Doug Allan

In 1973, Cousteau founds a non-profit organization, the Cousteau Society, to protect the oceans and restore marine habitats.

With offices in New York and Los Angeles and the French branch L'Equipe Cousteau in Paris, it offers membership to the general public.

Jacques serves as chairman, with his son Philippe as vice president.

It is in part Philippe's influence that helps Cousteau develop a stronger focus on the environment.

Together he and his father speak to governments and the general public about the urgent need to reduce pollution and protect the planet.

Cousteau's life is now one of a busy international star.

Though he is not always strong at managing his finances, his charismatic personality enables him to continue attracting funding for his work.

In 1977, he receives an environmental prize from the United Nations in recognition of his contributions to conservation.

But two years later, tragedy strikes.

While his wife is pregnant with their second child, Philippe crashes, landing his seaplane on the Tagus River in Portugal.

Though the others on board survive, Philippe's body is swept away by the water and is not found for three days.

Utterly heartbroken, Cousteau can't bring himself to identify his son's body, and he sends Philippe's older brother Jean-Michel to do it.

Philippe is buried at sea, 25 miles off the Portuguese coast.

Afterwards, Cousteau speaks to reporters about the importance of finding someone to continue his work.

But he never talks about his beloved son in public again.

Finding a way through his grief, he returns to exploration, filming in the Amazon and the Mississippi and retracing the roots of great explorers such as Christopher Columbus.

Simone retreats to her beloved Calypso, spending long periods alone as the couple live increasingly separate lives.

But Jacques begins a lengthy affair with a woman named Francine Triplet, a young flight attendant he met during his travels.

The relationship deepens, and he has a secret second family with her.

In 1990, shortly after being diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, Simone passes away.