Sponge diving is the oldest know form of the original art of underwater diving, in order to retrieve natural sponges for human use.

Background

The calcium carbonate or silica spicules of most sponge genera make them too rough for most uses, but two genera, Hippospongia and Spongia, have soft, entirely fibrous skeletons.

It is unknown when exactly the sponge became an article of use. In Ancient Greek writings, Plato and Homerus mentioned the sponge as an object used for bathing. Through trading, Europeans used soft sponges for many purposes including padding for helmets, portable drinking utensils and municipal water filters. Until the invention of synthetic sponges, they were used as cleaning tools, applicators for paints and ceramic glazes and discreet contraceptives. However by the mid-20th century, over-fishing brought both the animals and the industry close to extinction.[1]

Many objects with sponge-like textures are now made of substances not derived from poriferans. Synthetic "sponges" include: personal and household cleaning tools; breast implants;[2] contraceptive sponges.[3]

History

In Kalymnos, only 18% of the steep volcanic land could be cultivated, so the main professions were trading, boat building and sponge fishing, which perhaps was the oldest profession on the island. Diving for sponges brought social and economical development to the island where the free-diving method was used. Kalymnos was the main centre of production in the Aegean, and still now is a traditional occupation with related exhibitions, along with other local folklore, at three local museums.

The crew went out into the Mediteranean sea in a small boat. They used a cylindrical object with a glass bottom to search the ocean floor for sponges. As soon as one was found, a diver went overboard to get it. Free diving, he was usually naked and carried a 15 kilogram skandalopetra with him to take him down to the bottom quickly. The diver then cut the sponge loose from the bottom and put a special net around it. Depth and bottom time depended on the divers lung capacity. They usually went down to about about 30 m (98 feet) for 3 to 5 minutes.

References

  1. ^ McClenachan, L. (2008). "Social conflict, Over-fishing and Disease in the Florida Sponge Fishery, 1849-1939". In Starkey, D.J. Holm, P., and Barnard, M. (ed.). Oceans Past: Management Insights from the History of Marine Animal Populations. Earthscan. pp. 25–27. ISBN 1844075273. Retrieved 2008-11-12.((cite book)): CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  2. ^ Jacobson, N. (2000). Cleavage. Rutgers University Press. p. 62. ISBN 0813527155. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
  3. ^ "Sponges". Cervical Barrier Advancement Society. 2004. Retrieved 2006-09-17.
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