The ocean and I.

It’s hard to explain why I love the ocean.

I don’t even know it myself. I have such a fear of water it borders on ridiculousness. It is almost as if I was born with a natural fear of deep water. All it takes is for the water to reach my knees and I’m screaming my head off. It doesn’t come as a surprise that I don’t know how to swim (tried to learn, but failed), how to even kick my legs in the water while desperately grabbing to the edge of the pool (couldn’t keep afloat), or even hold my breath while washing my face (have actually choked in the shower quite a couple of times).

That said, I first fell in love with the ocean and its wonders about 5 or 6 years ago. I happened to chance upon an episode of Planet Earth on Channel 5, and promptly bought the DVD that same week. I have loved animals my whole life, but I guess, like many people, paid more attention to those that lived on land. I know a handful of creatures that lived underwater as much as the next person. You know, the starfish from Spongebob Squarepants, the clownfish from Finding Nemo, the salmon from Sushi Tei, the prawns from the nearby NTUC. But what was being shown on this documentary was something entirely different.


Nautilus


Mola-Mola (Ocean Sunfish)


Dumbo Octopus

All photos courtesy of National Geographic Society.

These were animals I have never seen before. It piqued my interest in underwater life immediately, and I would go on to watch amazing documentaries such as The Pacific Abyss, and the epic Blue Planet.

For a person who would never in her life see these wonderous sights, I was incredibly jealous of, and yet thankful, for those who filmed the scenes. If it weren’t for these explorers, scientists and filmmakers, I could only dream of seeing these magnificent creatures upclose.

My love for the ocean was first sparked off by film footage, and so it makes perfect sense to dedicate my project and blog to the man who made it possible.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau was an explorer, a filmmaker, a researcher, an innovator, and above all, a lover of the oceans. One of the pioneers of underwater exploration, Jacques Cousteau also co-produced the first French underwater film Par dix-huit mètres de fond (18 Metres Deep), without the use of breathing gear. He would also produced] several more underwater documentaries, such as The Silent World, and World Without Sun, educating people about the importance of the oceans and marine conservation. He co-developed the Aqua-Lung, compressed air regulators essential for scuba diving that are used even today, and together with his team, Jacques Cousteau led the first underwater archeology expedition of the shipwreck of Mahdia, opening the way for many future archealogy exploration trips. He also participated in efforts to stop nuclear dumping into the sea, and help to restrict commerical whaling. Jacques Cousteau is one of the co-founders of the Cousteau Society for Protection of Ocean Life, an environmental organization dedicated to the conservation and education of marine life. Set up in 1973, the society currently has more than 50, 000 members worldwide.

This is but a short summary of the legacy that Jacques-Yves Cousteau has left behind. This blog is intended to document his life and contributions to marine conservation during his time, but I hope that as you explore and navigate around this site, you will too, feel inspired by his adventures and all that he has done, and develop a shared love for the ocean.

When one man, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself. 

– Jacques-Yves Cousteau (1910 – 1997)