hundreds of thousands of kids each year to empower them to protect the oceans to our documentaries, books, and public events, we work everyday to improve the health of the oceans.

 

Our advice to everyone is to embrace the fact that each and every one of us has the power to change the world in the choices we make every day; from who we vote for to what we buy, to how we behave towards nature and each other. That is a powerful message, because it means that there is hope if we all embrace our potential to make a positive difference.

 

Any hidden talents?

 

I love to cook and I am pretty good at it if I do say so myself. I am also a really good whistler.

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