The Man Who Saw Beneath the Surface

Jacques Cousteau, forever looking out at the sea he called “the aquarium of the world.” Malecón, La Paz.

Malecon, La Paz, Baja Sur — Reflections
Date: May 14, 2025 | Time: 6:32 PM

I walked by him again today—Jacques Cousteau, standing bronze and barefoot on the edge of the malecón, hand shielding his eyes, searching the horizon as if still scanning for signs of life below. I always pause when I pass.

It’s more than a statue. It’s a reminder of why we came.

Cousteau once described the Sea of Cortez as “the aquarium of the world,” and every time we visit our favourite beach, I understand what he meant. The water here is alive in a way that humbles you. One moment it’s calm and endless, the next it’s dancing with wild life. It gives back generously when we make space to notice.

Living here—between sunrises over the sea and slow golden-hour walks past this statue—has reminded me how much I crave depth. Not just in water, but in life. In love. In noticing.

We came for a slower rhythm, yes. But also for these wide open days where we can turn a corner and suddenly find ourselves face to face with wonder.

Thank you, Jacques. For what you saw. For what you named. And for what still waits just beneath the surface.

Photo Credit: Suzette Alvarez