After the archaeology expedition to Tunisia, Cousteau was contacted by a physicist and inventor by the name of Auguste Piccard. The Swiss explorer had created a machine which he named a bathyscaphe.

(Photo courtesy of Britannica.com)

Shaped like a big capsule, it is a self-operated deep sea submersible. Piccard wanted to enlist Cousteau’s help to design a claw extending from the submersible that could pick up items from the seabed or shipwrecks. In that way, humans could reach depths they have never imagined. Cousteau was immediately taken in.

However, Simone and a few of Cousteau’s friends advised Cousteau not to enter the submersible with Piccard. It seemed dangerous, and while Piccard was previously an esteemed scientist, his current works seemed to reflect only his desire to become rich and famous. Cousteau however, could not resist the temptation of further exploration and adventure.

L’Elie Monnier brought them out to sea, and the bathyscaphe was slowly lowered into the ocean. It reached only 200 feet before being brought back up to the surface. Even though the first dive only lasted for 16 minutes, Cousteau was delighted at the idea of diving into greater ocean depths in a submersible. The bathyscaphe however, was so badly damaged during the following dive that it would be impossible for Cousteau to test his newly installed claw.

Even though he knew that Piccard would be able to fix the damages, the submersible would not be suitable to dive anytime soon. Cousteau hence headed home.