Diving has become an international attraction and its allure has made this sport one of the most popular events among visitors at the Third Annual Eastern Province Sea Festival.
The festival, held at the Dammam seafront, attracts a large number of visitors each year when they flock to see the old ships and remember the history of the region.
Among the many Gulf states participating in the festival, Oman and Bahrain have provided five traditional ferries made of wood to support diving tour programs for visitors, providing a platform for the festival-goers to learn about the place’s history and practice pearl diving.
Saleh Ali Mosalem, a ship captain from Oman, said his country participated in this year’s festival for the first time by providing traditional ferries and ship crew. The trip from Oman to the Eastern Province took a total four days, with stops in Qatar and Bahrain along the way, he said.
Each year, the Eastern Province festival portrays a variety of historical traditions, including the traditional work of craftsmen and folk songs as well as cultural anthems. Popular traditional crafts include those made from palm tree leaves, as well as sea nets made of fiber.
Whereas traditions are similar between the Gulf states, explained Mosalem, particularly those related to fishing and the sea arts and culture, the traditional anthems and songs vary from culture to culture.
He expressed his willingness to participate in the festival in coming years, and praised the organizers’ efforts to carry out the festival each year, which helps the younger generations learn about the historical sea-based traditions of their ancestors.
Abdullah Salman Dawood, a Bahraini sailor, said his country has been participating in the festival for three years now, providing four old ships and 15 ship crew. The oldest vessel showcased at the event was manufactured 123 years ago in Bahrain and passed down to him from previous generations, he stated.
Pearl diving is still regularly practiced regularly in Bahrain, with four different types of diving trips based on the duration, Dawood pointed out.
According to the sailor, this year’s festival surpasses last year’s with a greater number of activities and craftsmen taking part. He encouraged festival organizers to maintain the traditional activities and culture within the festival and to refrain from incorporating new modern activities in order to preserve these historical traditions.