The Crew
The diving crew consisted of two people, Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh.
Jacques Piccard
Jacques Piccard was a Swiss oceanographer and an engineer born in Brussels, Belgium on July 28, 1922. He was the among the team that first built and tested the Trieste in the Mediterranean. After the dive, Jacques helped lead the mesoscaphe Grumman/Piccard PX-15 that drifted along the Gulf Stream from Florida to Maine. He also founded the Foundation for the Study and Protection of the Seas and Lakes. He died on November 1, 2008.
Don Walsh
Don Walsh was also an oceanographer and explorer. He was born on November 2, 1931. After graduating from the US Navy Academy, he was commissioned as a Navy Officer in the US Navy in 1945. He was given many rewards, including being called one of the world’s best explorers by Life and the Hubbard Medal by the National Geographic association. In 1975, Don Walsh retired from the navy. Afterwards, he participated in many underwater exploration projects. Now, he lives in Coquille, Oregon.
"Well, a lot of people think I died"
~ Don Walsh
Auguste Piccard is Jacques Piccard's father and the inventor of the Trieste. He was born on January 28, 1884 in Basel, Switzerland. He was a famous balloonist and set a few records in the air. He was the first man to enter the stratosphere with German balloonist Paul Kipfer in 1930. In 1953, Auguste Piccard used his experience with balloons to build the Trieste. He died on March 24, 1962, at age 76. He is remembered today for his records, the invention of the bathyscaphe, and his influence on the studies of the atmosphere.
Auguste Piccard