new info about Cousteau Team

[falco]

Hello everyone...

This is a simple request, specially for our foremost authority in Cousteau issues, Ryan.... After your recent visit to the Cousteau Society... Could you tell us a little more about the actual equipment that their team is using?.... Although as far as we know, there's no mayor projects on their table...(apart from the Red Sea Explorations) I wonder if they are still using classic Royal Mistral Regulators. As you shared before, they do have the original molding to produce their own Aquamara masks.....now, I wonder if technisub or Spirotechnique still produce Royal Mistral Double hose regulators just for the team.

Share some info when you get a chance Ryan.

- Harry.

[sea.explorer]

Here is a bit of information. They are still using mistrals along with various other regs. They have gone back to the original Spiro Mistral not the royal. I do know that they have a batch of these regs still in the box in the warehouse. I don't suspect that they are still being manufactured for them. As far as I know there is no connection with the Aqualung/Spiro/Technisub family of companies any more. They have a lot of items left over from years past that are still in the box. They could likely pull from these supplies for years, and I don't know what they have in France. They have been filming recently in the Red Sea but I am unclear on the scope. I should be receiving updated info on upcoming projects. You can view their latest film (2004) on Google:

video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1071491619515564130&q=Cousteau&hl=en

There is word that they are beginning to digitalize large quantities of film stock and that Calypso is scheduled to head to the shipyard soon. I should have updates
around the first of the year.
-Ryan

[luis]

Ryan Thanks for the link.
That is a great video!

[falco]

as usual Ryan...thanks so much for your information!

Thanks also for the link....simply amazing!!!

Harry.

Note:..... please don't forget to put new pictures and info in your website flashbackscuba.com....we loved!

[sea.explorer]

I have some exciting things in the works, and I will have more updates to Flashback Scuba before long. By mid Dec. I should have completed a couple of deals that will greatly expand the collection and provide me with improved access to information. If people are anywhere near Chicago in February I will be launching the Flashback Museum at the Our World Underwater event. The display will be significantly bigger and more thorough that anything I have put together before. I am working on a wide range of portable display fixtures that will allow me to display the museum at various events around the country. I will have more details as the event gets closer. There will be equipment and photos spanning over 60 years of Cousteau explorations. I also have a replica helmet from the Undersea World series on eBay to help cover the cost of the Museum project. The helmet is made from molds taken from one of two known originals: Item #110060290395

-Ryan

[SeaRat]

Ryan,

On one of the threads, you asked for photos showing Jacques Cousteau in a particular wet suit that you had acquired. I think that there are more photos of Cousteau in that suit, and the book Discover the Underwater World[/U], by Ralph D. Erickson. It was published by USD in 1972, and features color photos of both Jacques and Phillippe on the deck of a ship with a wooden deck (not sure whether it is the Calypso or not). There are 6 photos of them on that deck in the book, either 4 or 2 to a page. That book is probably available at Powell's Books, or maybe Amazon.com (Powell's doesn't currently have one, but Amazon does at $6.75 per book used).

John

[sea.explorer]

Thanks for the lead. I ordered a copy of the book. I'll let you know. -Ryan

[SeaRat]

Ryan,

There is one other publication which might show Jacques Cousteau in that wet suit. It is LIFE--The Greatest Adventures of all Time[/I] by Robert Sullivan and Robert Andreas, Copyright 2000, Time Inc. Home Entertainment, ISBN: 1-929049-06-4, with a Forward by Will Steger. It features Jacques Cousteau in a chapter titled "The Manfish." In it, there are several relatively recent photos with Cousteau in a yellow-striped wet suit with the velcro enclosure, wearing twin 72s witth an Aquamaster regulator (I cannot tell whether it's a DA or Royal Aquamaster from the photos). There are also several older photos too. One of the photos is a full page, full color shot (LIFE-size pages, 8.5 x 11 inches) of Cousteau underwater wearing the wet suit, holding one of the special Cousteau movie cameras. I think that may have been shot about the same time as the ones in Erickson's book. The color photo (underwater) is attributed to Joe Thompson, and one black and white is attributed to Tom Williamson.

John

[jamiep3]

Ryan,

Will you be brining your stuff to the east coast any time this year?

Thanks,
Jamie

[sea.explorer]

Thanks again for the photo info. The closest I am getting to Maryland this year is Chicago. I will have a very complete museum set up at the Our World Underwater Show. I will have lots of framed photos, Movie posters, and a lot of original equipment: Suits, Masks, Fins, Regulators, and eight different tanks sets including tanks from the the first dives on the Britannic. I will also be giving several talks. It is the biggest and most complete display I have ever done. It is also the first time I will have items on loan from the Cousteau Society on Display. The show is a big show with all the major vendors and it is open to the public with lots of clinics, workshops, and guest speakers. It would be worth finding a cheap ticket to Chicago if you can. The dates are Feb 9-11th here is all the info; www.ourworldunderwater.com. The east coast will be more difficult for me as I am moving back to Seattle later this year. It looks like I will have a small selection of equipment at the Sand Dog Vintage Dive sponsored by VDH. The details are still in the works. -Ryan

[VintageDiverMN]

I still have my yellow-striped wet suit with the velcro enclosure that I bought in France back in 1960. Best wet suit I've ever had, too bad it dosen't fit anymore. I might bring it to Wazee this year so everyone can take a look. Frans

[pearldiver]

I'll see you there Ryan. I'll bring my movie camera and still. Are you doing a presentation as in a workshop? I didn't know what Denny set up for you.

[sea.explorer]

Actually they now have me doing a presentation on all three days of the show. -Ryan