Qatar's pearl divers seek riches and tradition

(MENAFN- Arab News) DOHA: From a distance it could be a scene from Qatar's ancient past long before the country's modern-day wealth was secured by the discovery of gas and oil.
Several kilometers off the coast of southern Qatar five traditional dhow boats bob gently up and down on the becalmed blue-green waters of the Gulf.
On board each vessel are a number of gawas or pearl divers.
In the midday heat divers take it in turns to swim the six meters or so to the sea bottom unaided to find pearl oysters.
The strongest can stay underwater for about 90 seconds before returning breathless to the surface hopefully with a net full of pearls or lulus as they known in Arabic.
This is not some romanticized recreation of the past but Qatar's biggest annual pearl diving event the 'Senyar.'
And just like their pearl diving predecessors today's divers are there to try to secure a good bounty a first prize of 400000 Qatari riyals ($110000/100000 euros).
'There are four other boats' says one of the competing captains Mohamed bin Abdullah Al-Sada.
'The total number of teams is five. There are two teams that we need to watch out for but God willing we'll finish ahead of them' he adds.
But this was not to be his year.
The scene may look like a picture postcard but the closer you get to the action it is obvious this is a serious business.
The boats buzz with activity as the teams vie for the lucrative first prize.
Each team has up to five divers all hurriedly shouting out instructions to the others so as to find the largest number of pearl oysters.
When a diver returns to the surface with a full bag his teammates invariably cheer and shout out to the other boats as the competition becomes fiercer by the hour.
Also on board is the boat's skipper who needs a deft touch to put the dhow in the right place for the divers and a thick skin to cope with the criticism when he does not.
There is also someone there to make sure the divers have enough food chocolates and meats and water while a referee sits placidly over barrels crammed with pearls oysters ready to count.
The emphasis is on oysters rather than pearls. To protect stocks the oysters remain unopened.