Pearl Diving

Pearls (dana), not oil, once formed the basis of Kuwait's wealth. Now, annual pearl diving festivals help today's generation experience the excitement and hardship that their forefathers faced. Such festivals are a tribute to men who dedicated their lives to the pearling industry. The young divers make extensive preparations for the event: they train rigorously in diving and sailing; meet experienced captains and old divers who explain the intricacies of pearl diving; and familiarise themselves with the equipment.

Traditionally, ships or dhows were prepared by first beaching them along the shore and caulking cracks with cotton dipped in shark oil. Then, a thick coating of noora (a mixture of shark oil and powder) was manually smeared over the hull, up to the water line. Dhows made of Indian teak are waterproofed with the traditional mixture of sheep's oil and lime.

The clothes of today's pearl-divers are the same as their forefathers. The wazar (a wrap-around skirt that also serves as a head wrap) is worn along with diving trunks and T-shirts. Also worn is the fotam (nose clip), dieng (neck basket) and hajer (toe anchor). During the dive, the diver is secured to the ship's railing with a rope tied around his waist. When he is ready to surface, he tugs on the rope -- which his helper must hold at all times -- and the latter then pulls up the diver. The qafal (the end) of the festival is celebrated with traditional singing and dancing.

Water Sports

For speed boating, windsurfing, jet skiing, water skiing, yachting and scuba diving, tourists have to buy their own equipment from dealers as hiring facilities are few. Boats and equipment usually have to be bought for long-term enjoyment. These dealers also have details of clubs and specialist courses available in Kuwait. Most of these sports can be enjoyed off the beaches all along the coast.

Yachting

Kuwait is a sailor's paradise. The seas offshore is seldom really rough, but there is nearly always a moderate breeze. Boats range from small sailing dinghies to large yachts. The Yatch Club has a marina with 300 fully serviced berths. Many of the sea clubs have marinas and organise sailing activities. The Kuwait Offshore Sailing Association organises races, including one from Kuwait to Bahrain.

Diving

Despite the pollution, a result of the retreating Iraqi troops setting the oil wells afire, the seas around Kuwait are comparatively clear and marine life is thriving. Scuba diving is a popular sport. Much of the activity takes place over reefs offshore and around the islands. SSAC and PADI courses are available. Al-Boom Divers offers certification through NAUI and CMAS and organises diving trips.

Trips to the Islands

Taking a boat trip to one of the islands, such as Kubbar, can be a pleasant one-day experience, with swimming and picnicking on an island or on the boat itself possibly with fish caught by trawl or line on the way out. For a few hundred KD, a dhow can be hired, including crew and all running costs, which is ideal for a small office outing or for three or four families on an outing together.