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Fabien Cousteau, a third-generation ocean explorer and filmmaker, shares his famous father’s and grandfather’s love of deep-sea adventure. As a boy he dove for the first time when he was only four years old, a custom tank had to be made to fit his body. By the time Fabien was seven, he had begun accompanying his father, Jean-Michel, and grandfather, Jacques, on expeditions, his first to Papua New Guinea. When Fabien turned 12, he began joining the crew of his grandfather’s ships Calypso and Alcyone on every break from school. As an adult, Fabien took time to study economics and worked in marketing to try his hand on land. But the call back to the sea was strong and he returned to carrying on the Cousteau legacy of ocean adventure and environmental education. He looks forward to exposing a young audience to the thrills and lessons of the ocean. And, it doesn’t hurt that People Magazine named Fabien the “Sexiest Explorer” in 2002. This young Cousteau’s latest oceanic obsession is sharks–understanding and protecting them. Fabien says sharks are terribly misunderstood to be viscous man-eaters and this attitude is contributing to their demise. National Geographic published his article, “Attacks of the Mystery Shark” and this began a trek around the world, including India, to solve the Mattawan, NJ attacks of 1916 (the background for the movie Jaws). In July 2006, CBS television aired Fabien Cousteau’s adventure, a special entitled Mind of a Demon. The program broke new ground in its look at Great White sharks. Fabien, with the help of a large crew, created a 14-foot, 1200-pound shark submarine for the show. The sub, named “Troy,” looks just like a real Great White shark and moves among giant sharks without any disruption. Fabien controls Troy from inside the sub and shoots film from the subs many hidden cameras. Fabien spends most of his time working with his father on the PBS series: Jean-Michel Cousteau Ocean Adventures. The series includes specials on Australia, the Amazon and the Arctic. Most recently, Fabien and his sister Celine joined their father in the national marine sanctuary around the United States for a show titled America’s Underwater Treasures. When Fabien is not traveling for work or play, he lives in New York City with his dog Heidi.
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