The port town of Pothia is the capital of the island and is a gathering place for lovers of Greek architecture. It is full of old mansions, captains' houses, and small one-bedroom townhomes from the 19th century that used to be the dwellings of –you guessed it– the local sponge divers.
Historic Roots
Life in Kalymnos has always been tied to the sponge trade. Even in ancient times, it was known as “the sponge-divers island.” Sponges were a main source of income for the island’s residents, and those who were skilled in the trade made a good living. In the old-school method, a small boat was taken out with a few crew members. A cylinder with a glass bottom was lowered in order to search the sea floor for sea sponges. The divers had little or no equipment and carried a 15-kilogram weight known as a “skandalopetra,” which allowed them to sink quickly to the bottom in search of sea sponges. In some cases, sponge divers used a harpoon to sponge-fish, at least before it was replaced by modern technology.
The Risks Involved
It would not be uncommon for divers to fall ill with what was known as “diver’s sickness”, which is caused by a change in pressure. Constantly shifting currents and a lack of modern equipment made diving dangerous. Oftentimes, boats would embark to sea for months at a time. Families would gather together to bid farewell to their relatives in the harbor. Before they left, the priest of the village would hold a service for the blessing of the waters. St. Nicholas, the patron saint of divers, would be prayed to for protection.
Sea Sponges’ Popularity
There are thousands of species of sea sponges, and the following species are the most commonly sold from the Aegean Sea:
Natural sponges are more valuable than synthetic sponges you can buy in the supermarket because they last longer and are not susceptible to tearing. For bathing, they soak up more water and are not prone to dripping. In ages past, entrepreneurial traders from Kalymos sold their findings as far abroad as the Middle East, Constantinople, and even Moscow. Demand for sponges surged during the Industrial Revolution, and thousands flocked from the nearby Dodecanese Islands to be involved with either the diving or the processing of sponges.
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