[Caitlin]

I like this story of bringing old-time pearl traditions back to life and making the Pearl Roundup into a local show. The Persian Gulf answer to the rodeo.

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Pearl-diving contest to promote Gulf heritage Hamad Mohamed al-Tamimi: a unique traditional eventThe general manager of the Qatar Marine Festival Organising Committee (QMFOC), Hamad Mohamed al-Tamimi, has expressed his confidence in the success of the upcoming GCC Traditional Pearl Diving Competition, announcing that the first year’s edition of the competition is offering an unprecedented prize money for an event aimed at promoting Gulf heritage.
The event will take place from June 1-4, and al-Tamimi promised that the closing of the competition will offer a number of surprises.
Al-Tamimi explained that the competition came about as a result of a directive from HH Sheikha Mozah Nasser al-Misnad. As part of Qatar’s efforts to preserve culture and heritage, it was decided to organise the event which would also strengthen ties throughout the region as a result of remembering old traditions which brought the people here together in the past.
The event is also aimed at informing younger generations about the history of the region and the lives of their ancestors.
Divers competing in this event will be respecting the history from which they have emerged, and paying their own tribute to the work of their forefathers – something Qatar is keen to promote.
“The 2010 GCC Traditional Pearl Diving Competition emphasises the interdependence of the Gulf states seeking to preserve their common heritage by remembering and honouring the patience and the courage with which our ancestors faced challenges and difficulties,” explained al-Tamimi, adding “through highlighting the traditional aspects like diving for pearls and other water activities, Qatar is becoming one of the leading states in preserving the Gulf heritage.”
Al-Tamimi also stressed the importance the organisers have placed upon environmental concerns, and explained that they have been coordinating with the Ministry of Environment to ensure that certain rules and regulations are observed to reduce the impact on marine life.
Divers are prohibited from harming the flora and fauna of the coral reefs and are not allowed to kill fish. Similarly sailors have a number of restrictions on how they can work around the area and what tools can be used.
“To make sure the participants are observing the rules we are collaborating with Qatar Divers Association to oversee this event and especially the underwater activities,” explained al-Tamimi.
Prizes will be awarded in a number of categories, which will be decided by a panel of expert judges, he explained.
The fishermen collecting the highest number of oysters will receive QR50,000, with QR20,000 going to the team with the most pearls collected. The “largest and finest pearl” will received QR25,000 with QR20,000 going to the participant who spends the longest period of time underwater.
The final category will see an award of QR20,000 to the best dhow.
Applicants must meet a number of conditions to participate in the event. Dhows must house no more than 16 people, with six divers and six men to pull them back onboard as well as four other crew members.
All sailors must be GCC nationals, who must wear traditional clothing, and use dhows that were traditionally used for pearl diving.
The sense of history is further preserved by ensuring that participants only use traditional tools and that diving will be carried out without any modern equipment.
Finally, all the pearls that are caught in the competition will become the property of the QMFOC.
Al-Tamimi emphasised the importance of public interest and participation in the event, explaining that as well as making the Al Dasha, Al Qafal and closing ceremonies open to the public, the organisers have also invited schools, universities and companies to take part in boat trips to the diving location to witness the divers in action.
These boat trips will also be made available to visitors who wish to get a closer look at the diving experience throughout the various ceremonies.
He expressed the hope that the development of this event would bolster local tourism in the future, bringing people to Qatar to experience this historical practice.
“In the future, we aim at making the competition one of the most prominent programmes supporting local tourism, in fact we hope it will be one of the must-attend events in the Gulf region,” he claimed, explaining that tourists attending the event would boost a number of local organisations and cultural sites.
Al-Tamimi explained that the organising committee will provide return air tickets to all participants, and will be providing accommodation and other services to each of the teams taking part.
“The QMFOC has demonstrated its full capacity in staging quality events,” claimed al-Tamimi, adding “through the proper use of its organisational insight and other mechanisms the success of this unique traditional event can be guaranteed.”

[Caitlin]

The Pearl roundup: Day One

Pearl divers set to test skills

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BY RAYNALD C RIVERA DOHA: Thirteen dhows anchored in Doha yesterday all set to sail for the first-ever GCC Traditional Pearl Diving Competition which starts today.
“All of the participating teams from GCC countries have arrived today, except for Kuwait who arrived two days back, for the competition which starts tomorrow morning,” said Hamad Al Tamimi, General Manager of Qatar Marine Festival Organising Committee, the organiser of the event. Students, VIP guests and the media will be given a chance to witness the competition tomorrow, according to Al Tamimi.
“Students and other invited guests will sail aboard three dhows which will be leaving from the Corniche at 1pm tomorrow,” said Al Tamimi adding a trivia contest would be held for the guests making the event both exciting and informative.
Al Tamimi said everything will be traditional from the tools to the costumes of the 16 members of each team which includes divers, pullers, and team captains.
He also said the technical committee has ensured safety of all participants equipping them with a radio to call in case of emergency. Speed boats are stationed with medical teams all ready to respond anytime during the course of the three-day competition.
“I’m very happy this competition has been organised as it demonstrates the culture of pearl diving being introduced to the young generation. It also bonds GCC countries,” Khalifa Rashid, consultant of the Kuwaiti team told The Peninsula.
The 74-year-old diver said he had been passionate about pearl diving since he was nine. Interestingly, he can identify the best spot where oysters could be located even at night through experience and using old methods like looking at the stars.
“This is part of my roots and our history and culture and I think it is my mission to pass this legacy to future generations,” Rashid said of his passion for pearl diving. “Being a ‘nokhetah’ (captain) is a title which along with it entails a major responsibility since he is not only a competent leader in navigation and survival but a father figure as well,” he said. The Persian Gulf is one of the best sources of high quality pearls but the industry has been left on the wayside with the rise of oil industry. Qatar’s pearl diving competition is one such initiative to revive the culture of pearl diving.

[Caitlin]

The end of the story LINK

Three wins for hosts in GCC pearl diving contest Bahrain’s Khalid Salman Ajlan (left) and Qatar’s Saeed al-Kuwari won prizes in the competitionThe four-day GCC pearl diving competition 2010 organised by the Qatar Marine Festival Organising Committee (QMFOC) ended yesterday with a colourful ceremony at the Villaggio Mall, where the winners were awarded the prizes.
According to a spokesman of the QMFOC, prizes were given to winners in various categories. The ship “Fatih Alkhair” led by Alnowkhada Khalid Salman Ajlan (Bahrain) won the prize for the highest number of oysters collected and the ship “Fatih Alkhair” led by Alnowkhada Khalid Salman Ajlan (Bahrain) also won the prize for the biggest number of pearls collected. The biggest pearl award was won by the ship “Balhambar Alkhour” led by Alnowkhada Sultan Ibrahim al-Meraikhi (Qatar) and the longest period underwater prize was won by diver Khalid Abdulla al-Sheaibi onboard the ship Balmasan led by Alnowkhada Saeed al-Kuwairi (Qatar). The best looking ship award was won by “Umm Albaranioosh” owned by Omran al-Kuwairi (Qatar).
The 13 Gulf teams which participated in the competition made their way back to the shore from the diving locations on Thursday after harvesting more than 98,000 oysters during their trip.
The team members were accorded a traditional welcome by women and children on arrival at the seafront near the Cultural Village.

[Caitlin]

Here's more on the Pearl Roundup: Interesting ifo that backs up Tom's statements on the pearl paucity.

Diving for pearls, young Kuwaitis find heritage

James Calderwood, Foreign Correspondent

• Last Updated: July 21. 2010 12:12AM UAE / July 20. 2010 8:12PM GMT

Young men hunt for pearls in the oysters they harvested while participating in the Kuwait Sea Sports Club’s Pearl Diving Heritage Revival Festival. Photos by Noufal Moudadi for The National

KUWAIT CITY // For young men like Ahmed al Qallaf, it would be tempting to spend a summer break from university lounging in front of the television, socialising in cafes and spending extra hours in bed.

Instead, the Kuwait University technology student decided to test his mettle in Kuwait Sea Sports Club’s Pearl Diving Heritage Revival Festival. The nine-day voyage pushes more than 200 young men to their physical limit as they crew traditional sailing dhows and diving for pearls using the tools and techniques of the ancient trade.

“When I signed up I wasn’t expecting this. I didn’t think I’d be sleeping in the dust and diving for so many hours without a break,” said Mr al Qallaf, 20, a first-year diver, or ghawwa, during a party in Khairan Port on the fifth day of the trip on Monday. “But I love the physical activity; I’ll be back next year.”

The 22-year-old festival is an attempt to keep alive the traditions of pearl diving, an industry once central to the Gulf’s economy in the 19th Century. For one month before setting sail, the young men learned how to sail, dive, prepare the boats and sing songs as Kuwaitis did in the past. The fleet of 15 dhows and two support vessels began its voyage on July 15.

Some of the sailors liked the idea of keeping Kuwait’s heritage alive, such as Mr al Qallaf, who belongs to the country’s most famous dhow-building family. Others are in it for the camaraderie.