Post by SeaRat on Nov 16, 2021 17:27:50 GMT -8
Even thouph this is in French, I think our board will enjoy seeing this film. It features extensive footage of Frèdèrick Dumas swimming with the first Aqualung, ever. I think they only had one or two of these units, as in the beginning Jacques Cousteau is seen using a regulator hooked up, hookah-stlye, with a hose line to the surface.
There is some extensive viewing of spearfishing, which was an important part of their work. Why? Well, I'm pretty certain that this was filmed in German-occupied France prior to the end of WWII. Food was scarce, and they needed to feed themselves and their families. They show some of the spearguns used at the time, and describe using a rife underwater, and how ineffective it is (the slug came out so slow it could not penetrate a fish).
Toward the end they show how helmet divers were used to take the top off one ship which was a hazard to shipping. Then they show Dumas going through the ship, entering into the ship, and exploring it.
All this is with the first Aqualung, a three-cylinder affair with the home-made square regulator by Emile Gagnan. Some of the film was used in the beginning chapters of Cousteau's The Silent World book too. I think all divers should view and enjoy this film, even if not fluent in French.
John
