The Jean-Michel Cousteau Institute and Project Ocean Search

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None of this brief discussion of what goes on "behind the scenes" of Jacques Cousteau's organization, of course, is meant to detract from the very obvious devotion, intelligence, and energy that Jacques, Philippe, and other publicized members of the group bring to their incredibly important work.

It is, however, meant to be an introduction to a rather amazing man whom you've probably never heard of ... but who (although modest) is just as devoted, intelligent, and energetic as his better-known father and brother. And it is also meant to be an introduction to a very exciting new non-profit foundation that is dedicated to the well-being of mankind and the protection and preservation of the environment.

For Jean-Michel Cousteau, you see—although he still works closely with his father and sees the rest of his family as often as he can-is now in the process of setting up his own organization—a public, non-profit foundation—on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. And that new foundation—The Jean-Michel Cousteau Institute—is, as mentioned above, dedicated to the well-being of mankind throughout the world and the protection and preservation of the environment "with which we must live in harmony if our species is to survive".

Eventually Jean-Michel's foundation will produce television programs, documentary films, and educational filmstrips of its own. It will also publish educational materials and research reports, develop and conduct programs in applied research, act as an intermediary between governments and institutions and industries and the public, translate complex environmental issues into understandable language, and tackle many other knotty problems. Work, in fact, is already progressing in several of these areas.

There is another far more interesting part of The Jean-Michel Cousteau Institute's work (a part that you can get in on!), though, that we want to mention here. This is something known as Project Ocean Search' and what it is is a series of field expeditions to all parts of the world and all personally led by Jean-Michel Cousteau himself. (And hasn't each one of us secretly dreamed of exploring tropical shores, underwater reefs, and exotic marine life with one of the Cousteaus!)

Although the size of any one of these expeditions is usually limited to no more than 50 participants (so that everyone can work closely with Jean-Michel and other members of the group), anyone who is 16 years old or older and in good health may apply. Diving skills are not a prerequisite (since all projects are designed to accommodate divers and non-divers alike), although any participant who desires to take part in the SCUBA portions of an expedition must possess personal diving equipment and a certificate of competency, and must demonstrate his or her proficiency to the Project divemaster.

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