The Dying Profession of Pearl Diving Quiz

Answer: Deep water blackout

The symptoms of deep water blackout include cerebral hypoxia and a loss of the instinctual need to breathe. Blackout occurs usually within five feet or three meters from the surface during ascent. Even seasoned divers are susceptible. Hyperthermia is the condition of being too hot. Depth disorientation is not a valid medical term. Nitrogen narcosis is associated with scuba or deep sea diving.

It occurs when using deep water diving equipment and is also known as the bends.

Answer: Japanese divers were female

Most civilizations used men as pearl divers. Japan used females almost exclusively. In many cultures, including Japan, training started in childhood. Prisoners were not usually used in this occupation as it took many years of training. Death rates for pearl divers all over the world varied but it has always been a dangerous profession with high mortality rates.

Answer: invention of cultured pearls

The invention of culturing pearls ended the need for the pearl diver. Mikimoto Kokichi opened his first pearl farm in 1888. By planting a small bead in an oyster or other mollusc, a pearl would grow. It was a much safer process that produced many more pearls. By 1935, over ten million pearls were being cultured annually in Japan.

It made the gem available to more of the population. It also led to the end of the long practiced profession of the Ama (Japanese pearl diver) and pearl divers all over the world.

Answer: shark attacks

Sharks frequently attacked pearl divers off the coast of modern day Venezuela and Columbia. Hypothermia and jellyfish stings and tsunamis were always a danger all over the world to pearl divers. But these Pacific waters had an especially high number of shark attacks. Occasionally, if a slave diver brought up a very large pearl he was able to buy his freedom.

Answer: Indian Ocean

While many people may associate pearl diving with Japan and thus think the Pacific Ocean is correct the actual answer to this question is the Indian Ocean. While pearl producing mollusks live in all these oceans, the Indian Ocean was widely known for the quality of its pearls. Areas such as the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf were widely harvested. First century AD writings mention the quantity and quality of the gems taken in the Indian Ocean.

Answer: Larger lung capacity

It was believed that female divers had a larger lung capacity. It was also thought that they were less likely to become hypothermic because of the fat deposits under their skin. Australia is home to some of the world's largest pearls as it is home to some of the world's largest oysters.

Answer: Tourism

Most of the remaining Ama (the proper name for a Japanese pearl diver) are employed in the tourism industry. Tourists are taken out to clear parts of the sea and the Ama dressed in white body suits show off their skills. Originally they wore only a white loin cloth. That practice was continued well into the mid 20th century.

Answer: OneTon of Oysters

It took, on average, one ton of oysters to produce three or four round pearls. Also, of the three or four found per ton, not all would be of the same color or the same size. This rarity made a matching pearl necklace very expensive and very highly valued.

Answer: False

Pearl divers were known to descend to depths of 100 feet on a single breath. This is an amazing feat. I found no records that claimed depths of anything near 200 hundred feet.

Answer: False

This is an area of myth and outright lies. No pearl divers could hold their breath for ten minutes. While figures vary as to the length of time a diver could stay underwater most reliable sources do not purport anything more than five minutes. Try holding your breath for just one minute and you will see just how long this is. Especially when you consider they were diving to depths of 100 ft and collecting oysters while they held their breath.