The Incredible Calypso: Jacques Cousteau's Crazy Exploration Vessel

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"The Calypso" was arguably the most famous vessel in the world throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s, captained by enigmatic and pioneering explorer, researcher and filmmaker Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
Despite her small size, this converted WWII-era Minesweeper was packed to the gunnels with laboratories, workshops and darkrooms, gadgets such as innovative submersibles, helicopters, a unique bulbous bow, a suite of research equipment and an adventurous crew to match.
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Sources:
"Jacques Cousteau's Calypso" is an amazing study of the entire ship (highly reccomend it):
Amazon (UK): amzn.to/3F0nYET
Amazon (US): amzn.to/3iqvBwC
The Living Sea
Amazon (UK): amzn.to/3H9VEmb
Amazon (US): amzn.to/3B7Dk9B
Jacques Coustea: The Sea King
Amazon (UK): amzn.to/3UrsTEt
Amazon (US): amzn.to/3FoOp8v
My Father, The Captain by Jean-Michel Cousteau
Amazon (UK): amzn.to/3FoOxF1
Amazon (US): amzn.to/3VQLJpS
Jacques Cousteau's Odyssey
Amazon (UK): amzn.to/3VTEihD
Amazon (US): amzn.to/3Bc4ps3
00:00 - Introduction
04:00 - Built to Clear Mines
08:52 - From Minesweeper to Maltese Ferry
11:05 - Jacques Yves Cousteau
13:30 - Cousteau Discovers the Calypso G
14:22 - The Original Gadgets & Features of the Calypso
16:30 - 1950s: The First Voyage of The Calypso
18:27 - The First Underwater Archaeological Dig
19:36 - The Silent World
22:03 - The SP-350 - Calypsos Submersible
24:34 - YUMBO
25:58 - 1960s: The Grand Expedition
28:03 - The Magic of Cousteau's Films
29:29 - Calypso Explores Antarcica
31:09 - 1970s: Discovering Britannic & America
32:28 - A Tragic Loss
33:15 - A 1980s Cross Section of the Calypso
35:00 - 1980s: Calypsos Last Decade
36:20 - Simone "The Spirit of the Calypso"
37:55 - The End of the Calypso & Jacques Cousteau
38:41 - The Future of the Calypso
39:01 - What Will Happen To The Calypso?
41:28 - Waffling On a Bit

[@CalumRaasay]

I was quite brief in my coverage of the current state of the Calypso at the end there. Her 'restoration' has been going on for a _long_ time now and in that time there has much debate, infighting and legal action about the ownership of the Calypso and how, if ever, the restoration will end. I alluded to it in the video but I'd really recommend people do their own research on the matter as it's a changing situation. You may rightly ask why I _didn't_ cover this whole saga in more detail and the answer twofold. In any debate there are multiple sides and nuance to take into account and I didn't think it was within the remit of this video to wade in to legal debates and long-standing feuds. Also this is meant to be a celebration of what the Calypso _was_... not what she is now. The whole point about my piece to camera at the end was that, to me anyway, the Calypsos story finished with the death of Simone. I think that's a beautiful, fitting end to an amazing ship and everything past her raising in Singapore in my eyes takes away from the fun and adventure of what JC, Simone & his crew accompanied with the Calypso. You might disagree with that but if you read between the lines you'll understand my feelings on the matter. EDIT- people seem to be getting confused with this though… I’m saying Jacque YVES Cousteau (his full name) not “Jackie”

[@xamishia]

Thanks for a great video! 🙏Btw, I happen to love The Life Aquatic, but didn't know how deep the similarities ran, particularly re Simone and Philippe😢(Or maybe I read about it and forgot. Seeing footage of them sure helps.) I can't believe the movie's RT score has slowly drifted so low (I won't even say how low), wtf. And so, what are your feelings about the movie? Very curious.

[@derikparent5821]

Pure class.

[@gary5481]

I currently live on a look after a 1956 ex German Navy City Class Minesweeper in Cape Town South Africa 🇿🇦. This vessel was used in 2015/16 for the making of the French film L Odyssey about the life of Jacques Costeau. It bears little outward resemblance to the real thing, although being the same length & beam, shares many of the same features. It can be clearly seen at the beginning of the Trailer for the film, which is available on KZbin.

[@calsurflance5598]

Your sensitivity and candor is appreciated.

[@larryd9068]

Thanks for reigniting my interest in Jacques Cousteau and highlighting how incredible the Calypso was. The Calypso was like a person itself, having a very unique personality. I wish the restoration could have been more cosmetic and presented for all to see in a museum as its final mooring because it just ain't going to be the same! Excellent video and thanks for sharing your sentiments regarding the Calypso! 👍🏆⛴🐳🐋🐬🐟🐠🐡🦈🐙🐚🦀🦐

[@lucabrasi5070]

We all owe Cousteau a huge measure of thanks and respect. For most of my generation, he showed us the world beneath the waves and opened our minds to exploration of the seas. His television specials were immensely educational and entertaining.

[@sidneyvanzandt2473]

Yep, I would have to agree with you on that one. I was very fascinated with sharks when I was way younger than I am now. And when JC would come up in the TV guide, I was begging for my parents to turn the channel when it can on. Tv was a little bit snowy if you didn’t have the rabbit ears turned just right. Atleast that is what it seemed like to me anyway until we got a better TV. I got the old tv in my bedroom to play Atari 2600. Ahhh the good old days. Late 70’s and most of the 80’s..

[@3dguy839]

I'm glad he didn't live long enough to discover the world is flat

[@ronbowman4145]

I'm nearly 60 and I remember as a kid being entranced by watching the latest voyage of the Calypso and Cousteau, this sure brings back a lot of childhood dreams.

[@ImissSaganCarl]

EXACTLY Same here

[@WoodshavenPatriot]

Same! I built a model kit of the Calypso myself. The sub, the chopper…all the gear was amazing to a kid. Love the calypso flag design too!

[@theMG174]

Same here, these incredible people are exceedingly rare. Sad to lose Steve Irwin so young….

[@peconicbayprime9182]

Im same age 1964 the last year of the Baby boomers. I was glued to the color TV and my grandmas we had BW some nice memorys this stirred up.

[@wyst69]

I'm French, and in the early eighties I was a young teenager. I had read all Cousteau's book several times, enjoying every details of his adventures. Back then, I was dreaming of becoming a diver in Cousteau's team. At some point, I understood that it would obviously never happen but I still cherish what Jacques Yves Cousteau gave me. Thank you for this very good video.

[@zlo333]

i was teenager in post soviet collapsed ussr, where everything was doom and gloom but every sunday we had the odessy on tv chanel, my grand ma , she passed a few years ago, we watched with her together, i've traveled many oceans since, many countries, to be short those are my heroes , my grand ma and Jacques-Yves Cousteau

[@americanrambler4972]

I have seen a number of Jacques Cousteau exploration specials as a kid while growing up. However, this is the first time I have seen a video dedicated to the mighty little ship Calypso. I knew it was a converted WW2 minesweeper, and it was crowded and loaded with some incredible equipment, but I did not know much about the ship itself. I loved the little tidbit about the 2,000 liter wine tank! This little ship was worked hard all of its life. And at the end was very thoroughly worn out and tired. I am truly surprised it still exists, even though it’s just a skeleton and buried in financial woes that very well may finish her off. Thank you for this very informative video.

[@CalumRaasay]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was fun to focus on the ship rather than the man, and do a real deep dive into it all!

[@jinxed402]

It really is nicely done. She's iconic and deserves a good end. I hope some sort of conservation takes place before we lose her forever.

[@user-zp7jp1vk2i]

@@jinxed402 So many of those WW2 ships were not built to last|: they were built fast and in large numbers for the war effort. We have one the Italians converted and it's long, narrow, probably pretty tippy in hard waters. But in BC it's mainly a coastal vessel and one of THREE yachts belonging to some Montana cowboy.

[@Melody_Raventress]

Regardless, a ship that historical deserves preservation and respect.

[@andreasheld2362]

As a child I was fascinated by Jacques Cousteau and all his discoveries and adventures. So, Calum, again: thank you for this wonderful journey back to my childhood! You're the best! 🙂

[@bradyelich2745]

One of the only doc's we got from CBC in the 1970's. The first JC I looked up too ...

[@felixtheswiss]

Yes I adored Cousteaus adventures as a boy

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you Andreas! I figured I’d get a lot of people suddenly unlocking a lot of memories seeing some of this footage!

[@andreasheld2362]

@@CalumRaasay Yes, you have a talent for choosing those unlocking topics! 😀

[@paxwallace8324]

Ditto

[@mylifeisdope916]

My dad used to dive with Jacques. Thank you for such a great video about him, his boat, and his vision.

[@jamesmcnaughton5092]

Me too , I also flew the helicopter around

[@GariFFUSA]

Me too !!! I actually gave birth to him !❤

[@user-bd3zy6wo7l]

He said he doesn't know your dad....are u sure?

[@justicesomeday]

Did you know he converted to Islam???

[@shoutatthesky]

@@justicesomeday That's not only rude but also slanderous! He was an intelligent man and not the sort of fool to fall for that sort of fairytale!

[@LEGASPIProductionsv2]

Thank you for making this, can’t believe I just found it. I became a diver and boat captain because of Jacques Cousteau. Even though I’m only 23, his footage and adventures still made their way into my childhood. In recent years I’ve even done work with Jean-Michel Cousteau and other work doing exploration and documentaries. None of it wouldn’t have happened without that ship. Heck, even my profile pic is the Calypso! Thank you to the Calypso and her crew for getting me to where I am today.

[@daszieher]

As someone who grew up in the seventies, watching The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau and reading National Geographic magazine I am really thrilled and thankful for the time and effort that you have put into making this video. Especially the bits that capture the interest of any even just casual Jacques Cousteau fan such as the numbered cross sectional views make a difference. Congratulations and thank you!

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you for watching and the kind comment! Those old Nat Geos are a real treat.

[@MuzixMaker]

Thank you, a terrific episode that brings back memories of my childhood! I was fascinated by the mini-subs, I used to draw pictures of them and tried to reverse engineer them.

[@jamesjross]

@@CalumRaasay 19:46 - dildo?

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

I was born in 1959 so I was fortunate to be able to watch everyone of the Cousteau episodes on TV when they were just produced. It was incredible to see so much beauty in our oceans and to marvel at all of the incredible inventions on board his ship. I didn't know anything about the history of the Calypso and I don't remember the windows in the bulbous bow. I used to go with my friends to our local aquarium store where we had a club and we discussed the latest Cousteau episode. Those were great days in the early to mid 1970's. We would ride our bicycles to the aquarium store and chain them up out front of the store.

[@larsrons7937]

Born in 1968 I have the same lovely memories of the TV episodes, to me the highlight of the week. We lived too far from our National Aquarium but it remained one of my most exciting "museums" to visit, much thanks to Jacques Cousteau.

[@AntonNidhoggr]

I remember watching Cousteau adventures on a local russian tv in early 00s when I was a kid. And I would never thought most of them were filmed even before I was born 😅 There’s actually some kind of magic in french films of that period which makes them feel very ‘alive’ so to speak.

[@zaneenaz4962]

.....they energy and determination struck me as a child living on the Pacific Coast, playing/exploring the tide pools and the grunion runs and unable to show the same to my children. the damage to our environment can be most shocking after seeing the differences over time. Cousteau and others like him give us markers by which we should take notice and action.

[@wayvicle]

I recall the windows in the bow but they just glossed over it as they were installing them. I think it got a small piece in one of the later episodes too.

[@edjohnson9494]

I am pretty sure that this is the best documentary-style KZbin video I have ever watched. Your treatment of the subject was thoughtful and very detailed. What a wonderful tribute to the Cousteau family and their support of research for our environment. I’ve seen a lot of your village videos, Callum, and this one by far hits home the most, as I grew up watching Cousteau‘s exploits in awe and wonder as a child. Thank you for this journalistic gift do you have given to your online community. Looking forward to much more in the future!

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you Ed, much appreciated!

[@ANIMOUS8]

​​@@CalumRaasayis hard to watch a "documentary" when you can't even pronounce the man's name correctly. 🤦‍♂️ "Jackies"?! 🤣 It's pronounced "zhaak".

[@Jcron13]

@@ANIMOUS8No one cares except for you buddy go cry somewhere else..

[@Qmeister044]

​@@ANIMOUS8You're showing your own ignorance. His full name was Jacques-Yves (zhaak-eev) Cousteau.

[@stageiii1]

When I was a kid, my Mom got me a few books in the 70's. "The undersea world of Jacques Cousteau". It was a series. I don't know if anyone has any of them now, but they were just spectacular to a midwest young child who had never seen the ocean. I'll always treasure the memory of the things I learned there, and dreamed of doing. The learning was highly visual, and interesting to me. I'll never forget that.

[@user-cl2tc5kd8k]

When I was a kid in the 80s, I re-read his books “The Silent World” and “The Living Sea” several times. Wonderful books with illustrations and photographs. It was part of a book series published in the ussr in 1972-1976 dedicated to scientific researchers and discoverers. Among other things in this series were books by Vivian Fuchs and Edmund Hillary, Thor Heyerdahl, Percy Fawcett, Chay Blyth, Alain Bombard.

[@MisterBrickFilms]

My family and I stumbled upon the Calypso while visiting La Rochelle in 2004. Even as a kid, who had read some old comics about Cousteau at my village's library, I could recognize in what a sorry state she was. I think I remember my dad being kinda heartbroken about this, as she was part of his childhood.

[@CalumRaasay]

Yeah it's a real shame. I hope one day we'll see something of her, but tbh I think the 'original' calypso is now long gone.

[@marvindebot3264]

@@CalumRaasay No! her heart and soul will always remain even if all that is left of the original is the keel. It's her spirit that matters not her physical being.

[@TeddyBear-ii4yc]

Yeah there where 3 TV channels in the uk in the 70s and everyone will have watched "The undersea world of Jaques Cousteau" (excuse my spelling) In fact I may see what pops up on here if I search for him? 👍

[@AntonNidhoggr]

@@marvindebot3264 I can’t quite agree with you. I know she was in poor state but what they did is basically destroyed the historical artefact an for what? To make an overpriced clone of the ship however it’s not a clone but something just resembling the original? Sounds more like a shady financial scheme to me. They should have donate it to a museum and purchase a new vessel if they really wanted to continue JC’s legacy. But what’s done is done, so what can I say…

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

@@CalumRaasay The ship itself may be done, but it’s contributions to science, memories, and lessons learned, will last forever. Thank you for this absolutely brilliant documentary.

[@Hero4Hire4]

I remember a big part of my Saturdays as a kid was watching Jacques Cousteau. I thought Calypso was a huge ship until it made a visit up the Mississippi River to stop and spend a few days docked at the Vicksburg waterfront. I still remember the shock at seeing how small that boat was against the thoughts of them traveling oceans and exploring the seas aboard it. I also recall my sadness the day that vessel sank and when Jacques passed.

[@CalumRaasay]

Haha yeah it’s funny I’ve had a few comments from people who visited it IRL and we’re always struck with how small she was!

[@Finallybianca]

I was 3 when I saw it in Iowa and to me it was huge then

[@gregorymccoy6797]

I saw her in Norfolk in the mid 70s. I was perhaps 8 years old. I saw her from the dock but I really wanted to go aboard.

[@indioloco6600]

I always regretted not making the 3hr.trip to see the Calypso on the Mississippi.

[@touco9077]

I worked on Calypso for a subcontractor one weekend in the early eighties while moonlighting from the Navy down in Norfolk VA, a lot of burning and welding and being young then I managed to get the worst flashburns of my life because of the refections off the white hull, I loved the undersea world of Jacques Cousteau in the sixties and seventies, very educational

[@snorribiornsson4668]

During my elementary school years, I went to camp on Catalina Island with my Dad. We were puzzled about this odd ship anchored in the bay just off the camp. At night the sea under it was brilliant with lights. That fall we got to see the night of the squid as a National Geographic special and I realized what we had seen off the island. In the summer between my high school years, I took my brother SCUBA diving and we would drive down the coast to Casis (Near Marseilles) where there was a house on the beach with a compressor to refill the tanks. On the wall next to the compressor was a picture from the local newspaper of a group of local boys and their spear fishing prizes. One was the much younger version of the old man filling the tanks and another was a very young Jacque Yves Cousteau. The old man was quite proud of that picture. I have the book Falco wrote about his time as the chef diver on the Calypso. Don't know if that ever got translated into English. I too have a Nikonos III from the time in the 80's when I tried to bring images from the incredible world below Puget Sound to those who could not follow. Your video sparked a lot of memories going back a long number of years. Thank you for this!

[@Dewiart16]

I once had lunch with Jacques Cousteau in Monaco in 1981 - a quite wonderful experience and one that I will never forget. Well done on a tremendous tribute to the late captain and the Calypso...I can now hear John Denver singing away!

[@Sailor-Dave]

Aye, Calypso, the places you've been to. The place you've been to, the stories you tell.

[@mikefabbi5127]

Mad props and respect for your father's model making skills.

[@Chris.Davies]

Our family were glued to the screen whenever Cousteau's show was on. It was mesmerizing, and so exciting. We forget how many capabilities are very modern, and just how incredibly far we've come in such a short time. We must now use what we have learned, to become THE keystone species on this planet, and ensure the survival of all Earth's species, including ourselves.

[@glashoppah]

I grew up in the 1960s and never missed any video with Cousteau. His beautiful voice calmly narrating the most intense and fantastic scenes, as we were brought along on an actual adventure as it happened - every scene something no one else on the planet had ever seen before, true exploration we were all able to share. It was formative for me, and Calypso its fantastic symbol. Thank you for making this wonderful video and taking me down a wonderful memory lane.

[@stuckp1stuckp122]

I grew up as a teenager in the 70’s watching the adventures on TV. Even one day my father and I were on a sailing trip in the Mediterranean I saw the Calypso for real. Indeed a smaller ship than I thought. Your documentary brought back so many memories. Also I appreciated how you talked about its waning years. I always wondered. Many thanks!

[@CalumRaasay]

Haha it's funny how the most frequent comment I've got on this video so far has been either people talking about how cousteau got them into diving OR that they visited the Calypso and were surprised how small it was!

[@drhkleinert8241]

I agree, as a child i thought the Calypso is that big but now we see how small it was...Thats so crazy, for a child it was big like a Battleship.

[@MajorHavoc214]

Same here, I loved all those episodes.

[@Conn30Mtenor]

"The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau" was a favorite of my family- we loved it- lots of fond memories of that and it helped feed my love of the sea and what it has to offer.

[@michaelj7069]

I grew up watching him on TV. He brought the unknown into everyday life and it was so fascinating.

[@jamesjross]

19:47 strap on penis

[@PhilJonesIII]

It was an episode of his diving adventures that had me, an 8-year-old with my face close to the TV like a kid staring in through a sweet-shop window. Jacques Cousteau was completely surrounded by a huge shoal of fish while I just stared, open mouthed with wonder. It was over 40 years later when working in Mauritius that I got the chance to dive in the Indian Ocean. A short while into the dive and I saw, what looked like a cloud coming toward us. It was a huge shoal of fish that engulfed us and hung around for quite a while. The 8-year-old kid in me had climbed through the TV screen and was sharing the adventure I'd seen so many years before. Emotional? It was a dream I didn't know I'd had come true. Life doesn't offer too many moments like that. Thank you Jacques Cousteau for the inspiration.

[@Molb0rg]

Wow, what a story. Good stuff)

[@jay24july]

Just discovered your channel a couple weeks ago. Your attention to unique historical subjects is exactly the kind of distracted curiosity that I wish I had more of. Love the production value, keep it up

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you! Really appreicate that

[@socallars3748]

Calum's videos really are quite good. I've always been an information junky and I love how he deep dives into a topic, producing details I knew nothing about. He's even come up with a few topics I knew nothing about! Excellent content.

[@billstorm191]

As a young college student in Southern California, with aspirations to marine biology thanks in part to Jacques Cousteau, I was part of a trip to the USC Marine Science Center in 1973 (I believe it was) where the Calypso was anchored at Catalina Island. We got to hear the great man, and like most truly great men, he was modest, quiet, and entirely awesome, in the old sense of that word. His ship was gleaming and beautiful, and his submersible ashore at the labs. He would be devastated by our neglect of the oceans and the life it supports. Thank you for this video, Calum!

[@cheddar2648]

Friend, my family dived "those neglected oceans" heavily in the 1990s, and after a too long break, we dived them again in 2019. They looked marginally better than I recalled from the previous century. Take this data point for what it is: one's man's direct witness rebuttal.

[@psyberiusblack]

Jacques Cousteau’s impact on me as a young boy in the 80’s cannot be overstated. I pored over every National Geographic issue and watched every PBS show I could. The sense of exploration was amazing. He is why I love explorative SciFi films and TV. Why I play games like No Man’s Sky, Star Citizen and others of their ilk. People like him are a rare breed. We could use someone like him nowadays…

[@mcfrmedic]

Thank you so much for making this! Growing up in the 70's & 80's there was a lot of family turmoil. We moved a lot. My father kept leaving our family. My brother and I were fascinated by Jacques Cousteau and the Calypso. We were convinced that we would work on that boat someday as divers for the great captain. Because we moved so much, our model of the Calypso kept getting wrecked or thrown out. It seemed we were continuously buying another model of that boat to build and display until the next move. Your excellent video brought back GOOD childhood memories. Thank you!

[@ReginaldDewitte]

Very nice video, My dad who was in the French navy in the early 60's was transferred to the Calypso with Cousteau while the ship he was on ship was repaired, Cousteau being an ex Navy officer still had good connection, when sailor with specific set of skills where available, they where sometime helping on the Calypso. My dad was one of the early specialist on submarine detection, he spent couple of month aboard the Calypso to setup some of the new equipment.

[@ceirwynsinclair4198]

More than just educational content, I love hear people talk about the things they are passionate about. That sparkle in Calum's voice as he talks about the Calypso is wonderful!

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you! That really means a lot. Great being able to share things I’m passionate about with such a great audience!

[@billgardyne7328]

It was Cousteau’s wonderful filming that inspired me to pursue a career in marine science. My first ocean dive on the Great Barrier Reef had 75m+ visibility and brought to mind his book entitled ‘Inner Space’ Thanks for the memories, your enthusiasm was delightful. 😊

[@sjoerdvantilburg5745]

Videos like this are the reason that KZbinrs deserve a place in the new era and are most likely going to replace normal television. Highly educational, a lot of research, humor and dedication. Loved it! bravo...

[@aureaphilos]

This was a beautiful dedication to the memory and legacy of the Calypso, her crew, and the Cousteaus. I grew up in the 60s watching The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, and loved the Catalina PBY most of all. I lost track of the Cousteaus and the Calypso when I went off to college, but remember reading about the death of Phillippe. Your video has allowed me the closure I never had in those years. Thank you.

[@steveanderson6523]

What an excellent,informative video. As a young child in the 70's,i loved the Calypso and all the gear it had on board and watched each episode in amazement. Seeing the underwater world,in full colour for the first time,was incredible for me! My father had told me of a man who had,almost single-handedly invented SCUBA diving,and here i was watching Jacques Cousteau diving all over the world! Wonderful.

[@michaellunt8260]

What an outstanding documentary this is! So much content packed into 45 minutes, the BBC would get at least three 45 minutes episodes from this material. Great quality filmmaking and commentary, well done and thank you.

[@johnkufeldt3564]

when I was a young boy I used to watch Jacques Cousteau on the old black and white TV. When I finally watched it in color years later it really made me want to see the undersea world and when I finally got to snorkel in Maui it made me realise that even the color footage couldn't do the beauty of the ocean the glory it deserves. Thank you so much Calum for giving myself and all the others enjoying this episode even more of the inside story. Cheers from Canada

[@warriorinagarden5624]

A dream that I had as a child was to work on that vessel.

[@CalumRaasay]

haha same!

[@patrick8224]

I was lucky to serve on a similar minesweeper in the Belgian Navy.Not many comfort but a ship with a soul like the Calypso

[@Jangocat]

I remember watching his show in the late 60's till early 80's when I was a kid. He was a fascinating man and scientist. I never knew his ship was an old WW2 minesweeper.

[@fmac6441]

When I was a kid my dad had a VHS collection of the Cousteau show and we loved watching it together.

[@roosternm6830]

I built that same Calypso model kit back in 1980. I got it for my 10th birthday. I was a huge fan of the show and never missed an episode. My dad was a huge fan too. This inspired both of us to get SCUBA certified. I was born and raised in San Diego CA and we had a commercial fishing boat so both of us spent a lot of time on the ocean and in it and under it. Great video. You reignited my passion.

[@Zackary1005]

You’re the best! Shared this with everyone I know already. Your attention to detail and use of various media like archive footage, various books, footage of Cousteau’s work just shows how much love and respect you have for the subject. Loved every minute

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you simon! Much appreciated! ❤

[@chrisdabfabbott]

Thank you for this wonderful journey down memory lane. I grew up, on, in, or under the water and absolutely idolized Jacques Cousteau. I read every book and every article that told of his adventures. I even found my way on to the Calypso and talked to Jean-Michel Cousteau about a potential job. I was willing to do anything. There was this issue of being only 17 and my inability to speak French.

[@bigrich6750]

Fantastic video. I’m sitting here in Northwest Florida, after a freezing cold Christmas, relaxing in my warm house, and just watched your video from start to finish. It brought back many fond memories I was obsessed with diving from my earliest days. I had grown up watching Sea Hunt as a kid and when I was 11 years old in 1967, I took dive classes at the YMCA. I’ve been diving ever since. When Cousteau’s TV series began, I never missed an episode, dreaming of exploring the sea like Cousteau and his team. My first dive gear which I still have in my garage, was Aqualung which Cousteau had pioneered. Somewhere I have a copy of Cousteau’s patent for the Aqualung scuba tank and valve. At 67, I’m still diving although not as vigorously and I credit, Lloyd Bridges and Jacques Cousteau with giving me my love for the sea.

[@Infinity-lc4eq]

I'm 19 and I am really surprised that I have basically never heard of this ship and its captain. What an absolutely compelling story, and just the kind of thing I love, the idea of having your own vessel to travel around the world in, making all these groundbreaking discoveries and all the new technology developed for it! And all going around as a family, and as jealous as that makes me feel about them getting to live like that, they were sharing it all with everyone in the world! I don't know if people here know about the animated show 'The Deep', but it really seems to me like this was the real world equivalent of that, it must have been an inspiration for the creators. I can't help but feel sad I didn't grow up hearing about the Calypso's adventures, does anyone know where the documentaries can be watched today? Thanks for an amazing video!

[@Molb0rg]

Not sure where it can be found, torrents I gues as way to start, maybe on youtube as well(hm, maybe)

[@RFBennett]

Thank you for this, obviously heartfelt observation of a modern hero and his loyal vessel. I have worked with many young people, and I find it disconcerting that most have not even heard of the gallant captain and crew of the Calypso, much less the boat it'self. When I was a boy, it was always a part of my Saturday afternoon television lineup. The world seemed so large then, and the first time I heard of many of these places was because Calypso had brought them to me. Growing up in Puget sound, literally 25 miles from Ballard Washington, I can say many of us looked upon Calypso with a bit of secret pride. "She was built not too far from here, ya know, just across the bay." As far as would Calypso still be Calypso. Yes, as long as one plank or bolt or deck cleat, one screw or door latch is there. Having seen documentation of the restoration, I have no doubt she will be whole again. The most unfortunate part is, she will never see her beloved Captain and crew again. Calypso IS a monument to them, and their achievements, not to herself.

[@CalumRaasay]

Great comment! Especially 'the world being so large' back then, you're totally right. I wonder there's no plaque or signage in the area that mentions she's from there?

[@LilyGazou]

@@CalumRaasay I lived in Ballard and this is the first time I heard about the ship being built there.

[@da5idabbot]

This was beautifully done and a joy to watch. Thank you! And I'd say we lost Calypso as she was when the barge hit her. She might have gone on without Simone, perhaps, as Jacques left us and the next generation took their spirit onwards, but as she is now I think we're all better off remembering the inspiration and love she engendered, not just for the ship and her crew but also for the incredible blue world she helped us to see.

[@Sailor-Dave]

I knew much of this story already, but it's great to see again. I spent many fascinated hours watching "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau", and loved that they'd adapted a wartime vessel (of wood, no less) into a vessel of peaceful exploration and the spread of knowledge. It was hard for my young mind to conjure up a more rewarding goal for a worklife. Whenever a new technology was added to the Calypso, I marveled at the visionary innovations and the one who created them. I loved reading at the time that the bow bulb not only allowed easy underwater viewing, but also increased the speed of Calypso in the same manner that bulbous bows worked for oil tankers. I cried 3 times over the years: When Simone, Phillippe, and Jacques died. And I grieved to see the PBY Catalina crash and the Calypso sink. What an ignoble end for such worthy craft. I've followed Jean-Michel's career and productions since then, too. THANK YOU for this fine production!

[@AP-nl4gs]

Growing up, I would imagine joining Captain Cousteau and the Calypso's crew in an expedition. Although the weather was snowy, cold, dark, and grey, I was indoors wearing my mask, flippers, and snorkeling under the furniture imagining being in the deep blue Ocean with Calypso's divers. As an adult, I got a beautiful, very large, salt-water aquarium, and put my own "Calypso" on it. Many Thanks to you for posting this... and... Nos remerciements à Mme et au Capitaine Cousteau (Our many thanks to Mrs. and Captain Cousteau).

[@longrider42]

If my Dad saw a Jacques Cousteau's special was going to be on TV, it was a family watch. As for the Calypso was a awesome ship. And I love the song that John Denver sang of her. To bad there are no more specials like this any more.

[@hodaka1000]

John Denver's Calypso kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4vSn6CHj6xjfbM

[@dondealey1198]

I love the song too.

[@halan236]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/emPUl2SkgM2omJY

[@SVanHutten]

Longtime fan of Cousteau and his Calypso here, as many who spent their childhood in the seventies. He was a real life superhero indeed, in the way you point out at 28:26, roaming the world along with his ship and crew, masterfully merging adventure and science. Very much in the same vein of Fridtjof Nansen and his Fram. Superb video! Thank you very much for your effort and dedication, and for bringing back so fond memories.

[@CalumRaasay]

Fridtjof Nansen and Fram... now there's another video idea 👀

[@shawnmercer4960]

As a child I would listen to dive stories of my father, uncles and grandparents and I became fascinated with the stories of Jaques Cousteau and his underwater films. This was an extremely informative and enjoyable documentary. Good job and thank you!

[@Shogunwario]

I grew up watching his programs in the late 70's and thru the 80's his voice and the way he spoke took you with him on the adventure you felt like you were rite there on the ship incredible man.

[@hhadra9780]

i cried. thanks for the vid my man. one of my childhood heroes like for many others. what wondrous and spectacular energy.

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

Aye, Calypso the places you've been to The things that you've shown us The stories you tell Aye, Calypso, I sing to your spirit The men who have served you so long and so well -- The last song of John Denver's last concert Oct. 5, 1997 at the Selena Auditorium in Corpus Christi, Texas. He died 7 days later.

[@justrelaxing1501]

When we were kids, seeing Cousteau's films was the next best thing to being there.

[@randomoldbloke]

Cheers, this has to be your best story yet ! I remember watching the show when I was a kid in the 60s and 70s . The man and ship are legendary. The nikinos are fantastic cameras had a 5 when I was younger and mobile. Cheers from Australia

[@Reewen]

What an amazing story. Thank you for preserving the story behind the adventures of this tough little ship and its crew. It really shows how much work you put into your documentaries, stunning work. Every time I finish one of your videos I am amazed by how engaging they are throughout.

[@billotto602]

I never missed a show. What an incredible man. RIP & God bless you sir !

[@williamhoward7121]

My love of diving over many decades is directly related to Jacques Cousteau and the Calypso television specials that I watched as a kid. Thanks so much for this excellent documentary!

[@austingode]

Made me cry ……. He was an icon for me as a child

[@phillip5545]

Excellent video! Thank you. My wife and I were fortunate enough to meet Jacque Cousteau at a small private dinner party in St Petersburg, Florida about 1974-1975. He had stopped off in St Petersburg to have work done to the Calypso at a local boat yard. It was such a privilege to meet him. We just loved all of his videos and followed his adventures for many years.

[@sharkamov]

*If there actually **_was_** a 'heaven', where departed souls could be looking 'down' to see what' was going on, no doubt Jacques-Yves and the rest of his Calypso family would all be nodding their collective heads in unison appreciation of the outstanding efforts you have put down in reconstructing the history of Cousteau's unique ''CALYPSO''! . . . .* As a scuba diver, I commend you for the making and sharing of this one of a kind tribute to the greatest underwater pioneer in human history - Jacques-Yves Cousteau! . . . . ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@SuperFriendBFG]

I knew so little of Jacques and his ship. I've obviously heard the names before. What a fascinating story. It's crazy to think that at the time she was considered the top of the line research ship and you see the elements that form a modern research vessel. Modern vessels can get much much larger though. Thank you for this very informative video. It would be nice to see Calypso at sea again, doing meaningful research again.

[@CalumRaasay]

Glad I could shine some light on it - I think it's such a fascinating subject!

[@trainnerd3029]

Mad respect to your parents for the way you were raised and especially your father for his model building skills! Great video… Awesome models!

[@CalumRaasay]

Haha credit to them for not laughing me out the door when I said I wanted to make yutube videos for a living!

[@trainnerd3029]

@@CalumRaasay How about doing a KZbin video showcasing your fathers models? Just a suggestion. I build prototypical railroad models that’s my passion

[@adenanthony5257]

I didn't expect this story to be so bittersweet for me. There's a 23 year old man I barely had an idea of Jacques Cousteau but yet I feel it's like restoring an old house that used to have so many memories although it's being rebuilt from the ground up it's still the same bones. The spirit I think is still there. Shes a educational ship basically.

[@Cinarli1979]

Cousteau was my childhood hero with fond memories of episodes on TV. I even went to the promenade in İzmir, Türkiye to see the boat where they had docked in the second half of 1970s. Probably 1977 or 1978. Anyways later that image has been tarnished when we learned that all those shark scare scenes were created artificially to satisfy the USAian TV producers, there was a lot of animal cruelty including the death of some seals portrayed as "pet seals" on board. Cousteau was much more a showman, TV producer and businessman than a marine researcher.

[@davidavi8554]

My greatest childhood memory, I checked out a huge hard back book from the library in the mid - late 70s , read and oogled at the photos over and over, and even returned the book only to recheck it out again, The Calypso.... The Calypso is my life as much as it meant to Jacques Cousteau...

[@istra70]

Jacques Cousteau and Calypso my idols. Growing up as a kid and religiously following every episode, I was on the biggest adventure of my childhood. Years later becoming diving instructor, helping running diving center and taking part in commercial diving. Sea was my home. Thank you for uploading and keeping all this memories alive.

[@andywoolsey666]

As young boy, watching Jacques Cousteau's adventures started me on a life long love of the sea, and the incredible beauty this planet has to offer. Also the idea of conservation and stewardship of this planet, started in the lessons taught by the Calypso and her amazing Captain, and crew. Thank you so much for reminding us of the truly incredible man.

[@backtoobasics]

Thank you, jacques life inspired my drive to overcome the madness life has to offer, in the 90s i was introduced to his career, and it proved no matter the dream as l0ng as you maintain the inspiration anything is possible with hard work... rest in peace,may the wimd be to your back and the seas in your favor

[@rotax636nut5]

As a child I used to watch every episode of the Calypso and Jacques on the TV and I was always completely fascinated. Your video reminds me of all the unanswered questions I had as a child and that you have finally answered for me now as an old man, thank you so much for the effort you have gone to to produce this excellent video, God Bless and Happy New year

[@davids82605]

My childhood was rocked by Cousteau's expeditions on french TV. Marvellous work you did there, thank you so many times

[@andrewthompson6192]

Outstanding fascinating docu-video of Jacques Cousteau and the Calypso that gave so much joy to millions of people around the world for over 4 decades As a child growing up in the 60s, 70s, I remember watching many Jacques Cousteau's undersea exploration adventures, luv'd them all, learned so much. Thank You Calum for posting this wonderful docu-video of the Calypso, Jacques Cousteau, the adventures, the difficulties, the problems, the successes, the dedication !

[@willemkoeslag9269]

Thank you so, so very much for this amazing documentary of the life of the wonderful vessel “Calypso” and her master and crew. Now 82 years old, the adventures of Jacque Cousteau, shaped many aspects of my life; learning to scuba dive at age 16. Owning my own double hose aqua master, to diving in the Caribbean, from my own sail boat. My life would not have been the same without those adventures inspiring me. So thank you so much for allowing me to revisit those adventures in a truly awesome presentation.

[@dachluhr]

Brings back a lot of childhood memories watching the Calypso sail the seas on adventures.

[@PG-ku9qd]

Outstanding job, Calum! Really well done! I remember watching the Jacques Cousteau specials on TV when I was a lad, and you have re-kindled my interest in the great man and his life. Thank you so much.

[@fuedaseoyt]

Thank you so much for this amazing documentary. I was postponing watching for so long, and it didn't disappoint. Thank you so much.

[@1snoopy011]

Thank you for making this video, very informative! I remember in the 80s being a contributing member to the Calypso society in college. So sad about the boat, i never knew it sank like it did. So sad, hopefully they can get it restored. It and the crew literally changed exploration and diving for the entire world!

[@vondahe]

Most of my childhood evenings were spent watching Jacques Cousteau and (now Sir) David Attenborough. Those gentlemen shaped my view of nature and with me, surely tens of millions of other people. I think everyone who watched his adventures will forever associate the red knitted cap with him and his ship. The word legend is thrown around today in reference to any mediocrity with a few minutes of fame, but if there was ever a true legend, it was Jacques Cousteau.

[@mikhailmarinov8]

As a kid in the very late 80s and early early 90s i was watching his underwater documentary every saturday morning lol

[@grantovenden2646]

Thank you Calum, absolutely brilliant! As a '74 baby and a father who was a geographer and marine biologist I got to watch lots on Jacques Cousteau over my young life!

[@crustycurmudgeon2182]

Wow! Always great to accidentally find such a fabulous presentation on YT! Well-researched and brilliantly presented, your years-long ambition truly paid-off. Of course, I grew up in the '60s watching the weekly (or how ever often) "Undersea World of Jaques Cousteau". The whole family watched (and, YES, we also watched the famous Ed Sullivan show with the Beatles playing live on his stage). Magical times, mixed in with much upheaval in the US-- the Kennedy and King assassinations, Watts riots (I lived near LA), and protests against the Viet Nam war, etc. But Cousteau and the Calypso were shining beacons in the chaos. Thank you for sharing this adventure with us!

[@Sailor-Dave]

"Shining beacons"...well said!

[@chrisharrison5109]

Thanks for such a comprehensive and engaging video Calum. It took me back to the Sunday afternoons of my childhood and early teens, watching Cousteau's documentaries. It inspired me to take up diving later in life. Phrases such as "descending into the murky depths" and "we meet a friendly grouper" entered our family lexicon.

[@Ronaldl2350]

Watched Cousteau and the adventures on the Calypso when I was a kid. Built a model of the Calypso also. Great video, brought back some great memories.

[@steelshepherd6843]

"Born to early to explore the stars, and too late to explore the earth..." What an awesome video, thanks for making this....born in the tale end or early post-era of this time, it was hard no to grow up with this hunger for adventure...

[@krustytoast]

Brilliant video Calum! I now realise that my fascination with underwater exploration from being obsessed with the Tintin comics and "Tintin and the Lake of Sharks" specifically, was itself a homage to Cousteau and the Calypso!

[@peterheinzo515]

oooh i loved that as a child. found it in my dads collection

[@maggieo]

Thank you for this Calum! I grew up in the 70s and NASA and Cousteau were my twin poles of all that was good and awesome. I can close my eyes and imagine myself on the deck of Calypso to this very day. Your video and work in making it means the world to me.

[@WilliamBurdine]

I can't express my gratitude enough for you to tell the story of Calypso and the story of Jacques. As a professional photographer myself and a former diver, your video really brought back my childhood fascination with the sea, the storey and so much.... Thank you for the catalog of video and books! The Wine Tank... what a great story! The National Geography of Feb 1956 was an issue I did have in my youth... I don't know where it went to... but it was great that you found it, brought it to life and shared. What an amazing video, Thank you!

[@Mtlmshr]

Calypso and her crew were a part of my childhood that I will never forget I was entranced with all of the adventures they displayed on TV and I followed with amazement on each and every installment!

[@marvindebot3264]

Thank you, this was an incredible tribute to an incredible ship.

[@TommyCrosby]

As always, your deep passion for the research of everything about a vehicle is surprising. Even if the Calypso is famous (unlike the other obscure vehicles you covered before) you still find ways to find every little known facts like that wine tank!

[@toddguenther1568]

I was facinated by the Calypso's adventures as a kid growing up in the 70's and had built that same model. Great episode and well-detailed information. Thank you!

[@EngSam-wz9ly]

I watched all of Cousteau flims aired in the 80's, when I was just a kid I remember coming back from school and setting next to our kerosene heater eating snacks and watching the underwater world on our old TV, Cousteau inspired me to become what I'm now a "DIVEMASTER"! Every time I go underwater and I see the silent world I remember Cousteau! Rest in peace my HERO! THANKS FOR THE VIDEO MAN!

[@MrTapanes]

This was utterly fascinating! Excellent work and I commend the amount of research and determination required to present this vid. I grew up reading of Mr. Cousteau's exploits on the Calypso and never realized just how little I knew about this extraordinary man and ship. It's also given me a new perspective on one of my favorite movies, The Life Aquatic.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you! Realy appreciate that - there was so much I didn't even have a chance to cover or cut for time!

[@mrBINnnnn]

Большое спасибо за этот рассказ, часы потраченные в детстве перед телевизором оставили с моём сердце глубокое восхищение и уважение не только к кораблю и к команде но и ко всей истории проекта, всё что я знаю о океане, благодаря Команде Кусто.

[@shoutatthesky]

What?

[@sharonwhiteley6510]

Many many people waited breathlessly for the next episode of Jacques Cousteau and the Calypso

[@NebulaStudios1]

This was fascinating. I grew up in the 60s and 70s and never missed an episode or TV special with Cousteau. I had all the books. He was a real hero of mine. Seeing you bring all this together was great a truly well done piece of work. Thank you. I was fortunate to have met Cousteau in Boston in 1977 at an event called Involvement Day. He was interesting, down to earth, and humble. There is no one like him today. I credit him and a few others to my pursuit of science as a career and am in my 37th year as a geologist/chemist working in environmental consulting and pursing my love for photography.

[@jessicaluchesi]

You are correct on commenting about the serial TV show sense... and it is awesome to think on that sense... that this was the first real life Star Trek and Calypso felt like a real life Enterprise. One truly dedicated to peace, adventure and exploration going "where no men has gone before".

[@CalumRaasay]

Exactly! When rewatching it you realy get a sense of cousteaus showmanship. Amazing series.

[@mellissadalby1402]

Great video.. Your enthusiasm for the subject is contagious. When I was a kid in the 60's I used to love watching Jacques Cousteau on the television any time his work appeared.

[@alfs3]

I cannot thank you enough for creating and sharing this incredible video of Cousteau - someone I became immensely obsessed with as a small child and couldn’t wait to grow up to be him and explore the world both under and above the water!