Aquanaut, Oceanographic Explorer, Environmental Advocate and Founder of Proteus Ocean Group
Fabien’s first experience with scuba was at the age of 4, and his life since then has led him on a path of ocean exploration and conservation.
In June 2014, Fabien led a team of aquanauts on Mission 31, the longest science expedition to take place at Aquarius, the world’s only remaining underwater marine laboratory located in Florida. The mission broke new ground in ocean exploration and honored the 50th anniversary of his grandfather’s underwater living experiment (Conshelf Two) by going deeper, longer and further, while broadcasting live on multiple channels, educating and exposing the world to the adventure and mystique of our blue planet.
He came back inspired to change the nature of humanity’s relationship with and understanding of the ocean. He founded Proteus Ocean Group to advance this vision, o, and is working toward launching a state-of-the-art modular habitat – PROTEUS™ – off the coast of Curacao.
From 2000-2002, Fabien was an Explorer-at-Large for National Geographic and collaborated on a TV special aimed at changing public conceptions about sharks called, “Attack of the Mystery Shark”. In 2003-2006, he produced the documentary, “Mind of a Demon”, that aired on CBS. For the next four years (2006-2010), Fabien was part of a multi-hour series for PBS called, “Ocean Adventures” with his father, Jean-Michel Cousteau, and sister, Céline, inspired by his grandfather’s famous 1978 PBS series,“The Cousteau Odyssey”. In the following years, and as a member of multiple cause- driven and charitable boards, Fabien has been working with local communities and children worldwide to help restore local water ecosystems.
Early in 2016, he founded the Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Center (“FCOLC”) to create a vehicle to make a positive change in the world. Currently he is working on multiple projects and dedicates much of his time to Proteus Ocean Group and to the initiatives of the FCOLC, including a coral reef resilience program, beach clean-ups, sea turtle and mangrove restoration projects and an Ocean Discovery Educational Curriculum Program.