Simone Melchior facts for kids

Simone Cousteau (born Simone Melchior; January 19, 1919 – December 1, 1990) was a brave French explorer. She was the first woman to be a scuba diver and an aquanaut. Simone was the wife and important partner of the famous undersea explorer, Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

Even though you didn't see her on the TV show The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, Simone was super important behind the scenes. She was like a mother, helper, and friend to the all-male crew for 40 years. Her nickname was "La Bergère," which means "The Shepherdess." She helped Jacques find people and money for his scuba invention. She also helped buy their beloved ship, the Calypso, and even saved the ship during a big storm! Simone made sure every trip met its goals.

Early Life and Family

Simone was born on January 19, 1919, in Toulon, France. Her father, Henri Melchior, and both of her grandfathers were high-ranking officers in the French Navy. Her mother was Marguerite Melchior. Simone had two brothers, Maurice and her twin, Michel.

In 1924, when Simone was five, her family moved to Kobe, Japan. Her father worked for a company called Air Liquide. Living in Japan, Simone learned to speak Japanese at a young age.

Meeting Jacques Cousteau

Simone met her future husband, Jacques, at a party in 1937. He was a 26-year-old naval officer, and she was 17. They got married in Paris on July 12, 1937.

After their honeymoon, the Cousteaus settled in Toulon. They had two sons: Jean-Michel, born in 1938, and Philippe Pierre, born in 1940. Both of their sons were born at home.

Helping Invent the Aqua-Lung

In 1942, Simone's father helped Jacques Cousteau build the first aqua-lung. He provided money and connected Jacques with a skilled engineer named Émile Gagnan. Simone was there in 1943 when they tested the first aqua-lung in the Marne River near Paris. This new invention was later used to find and remove enemy mines after World War II.

Life on the Calypso

The Cousteau family's love for exploring underwater led them to buy a special ship called the Calypso. They bought it on July 19, 1950. A man named Thomas Loel Guinness bought the ship and let Jacques use it for just one dollar a year. Simone even sold her family jewelry to buy fuel for the Calypso. She also sold her fur coat to buy a compass and a gyroscope for the ship.

The Calypso began its first big journey in 1952, sailing to the Red Sea. Simone was the only woman on board the ship for this trip and many others.

First Female Aquanaut

In 1963, Simone made history again. She became the world's first female aquanaut. An aquanaut is someone who lives in an underwater home. Simone lived in a special underwater house called Starfish House for four days. This was part of a project called Conshelf II.

Jacques Cousteau often spoke about his wife. He said she was happiest out of sight, like when she was high up on the Calypso looking for whales. He said, "Nothing would get by her." He also mentioned that she loved spending hours watching the sea, thinking, and trying to understand its mysteries.

Simone passed away in 1990 from cancer. She received a special military funeral. Her ashes were scattered over the Sea of Monaco, a beautiful way to honor her connection to the ocean.

Simone Melchior-Cousteau Grant

On March 8, 2021, which was International Women's Day, the Women Divers Hall of Fame announced something new. They started a research grant named after Simone Melchior-Cousteau. This grant helps support new research, keeping her spirit of exploration alive.