A Letter for
 Young Historians

Hello again, young historians. Here’s a fun fact about me: I’ve never been a strong swimmer, so the idea of the ocean has always terrified me a bit. Even as a kid I was never a big fan of splashing around in the waves with my sisters and kept to the seashore instead—I never knew what scary creatures could be lurking just a few waves away! As an adult, I’ve come to appreciate the ocean in a different way. While you still won’t catch me straying too far from the shore, I am grateful for the fearless individuals who have made it their mission to explore the deepest and darkest depths of the world’s oceans.

With that in mind, thanks for joining us on yet another exciting adventure through history. I won’t make you hold your breath, but let’s just say that, for this issue, we will be taking a deep dive below the ocean’s surface to “sea” what lies beneath (pun intended!).

This issue is all about ocean exploration and features an important Frenchman by the name of Jacques Cousteau. Chances are you’ve probably never heard of him, but he is an extraordinary man who helped make it possible for people like you and me to explore the ocean depths.

One of my favorite aspects of this issue is the fact that we get to talk about the ocean. There are so many amazing facts about the ocean and scientists are learning more about it each and every day. Researching this issue has been such a treat because, like you, I was able to learn so much about the ocean and the things that make it unique to planet Earth.