{"id":3154,"date":"2013-07-01T00:08:33","date_gmt":"2013-07-01T00:08:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cssgroupsite.com\/lighthouse\/?p=3154"},"modified":"2013-06-25T03:56:30","modified_gmt":"2013-06-25T03:56:30","slug":"pearl-diving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cssgroupsite.com\/lighthouse\/pearl-diving\/","title":{"rendered":"Pearl Diving"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"F<\/strong><\/span>or hundreds of years, the finest pearls in the world were found in the waters of the Arabian Gulf. Pearl diving once represented the rich heritage of UAE, where pearl diving was one of the largest contributors to the economy.
<\/br>The Pearl divers are known as Ghais (in Arabic). Gulf Pearlers developed their own diving technique and worked in tandem with \u2018pullers with strong powerful shoulders\u2019\u2019 known as Saibs. These men were responsible for heaving up baskets of oysters, as well as the divers themselves.
<\/br>Once over the oyster banks, the oars were lashed on one side of the boat, projecting overboard. Two ropes were hung over each oar. One rope had a basket (Dayeen) attached, the other a weight or heavy stone. The weighted rope (hijara) was looped around the ankle of the diver (ghais) to help him sink to the sea bed.
<\/br>Once in the water, the diver would place a nose peg made of turtle shell, (Ftaam) to keep his nostrils closed, whilst diving. During the jelly fish season in June, a lightweight cotton suit (Libis) was worn by the divers to protect and prevent serious injury from stings.
<\/br>PEARLING HISTORY<\/strong>
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