Albert Falco | |
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Born | |
Died | 21 April 2012 Marseille, France | (aged 84)
Nationality | French |
Occupation | Underwater SCUBA Diver |
Title | former Chief Diver and Captain of Calypso |
Albert Falco (17 October 1927 – 21 April 2012)[1] was a French scuba diving veteran and champion of underwater conservation. He was one of the longest-serving diving companions of Jacques Cousteau, Chief Diver, and later Captain of the RV Calypso.[2] He lived in France and was active in preserving aquatic ecosystems.[3][4] 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.[5]
Former captain of the Calypso, Albert Falco now focuses on the protection of the Massif des Calanques of Marseille and the archipelago of Riou and establishment of marine reserves. At 75, he still dives and monitors the damage caused by pollution in the ecologically impoverished waters of his childhood, which were, only several decades ago, teeming with large and charismatic sea creatures.