November 1st, 2008 
Unfortunate news on the wires this morning…
Legendary Swiss diver Jacques Piccard has died at the age of 86 at his home on Lake Geneva. An
engineer known for designing submarines to study ocean currents and one
of two people to reach the deepest point in any ocean, Piccard died on
Saturday. In 1960 along with United States Navy
Lieutenant Don Walsh, Piccard descended 10,916 metres aboard the
Trieste into the Challenger Deep off the South Pacific island of Guam. The feat has never been replicated. His
discovery of living organisms at a depth of over 11,000 metres led to
the prohibition of nuclear waste dumping in ocean trenches. In 1969, Piccard drifted underwater for some 3,000 kilometres in the Gulf Stream, exploring its warm Atlantic currents. He designed and supervised construction of his submarines and dove last at the age of 82.
A very sad day. We are closing in on the end of an era of deep sea exploration. Their discoveries gave birth to our science.
Very sad indeed. And … always knowing him as “the son of PIccard” and for his enthusiasm … a sad surprise that he actually was already 86 … end of an era …
This is quite a bit like walking on the moon.
A true trailblazer.
Bummer. Picard was one of kind – and I have to wonder who among the modern deep sea explorers will take his place.
[...] year saw the passing of a legend, Jacques Piccard. Along with Don Walsh, these two trailblazers forged an era of deep-sea [...]