Life by the sea

Why do pearls form naturally inside oysters?

• 1. Oysters produce pearls as a form of decoration

• 1. Pearls form when an irritant, like a grain of sand, enters the oyster and gets coated in layers of sticky material

• 1. The oyster traps water inside, which eventually hardens into a pearl

• 1. Pearls are artificially placed inside oysters by divers

1. What was the primary function of the "nose clip" in traditional pearl diving?

• 1. To help divers breathe underwater

• 1. To prevent water from entering the diver’s nose while being submerged under water

• 1. To signal the diver when it was time to surface

1. Which tool was used by pearl divers to collect oysters efficiently?

• 1. A spear for catching oysters

• 1. A net designed for filtering out pearls from seawater

• 1. A basket tied to the diver to store collected oysters

• 1. A sharp blade used to open oysters underwater

1. Traditional pearl divers often used a "finger guard." What was its purpose?

• 1. To protect against jellyfish stings

• 1. To prevent skin damage when handling oysters

• 1. To help grip pearls more securely

1. What was the role of the rope tied around the diver?

• 1. It helped pull the diver back to the surface after a dive

• 1. It was used to measure the depth of the dive

• 1. It ensured pearls didn’t float away

• What is the primary purpose of the stone tied to the diver's leg in pearl diving?

• 1. To help divers sink quickly to the seabed

• 1. To assist in floating near the oyster beds

• 1. To prevent exhaustion while swimming

• 1. To measure the depth of the dive

1. What was the main reason for the decline of pearl diving in the UAE?

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• 1. Overfishing

• 1. The discovery of oil

• 1. The invention of artificial pearls

• 1. Harsh weather conditions

What was the purpose of firing a cannon at the end of the pearl diving season in the UAE?

• 1. To scare away sea predators

• 1. To celebrate the success of the season

• 1. To notify the families that the divers were returning home

• 1. To mark the beginning of the next diving season

1. What was one of the biggest physical challenges pearl divers faced?

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• 1. Running out of oxygen tanks

• 1. Holding their breath for long periods underwater

• 1. Using high-tech diving suits

• 1. Navigating using modern maps