In 1943, Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnan invented a system that would revolutionize the world of deep-sea exploration and push diving into the mainstream, allowing people around the world to become exposed to the magical oceanic wilderness they had been unable to experience before. The system is known as the “Aqua-lung.” Jacques-Yves Cousteau, invented and tested the “Aqua Lung” SCUBA regulator in Lanesville.
E.J. Lefavour
Good Morning Gloucester 
EJ ~ great post ~ Happy Holidays ~ namaste, Carol ^_^
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Hi EJ!
So nice that you mentioned this in your posting.
The Cousteau family was visiting at that time at our house in Bay View. My father, Frank Scalli, was a diving pioneer whose work with the Cousteaus spanned thirty years. We have great memories of parties at our home where it wasn’t uncommon to find undersea explorers,
astronauts and some of the best photographers in the world enjoying a lobster bake in our backyard near Plum Cove Beach. Wine, music and great stories from around the world were always in abundance! Even though my dad and Jacques have gone on, we have memories to last a lifetime. Thanks for the picture!
Kathi Scalli Johnson
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I did not know that it was created in Lanesville, I will pass that info onto our oldest son who loves scuba diving … Have a wonderful Happy Merry Christmas…hugs
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Great info. Cape Ann never stops surprising me how much happened right here. Moving to Woods Hole in high school I think I read every book Cousteau wrote about diving for sunken treasure.
The quote below, say it out loud with a heavy french accent …
From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free.
-Jacques Yves Cousteau
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So true Paul, whether he returns to the surface or not.
Kathi, thanks for that additional part of the story. I had seen it in my research, but wanted to focus on the aqua lung. I’m so glad you added your family’s part of the story. I wonder if your father knew mine, who was also a diving pioneer and knew Cousteau.
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Love your sense of humor, E.J., and it would be fun to know if our fathers had a connection through the diving industry. Seems very possible. If you want, let me know his name and when he was diving. I really enjoy the “Did You Know?” pieces. Glad you’re here.
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I know frank j Scalli. He’s was my father. He wrote the book on diving and they still use it today. We lived in Gloucester and lanesville is a small suburb of the island. That’s why Cousteau came there. Really not any pioneers of diving that ever lived there except the Scalli family. Your father must have been a member of the sea rovers of courses. What is your dads name? I’d love to look him up to see how our dads met. Who knows, maybe we have met at one point or another. You must know bob Ballard who found the titanic. That Jason project was a long time coming , and Louis marden (the editor of national geographic ) and DR Harold edgerton the inventor of the strop light. I still have the picture of the bullet going through the apple. What a great life our fathers gave us. Look up frank Scalli sometime, it’s a good read. Let me know your fathers name so I can look him up. Who knows I may even have pictures of them. Thanks. Love to chat again.
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TOO COOL! The under Sea world of Jacque Costeau was one of my favorite shows when i was a kid. that and Disney on sunday nights! Did’nt know about the cape ann conection. thanks ej!
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I thought it was pretty cool too. I loved watching Jacques Coustea and Lloyd Bridges (Sea Hunt) when I was a kid. It’s pretty amazing the things that connect to Cape Ann.
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Before I understood English, I knew the sound of Cousteau’s voice. Despite the breakthroughs in technology today – I still prefer the journeys and the manner in which he brought me the world – one sentence at a time; clear, understood and all about the topics. Not since Cousteau have I had interest in sea explorations of any sort. Today’s (programs) are rapid segments bloated with a lot noisy music. With Costeau – you “are there” on that ship standing beside him. I’ve always miss this man and his voice.
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