NH Divers hear Cousteau

January 15: Members of Bluegrass Underwater Explorers and New Horizons divers traveled to Hanover College to see Jean-Michel Cousteau give a presentation entitled “The Great Ocean Adventure.” While telling interesting and often funny stories from his expeditions, Cousteau shared his belief that the entire planet is one environmental system that transcends all man made boundaries. His message is one of hope, that with the proper long-term focus on sustainability, we can overcome much of the destruction that we have caused to the environment. But it is our collective responsibility, down to each individual, to think and act in a responsible ecologic manner.

Cousteau and his team recently completed an expedition to the Amazon River where they witnessed efforts to stop clear-cutting rain forests and learned that there are hundreds of new species being discovered every year both above and below the water. A new television program about their expedition will be broadcast on PBS channels in April.

When asked by a diver in the audience what he thinks of present-day recreational diving, Cousteau said we (scuba divers) are the only ones who get to see first hand what goes on below the waves. Most people on the planet only get to see the water’s surface. It is our responsibility to tell those around us how important it is to preserve the fragile environment beneath the waves. Cousteau is also disappointed that despite many years of lobbying and discussion, the major scuba agencies continue to fail to spend time truly educating brand new divers about ocean life and how to protect it. Instead, they focus on quick certifications and simply getting customers under water to “look at the fish.” Then, without any understanding or appreciation of the ecosystem, many people drop out of diving because they have “been there, done that.”

To learn more about Jean-Michel Cousteau and his team’s work, visit the Ocean Futures Society website. Membership in Ocean Futures is free.