Albert Falco

Albert Falco (17 October 1927 – 21 April 2012) was a French scuba diver, oceanographer, and environmentalist renowned for his 37-year collaboration with Jacques-Yves Cousteau. As Chief Diver and later Captain of Cousteau’s research vessel RV Calypso, Falco contributed to pioneering underwater exploration and marine conservation. Known as the “first oceanaut” and the “fish-man” for his extensive time underwater, he played key roles in Cousteau’s award-winning films, the Précontinent underwater habitation experiments, and ocean advocacy efforts. His legacy endures through marine protected areas and his influence on oceanography. He played several leading roles on Cousteau's films, like The Silent World (1956), World Without Sun (1964) and Voyage to the Edge of the World (1976). Falco was the author of a non-fiction book, Capitaine de La Calypso.