The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary honors the life and work of Jacques-Yves Cousteau (1910-1997) with two special events: a demonstration by scuba divers on Monday, June 25, at the Port Angeles City Pier and the Olympic Coast Discover Center and a four-day “Junior Oceanographers’ Explorers Camp.”

On Monday, June 25, the celebration begins at noon with a demonstration by local scuba divers. After explaining the purpose and function of their equipment (Cousteau helped invent and test the first SCUBA equipment), they will dive beneath the pier to bring up samples of marine invertebrates for everyone to see.  

Afterward the celebration moves to the Olympic Coast Discovery Center for birthday cake and dive videos. The event is free and open to anyone who would like to learn more about scuba diving or the marine environment. For more information contact Janet Lamont, Olympic Coast Discovery Center at 360-457-6622, x31.

From June 25-28, middle school and high school campers will be following in the footsteps of Cousteau, experiencing science and mechanics behind underwater exploration by building underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). ROVs are used in marine science and industries. ROVs have played an important part of Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary’s research program, studying seafloor habitats, and cultural resources such as shipwrecks. 

Throughout the camp, the students work in teams to design and build a underwater ROVs that will be put to the test in an underwater mission on Thursday, June 28, at the William Shore Memorial Pool.  

Junior Oceanographers Explorers Camp is conducted jointly by Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and the Feiro Marine Life Center. 

Cost is $100 per student; scholarships are available. 

For more information, contact Maria Tarduno, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary at 457-6622, x20, or Feiro Marine Life Center at 417-6254. 

For application forms and other information see: http://feiromarinelifecenter.org/education/program-6.

Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a French naval officer, explorer, conservationist, filmmaker, innovator, scientist, photographer, author and researcher who studied the sea and all forms of life in water. He is best remembered for development of underwater breathing apparatus, leading to present day scuba diving equipment and for his documentary television programs and films, which introduced a generation of viewers to the ocean, its diverse life forms and its conservation. 

Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910, and died June 25, 1997.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is commemorating Cousteau’s legacy with events and celebrations throughout the National Marine Sanctuary System during the week of June 25-29.

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