The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau (1966–1976)

This early TV series, produced aboard the marine research vessel 'Calypso', catalogues what is more or less Jacques-Yves Cousteau in Wonderland.

After a military career as a naval officer spanning the Second World War, during which Cousteau and Emile Gagnan developed some of the earliest serviceable scuba diving apparatus, he found the sponsorship to promote and facilitate his lifelong fascination with the wildlife of the oceans.

Through the medium of the films he made, we were able to accompany this remarkably gifted and resourceful individual as he explores different maritime habitats across the world.

Like one of the crew, we follow - episode by episode - as Captain Cousteau leads us into new underwater habitats and introduces us to many different species and illuminates their everyday lives, we share their enthusiasms and disappointments.

In many episodes, the narration (in English editions) is by Jacques Cousteu, himself. Telling the stories of the animals he has discovered and the progress of his own understanding in his own words and his own way.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau showed a generation how to get to know, love and protect the precious natural environment which lay beneath the surface of the water.

These ground-breaking wildlife documentary films set the tone for everything that came after them.