Cousteau's Legacy: His Son and Widow Compete to Carry On

His Son and Widow Compete to Carry On

He was the unrivaled hero of the oceans. Former naval officer, explorer, filmmaker, environmentalist, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, a.k.a. "Captain Planet," almost single-handedly unlocked the door to the world beneath the waves. The Frenchman's co-invention of the Aqua-Lung freed humanity to wander underwater, and his more than 150 books, films and TV shows enabled millions of people to accompany him on voyages of discovery. But since he died last year at 87, the task of carrying on Cousteau's mission has fallen to rival successors whose infighting threatens to cloud his vision.

The legal successor is Francine Cousteau, 52, the former flight attendant with...

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