Q Life Magazine Issue 9 | Page 56

Issue 9

Making waves

The peninsula of Qatar has been admired for centuries , for both its natural beauty and entrepreneurial potential . The water has welcomed fishermen , divers , and adventurers , who have found their calling among the waves .

Pearl diving and fishing were once pillars of the economy . Fishermen would voyage in their pearling boats , or dhows , to scavenge for these jewels . With neither oxygen tanks nor any modern technology , the divers would use pieces of wood to pinch their noses and leather sheaths on their hands and feet as they explored the depths of the Qatari waters . While Qatar has grown into an international business hub no longer economically reliant on these seafarers , pearl diving continues to be a muchcelebrated tradition in the history that has made Qatar .
Now the water is as much a place for play as for work . From kayaking in the mangroves to kitesurfing along the shore – Qatar attracts adventurers from near and far who come to show off their extreme sporting skills , making the most of the unparalleled marine opportunities presented by the expansive Qatari coastline .
The reason why people come to the water may have changed , as has the equipment used , but the passion and love for Qatar ’ s waters have remained a constant , and will continue for centuries to come .
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