Forum rules
Discussion of diving methods and equipment available prior to the development of BCDs beyond the horse collar. This forum is dedicated to the pre-1970 diving.
Post Reply
User avatar
Ron
Site Admin
Posts: 1760
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2008 5:51 pm
First Name: Ron
Location: Puget Sound, Washington
Contact: Website

Cousteau odyssey

Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:54 am

I'm sure a bunch of us have seen this series. The whole Cousteau team usually wear a set of black fins that have only two vents in them. I could freeze frame a picture of them if guys want. I'm wondering what kind of fins those are and also what kind of two hose regulator they are using. These show took place around 1978 or so. I know the mistral regulator and rondine fins were common for this show, but I know the fins aren't rondines because they have vents (which rondines do not). If you guys happen to have the set of DVDs the episode I am speaking of is the 9th episode, about Easter Island.
The impossible missions are the only ones which succeed. -JYC
User avatar
Bryan
Plank Owner
Posts: 5279
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 11:40 am
First Name: Bryan
Location: Wesley Chapel Florida
Contact: Website

Sun Oct 26, 2008 12:04 pm

99.9% sure they are diving LaSpirotechnique Royal Mistrals....Made in France up till 76 or so and are still used by the Cousteau gang today in a limited capacity. Do an forum search on La Spirotechnique and your head will spin on the amount of information on the subject. Finest all around double hose ever made in my opinion.

Someone else will have to chime in on the fins as it's not my area of expertise. But it involves Cousteau/Jet Fins and an early version of those silly flip up fins that are all over some of the other dive sites.... Ryan where are you when we need you ???


Look Here in SD 3
http://www.vintagedoublehose.com/trips/index.php

Ryan might have been wearing a silver pair...I think they were Technisub or Beauchat ???
Doing it right should include some common sense, not just blindly following specs and instructions. .Gary D, AWAP on SB
swimjim
Master Diver
Posts: 1710
Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:28 am
First Name: Jim
Location: Belgium WI

Sun Oct 26, 2008 1:11 pm

Speaking of the Cousteau Oddessy. I watched the Brittanic episode with a friend of mine. He noticed the balls they had tied off to their manifolds. Were those some sort of bouyancy device?

Jim
User avatar
usddude
Master Diver
Posts: 317
Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:17 am
Location: Tennessee

Mon Oct 27, 2008 12:08 pm

Could the floating balls be a suspended wire antenna for radio communications? Seems like I remember that being an old indian trick(so to speak).

USD.....dude!
User avatar
1969ivan1
Plank Owner
Posts: 1657
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2005 12:15 pm
First Name: rob
Location: CINCINNATI, OHIO

Mon Oct 27, 2008 12:30 pm

NON compressable balls for bouancy...
User avatar
Sea Explorer
Master Diver
Posts: 119
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 9:31 pm
Location: Tacoma WA
Contact: Website

Wed Oct 29, 2008 9:25 am

The regs were in fact Spiro Royal Mistrals. The fins were Beuchat Jets they made several styles including a full foot. These predate the Jets that most of us are familiar with. Here is a pick of a couple of sets from the Cousteau Warehouse:

Image

You can see more photos of equipment from the Cousteau Odyssey here:

http://www.flashbackscuba.com/museum/Cousteu_Odd.html

Rob is right about the floats on the tanks the tanks set weighs 108lbs empty. I have one of the three sets in the collection.

-Ryan
"A little less conversation a little more action. . ." -Elvis

www.flashbackscuba.com
User avatar
DiverTim
Master Diver
Posts: 159
Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2008 11:03 am
Location: Baton Rouge, La

Wed Oct 29, 2008 6:50 pm

Thank You very much for that link. Tim
Post Reply

Return to “Classic Vintage Diving”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 34 guests