Looking for actual pearl-divers

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Anton

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Feb 23, 2012
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Hello,

I am a Danish journalist and I was hoping maybe you guys could help me. I am doing some research on natural pearls for an idea I have for a documentary I'd like to make about native pearl divers. I know that natives of Philippines, Sri Lanka and at the Red Sea have been pearl-diving in the past. But what about today - does any of you know about native people pearl diving anywhere in the world?

Sincerely,
Anton
 
hey anton thats not easy there should be some hobby pearl divers here. i think most pearls that are natural come from fisherman that once in a time find a pearl and sell that to a trader

( all the pearls i have where found that way )

places where lots of pearls come from are chatham islands, indonesia, Philippines etc


succes at finde der er stadig nogle Hoby ​​fiskere p? Chatham ?erne
 
My found of many pearla in the sane shell

My found of many pearla in the sane shell

Hi Anton,

I'm not a native pearl diver but, twenty years ago, at the Red Sea I found a Pinctada shell with 85 small natural pearls.

I posted a thread in this forum and a my article, in Italian and English language has been published in "Argonauta", online magazine by ?International Malacology Association? www.amimalakos.com , see link:

http://www.amimalakos.com/argonauta/2011-7-12/pg026.htm

If you are interested, you can contact me at the e-mail gppiva@libero.it

Gianpiero Piva
 
What do you mean by "native"? Mikeyy is a native of California. LOL!

They had a big pearl roundup in the Persian Gulf last year where all the pearls were found by local pearl divers with traditional boats and techniques. They may repeat it it every year, but you might google it. I posted on it. I think I called it a pearl rodeo. I'll look around and come back. I think it may have been the UAE or maybe Dubai. Here it is:https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4279&page=1

I am glad I saved it, even if no one else noticed!
 
Hey!

Thank you for all the replies. By "native pearl hunters" I mean indigenous people, tribes or clans who are still diving for pearls - maybe even for religious or ceremonial reasons rather than economic. I know most of the time the pearls are a side-treat of the local fishermen. I am also aware that this might be a long shot, but if there are still native pearl divers out there, I am very set on finding them.

It sounds interesting about the pearl rodeo, I will definetely look into that. Anything you might have heard, rumours or specific knowledge might be helpful, so please keep posting, pearl experts :)

Sincerely,
Anton
 
Mikkey is a true pearl diver... I vouch for him!
 
Thank Caitlin,

I think was a web problem, now I can see the article ad it’s very interesting.

In the Pearl Rodeo on June 2010 were fished 98.000 oysters but is not write how many pearls they found, it can be in interest to know the percent of pearl production in wild Pinctada (I think radiata).

You know if in 2011 there was another pearl rodeo?

I don’t doubt that Mikkey is a true pearl diver but www.thepearler.com speak only of cultured pearls, perhaps there was a misunderstanding, sorry, I speak a very bad English.

Gianpiero
 
Speaking for Mikeyy:
He was a freshwater pearl diver in the Mississippi River complex. He dove as part of collecting MoP shell, which has a side effect of producing a certain amount of natural, wild pearls, but now he deals in mussel shell nuclei for cultured pearls. He is privy to some good pearls, thus the website.

He is a modern techie diver. Uses a helmet and all, but is part of that worldwide fraternity of pearl divers. As a world traveler, he has personally met many versions of his pearl-diving brethren the world over.

How did I do, Mikeyy?
 
By all means- get on it!!!! And report back with photos!

It is a salt water lake? What kind of oysters. Or is it freshwater with clams?
 
japanese oysters they are called here i got on it today there is one problem

they are being scooped into a boat that will drop them in the middle of a lake where its to deep so they cant live so they die

the boat people are dutch government people that are not the most nice people i have ever came across haha they told me you can look into the ones you can see on the side of the water

im not happy with that answer :S so i send some emails today to people that can maybe get me on the boat :)
 
Caitlin I'm sorry, you answered about Mikeyy, but I asked also about the interesting Pearl Rodeo, in June 2010 were fished 98,000 oysters but did not write as many pearls were found, may be interesting to know the rate of production of natural pearls in Pinctada (I think radiata) .

Do you know if in 2011 there was another Pearl Rodeo?

Gianpiero
 
Hi Daniel, I've enjoyed your posts, am glad you're here!

I think you're bumping up against economics here; the govt wants to get the job done fast, and without fallout like knife-injuries, or knife fights among amateurs!. Their option even avoids the remains of the critter festering in a landfill.

Have you contacted the author of the news article? Maybe with a hook like 'Dutch pearls- a national (hidden) treasure, to be hidden forever?' you could generate more interest, slow things down, get some time to get National Geographic interested. I'll check your posts, maybe all this has been covered/done...Good luck!
 
the moment i went there they already did most of the job so wasn't that much of a good trip :p they do know there pearls in the oysters one of the inspectors who says there are to many there is also the person who found the largest dutch pearl haha

or they say he did i have never been able to find a picture of this pearls :S

i did get some places where they are not cleaning the old oysters away so in some weeks i will come back for a short time and get as many as i can out of the water to see whats in there

hopefully i will be lucky :) the moment i am lucky i will start a huge pearl search haha :)
 
Aha! So the skipper has associates opening molluscs.
Can you draft your friends? Wish I were rich, I'd jet over and join the hunt. Good luck.
 
Ha ha! Yes I am a native and I have a clan. We do dive for religious reasons. It's just a different sort of religion. I have found a few natural pearls over the years but sadly I don't live in some exotic spot and I don't wear grass skirts,or have a hut at the waters edge. I do indulge in strange ceremonies and when in the mood I do some of my native dances. This is usually the result of intoxicating religious beverages. Honestly though I'm probably not the guy you are looking for. Thanks gang for the references. lol
 
Gee mikeyy I'm remembering a native skirt...immortalized on PG!
 
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