Generations live memories of pearl diving in Oman

Before the oil discovery in the Arabian Gulf, Pearl diving was a central part of life and the only means of livelihood and today, it represents a captivating chapter in the maritime history of the Arabian Peninsula. History says that the practice of pearl diving in Oman was established over a thousand years ago and the divers were mostly from the coastal communities, including Al Batinah, Dhofar, Jebel Sifah, and Musandam, who developed specialised skills and techniques passed down through generations.
For several centuries, this ancient practice of diving into the deep sea in search of the pearls not only shaped the economic and cultural landscape of the region but also forged a deep connection between the Omani people and the Indian Ocean and beyond.
Arabian pearls were of great demand in many countries which fetched value for their efforts and indeed, that had fed a bygone generation. Today, the legacy of Omani pearl divers endures as a symbol of resilience, skill, and rich heritage. Oman's vast coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf has long been a fertile ground for pearling.
Not far from the capital city of Muscat, a man in Eint village cherishes the fondest memories of those past era when groups of young men dived into depths of the sea holding breath for minutes and ascending to the surface with shells of pearls triumphant thus heralding an era of pearl diving.
'The task required a great amount of physical endurance, technical knowledge, and an intimate understanding of the sea', says Khamis Ali Khalfan al Shehhi, an octogenarian who has seen the nation grow from merely an arid land to the modern city with all amenities of the present day.
From the four walls of his house on the seashore, he, along with his friends, Talib bin Darwish al Wuhaibi, Talib Naseeb al Qasimi, and Juma Bukheit al Battashi comes to the seaside every evening sitting on the concrete bench stares at the vast sea, enjoying the twilight.
'We used to go fishing as a group of youngsters while our uncles would dive into the sea for pearls. Unable to contain the excitement, we too would dive along with them and that's how we learned how to dive and search for oysters with pearls,' tears of excitement rolled down through his wrinkled cheeks.
Today, with a physique conquered by age sitting in his son’s house staring at the vast sea, Khamis recalled those heydays of pearl harbouring. Like many elderly men who engaged in pearl diving in their youth, he sounded a deep sense of nostalgia for that era even while acknowledging the hardships they had to endure.
”Many elderly men like me who lived through the old Gulf pearl era, followed pearl diving as the means of life while many others went fishing in the traditional boats. I’m happy to know that we represent a generation that experienced a way of life deeply intertwined with the sea, where pearl diving was a primary source of livelihood and shaped the country’s and the region's economy and culture,” he averred.
The stories and experiences of elderly pearl divers like Khmis and Talib in Muscat offer a powerful glimpse into a bygone era and the rich cultural tapestry woven by the sea.
“Pearl diving was not an easy task at all and the work was physically demanding, with divers like me enduring long hours, dangerous conditions, and the risk of injury or death. However, Pearl diving was the backbone of the economy, providing wealth and sustenance for coastal communities back then,” he heaved a sigh.
The value of a pearl depended on its size, shape, colour such as white, cream, grey, yellow, blue, lavender, lustre, surface and nacre quality. They can be sold for any price depending upon the demand for the same. He remembers that round pearls tend to be most valuable, but pear, oval and irregular shaped ones are also sought after. He hopes to keep the tradition alive by sharing pearling skills with the next generation of Omanis.
“Pearl diving season usually was between April to September, coinciding with the calmer seas of summer. During this period, communities would gather, and the activity became a social event marked by storytelling, music, and communal effort.” However, before the arrival of oil in the region, the pearl trade collapsed in the 1930s with the advent of Japanese cultured pearls and as global conflicts made them an unaffordable luxury.
“The arrival of cultured pearls from Japan made the value of Arabian pearls go down as cultured pearls were easier to produce and cheaper, and apparently, it devalued the status of the regional pearls which were much valued,” Khamis said.
Today, Oman has programmes and efforts are ongoing to preserve the cultural heritage of pearl diving in Oman through museums, cultural centers, and educational programmes for the pearling sites that Oman have had been recognised for their historical and cultural significance.
Ahmed and his friends often serve as keepers of the tradition, sharing stories, songs, and knowledge of pearl diving with younger generations as, in his words, despite the hardships, pearl diving fostered a strong sense of cultural identity and tradition, passed down through generations.