The concept that the deep sea is simply a dark and lifeless abyss was proposed in the Azoic hypothesis by Edward Forbes. Forbes found that with depth the abundance of the marine life forms decreased and ceased to exist after 550 m. Michael Sars, a professor of Zoology found life at a depth greater than the hypothesised depth of 550 m. Later by the use of pioneering underwater technologies of Jacques Cousteau, several life forms were observed and this lead to the eventual disapproval of the Azoic hypothesis.