Diving Village, Dubai

Just few minutes ahead of Sheikh Obaid bin Thani House, is the Diving Village, which is a collection of pearl-diving artefacts and pictures of Dubai’s pearl divers and marine life. Some of the black and white photos are interesting, reflecti ng the tough life that many divers endured before scuba diving was invented. The village forms part of an ambitious plan to turn the entire Shindagha area into a cultural microcosm, recreating life in Dubai as it was in days gone by when pearl diving and fishing were central to Dubai’s economy and Dubai Creek became a central hub for trade in the region. Fish’s mainly sea fish found in the Gulf region is kept in tanks and aquariums. You will also find fishing nets and boats here.

Pearl diving, one of the oldest professions in the region, existed almost six to seven thousand years back. A pearl diving ship carried 10-60 people on board for an expedition. The team comprised a captain (Nokhaza), some divers, seeb, and other staff. The diver often risked his life to gather pearl studded oysters from the sea bed. He used to dive deep for more than two minutes to collect a handful of oysters. The season lasted only for six months starting from April because the Gulf waters during this season were warm and safe.

There is a gift shop ( mainly items made of pearls) found here .