Cousteau Memorial Monument

When you scuba dive in the Avalon Dive Park you will likely stumble upon the Jacques Cousteau Memorial Monument. The monument was placed in the park after Cousteau’s death in June of 1997.  Cousteau was many things (French naval officer, explorer, conservationist, filmmaker, innovator, scientist, photographer, author, researcher) but he will always be known as the man responsible for co-developing with Emile Gagnan the aqua-lung which opened up the undersea world to millions of scuba diving enthusiasts.  Located underwater near the stairway entrance to the dive park, the monument lies in a well suited place, just below newly certified divers who slowly descend into the magical world of the park surrounded by Garibaldi and an assortment of other undersea creatures.  It would be a fitting tribute to Cousteau if you checked out what many feel is his best book “The Silent World: A Story of Undersea Discovery and Adventure.” Cousteau directed the adaptation of this book “The Silent World,” which won  a Palme d’Or award at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival.  The Cousteau Society carries on his legacy of protecting the ocean. The Cousteau Memorial Monument is absolutely worth a visit when you dive in Avalon.