I always loved Jacques Cousteau and his team when I was a child, growing up with his marine research aboard the Calypso. They always seemed a friendly bunch of people and nothing was beyond them as they investigated what was going on at all the depths and in the all the seas. And it seemed to me to be part of that strength and wonder that he along with his colleagues has invented the aqua-lung during World War 2 and tested it secretly under the noses of the Nazi Germans and managed to make sure they never discovered what they were doing. Real daring do.
But it is wise never to have heroes. When they first used the aqua lung they knew the sea was a dangerous place and the first man went down with a spear-gun. The fish had not seen men staying under water and were probably not sure what was going on so they didn’t flee. And being a good Frenchman he immediately killed a large fish and brought it back to eat. All that gifted scientific knowledge and his first act was slaughter.
And now Calypso lies almost forgotten being fought over by Jacques Cousteau’s second wife and some of the team as to who can use it. An icon of the post war period and known to millions who watched enthralled the TV shows, now a matter of who owns what and who gets paid.
The human race became twisted a long time ago, I should not be surprised.