Kalymnos Honoured Its Sponge-Diving Heritage with American Researcher H. Russell Bernard
A special event dedicated to Kalymnos’ sponge-diving history and the people whose lives were inseparably linked to the sea took place on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the “Aikaterini Klonari” Open-Air Theatre in Chora.
Entitled “Memories of Sponge Divers,” the event was organised by the South Aegean Region’s Kalymnos Regional Unit as part of the 4th “Skevos Zervos” Sponge Diver Festival.
The distinguished American researcher H. Russell Bernard was the event’s special guest. Bernard studied the sponge divers of Kalymnos during the 1960s and 1970s, recording valuable testimonies and information from a particularly important period in the island’s maritime history.
His contribution brought to light the experiences, hardships and daily lives of Kalymnian sponge divers, while also highlighting their decisive role in shaping the island’s social and economic development.
The programme also featured traditional dances by the Lyceum Club of Greek Women and music performed by the family of Father M. Koukouvas, offering the audience an evening filled with historical memories, music, dance and the distinctive cultural character of Kalymnos.
The event was supported by organisations including the General Secretariat for the Aegean and Island Policy, the Dodecanese Chamber of Commerce and the Kalymnos Commercial Association “Hermes.”
The evening marked another important moment in the 4th Sponge Diver Festival, preserving the memory of the men who crossed the seas and shaped the identity of Kalymnos through their hard work, courage and sacrifice.
