Screenings, photo exhibitions, and talks reminded us how crucial it is to understand and act for the protection of underwater ecosystems.
Before his talk titled "Secrets of the Mediterranean – The Journey Continues", Pierre-Yves Cousteau kindly granted an exclusive interview to Yumping France on the steps of Madrid’s Palacio de Cristal!
Yumping France - Hello Mr. Cousteau, thank you for sparing us a few minutes! In a nutshell, what brought you to the 4th edition of the Dive Travel Show?
Pierre-Yves Cousteau - I’m here to present the Cousteau Divers project. I chose English because it’s a global initiative. The idea is to unite everyone inspired by my father to take up diving—those motivated to become agents of marine conservation and research.
Y.F. - What exactly does this project entail?
P.Y.C. - Well, the Cousteau Divers project has three pillars:
- Citizen science: We ask non-scientists to report observations from their dives, helping diagnose the health of ecosystems at those sites and monitor changes. The goal is continuous data flow for a real-time "health check" of our oceans, allowing us to act like an immune system in areas with sudden biodiversity or biomass decline.
- Participatory multimedia: Divers can share photos/videos (geotagged and timestamped) as they would on social media. This creates a scientific record of species locations over time, comparable to archival footage.
- The Community aspect, a platform for divers to connect.
*Editor’s note: The project compares current diver footage with Commander Cousteau’s archival images for "Before/After" analysis.
Y.F. - So everything runs through your website?
P.Y.C. - Exactly—all via this page.
Y.F. - You’ve led expeditions worldwide—what’s next?
P.Y.C. - Currently, I’m focused on expanding affiliated dive centres. We’re building a network of "Cousteau Dive Centers" that serve as permanent biodiversity observatories—like underwater gardeners. It’s more admin than adventure, but I’d love to get back underwater soon!
Editor’s note: A Cousteau Diver centre isn’t just a label—it reshapes dive training, coastal protection, and contributes directly to the Cousteau Divers mission.
Y.F. - As a Goodwill Ambassador for IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), what does this role mean to you?
P.Y.C. - The IUCN is the oldest and largest nature conservation network, uniting NGOs like National Geographic, WWF, and Cousteau. It’s the only non-governmental observer at the UN—a powerful voice backed by 60,000+ global experts advising conservation projects.
Y.F. - A personal diving question: when did you start?
P.Y.C. - Aged 9!
Y.F. - Any memorable anecdotes?
P.Y.C. - My first dive: they made me remove my mask—I panicked and shot up like a cork! Later, as an instructor, I realised how common this is.
Second dive: I saw a shark! I backed away (but didn’t surface—progress!). The instructor stayed calm—it was a motionless nurse shark. When I approached, it fled. Truthfully, they’ve more reason to fear us.
Y.F. - Future plans?
P.Y.C. - Absolutely. I’d love to open a dive centre—I need to be near the sea as often as possible.
Y.F. - Thank you, Pierre-Yves Cousteau! Best of luck!
A brilliant environmental initiative—we urge divers and dive centres to join. Water is life; protecting our seas means safeguarding the fragile balance that sustains us.
See all photos from our encounter on Yumping France’s Facebook page.
