ngtbigpit|Pearl Diving Festival kicks off in Kuwait

KUWAIT CITYngtbigpit, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The 33rd Pearl Diving Festival kicked off this weekend here, with 150 young Kuwaiti divers embarking on a multi-day journey.

The festival started on Saturday as the divers set sail on four wooden ships, embarking on a quest for pearls to commemorate their ancestors.

The annual event, sponsored by Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, was held to honor the traditional Kuwaiti pearl fishery, which was once a primary industry of the nation's economy before the discovery of its vast oil reserves.

Like their ancestors, the divers ate some dates, then took a deep breath and jumped to the bottom of the sea more than 10 meters from the surface, without using any breathing equipment.

Freediving is a sport that requires a strong, fit body, training, and the ability to withstand water pressure and hold your breath for several minutes.

The festival has attracted many local and foreign tourists to watch the celebrations, the skills of the divers and the extraction of natural pearls from oysters.■