Pearl Diving in Bahrain with Rob Gregory & Robin Bugeja

[Caitlin]

Gulf Weekly

The first record of any [pearl] diving in the history of mankind took place in Bahrain when Gilgamesh visited the island in 3750BC

This is an interesting article about Bahraini-born Rob Gregory and his passion for pearls going back to 1969.

He and Robin still dive around Bahrain and teach about pearls.

 

[R Garten]

Great story of someone living out his passion!

 

[GemGeek]

I can't wait for the National Geographic show!

 

[Ashley]

That's almost sad... being the only one left diving. Do you think that there will be a return of the old traditions with the re-emergence of the Bahranian natural pearling industry, Caitlin? Or are the ways to be lost forever in the pursuit of something more 'efficient'...?

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Ashley
I certainly hope so. So far Bahrain has been adament in its tolerance for natural pearls only- all others are illegal.

I do think there could be a bit of poaching with scubas, but it would probably carry an onerous punishment....

The upside has got to be that the pearl beds are gowing again and there is always a possibliity that the way they are "managed" will include some old fashioned pearl diving methods.

I have long wished for a kind of "rodeo" of pearl wrangling, where reowned tribal divers from around the world, the Badjao of the Philippines , the Yaqui of the Bay of Cortez and of course, descendents of the local pearl divers, and some of the tribal aussies and not to exclude the SS islanders, would come together and dive for pearls with old authentic equipment and methods.

I wonder if anyone has collected the old "pearl songs" and how many of them Rob knows. That is a fantastic legacy right there.........sigh

 

[Ashley]

I certainly hope so. So far Bahrain has been adament in its tolerance for natural pearls only- all others are illegal.

Me too- what a romantic thought... I do hope that Bahrain maintains it's "natural-only" stance, it would create a market for specialized pearls that would be worth billions in the long run.

... A pearl rodeo? Lol- it wouldn't be complete without the Japanese Amahs!