Kalymnos Sponge Factory

Location: Pothia Town

Sponges are strongly related to the history and economy of Kalymnos, which has long been known as the Sponge Divers island. The sponge diving industry has flourished on the island since antiquity. Over time, the industry saw many technological innovations, including the implementation of a rubberized diving suit known as skafandro that allowed sponge divers to stay underwater for longer periods. Though the process was very risky, divers could harvest sponges in large numbers which were later collected in warehouses for processing.

These warehouses were gradually modified into full-fledged sponge factories. There, sponges were mass-processed and then sold to natives or exported. Today, this tradition has started to decline as natural sponges have been substituted by synthetic ones, produced by factories in large quantities. Moreover, this process was particularly dangerous for the divers, so the locals have turned to other sources of income, such as tourism.

Only a few sponge factories remain at the capital of the island, Pothia, to remind locals and visitors of this tradition. The Sponge Factory is one such establishment, located just 300 meters from the port. There, visitors can learn about the history of sponge diving, the methods used to dive, the processing of sponges as well as the many different types of sponges. After getting a guided tour of the store, visitors can choose from the varied selection of sponges on sale, which make for the perfect souvenir from your visit to Kalymnos.