Our buddies Sandra Hendrikse and André Merks from The Netherlands went to Greece to look for the remains of the sponge diving industy. They came back with some fantastic material. We are very grateful, without their enthusiasm we would not have been able to add Greece to the virtual helmet collection.

Introduction

Sponge diving has been performed for centuries by the Greek people of the Dodecanesos islands. In the beginning naked divers went down holding a large marble stone of about 15 kilograms to take them to depths of 30 to 45 meters quickly. Of course they could only stay down for as long as their lungs allowed them to. The island Kalymnos was (and still is today) in the center of the sponge diving industry.

Around 1865 a merchant from the island of Symi came round and introduced the first standard diving equipment (probably Siebe Gorman) to the divers. Now they could stay down much longer to look for sponges. 

Xyth Pio

Here you see one of the first helmets that was made by the people of Kalymnos island. All parts of the standard diving equipment (or "Skafandro" as the Greeks call it) was imitated after the Siebe Gorman example. 



In the high days of the sponge trade, made possible by the standard suit, Kalymnos had 6 wealthy merchants. They had offices all over the world like England, Tunesia, Bahama's, Cuba and America (Tarpon Springs Florida). Also, a large part of Pothia (the capital of Kalymnos) was in their hands. They possesed the sponge factories, restaurants, bars and also the  "Xyth Pio" factory that produced the diving helmets. The picture above shows the original sign-board of the factory.


A 12 bolt corselet from the "Xyth Pio" factory dated 1899


Picture of an original stone used by the early "skin divers" known as the Skandalopetra. 
Notice the small hour-glass in the middle. 
You will learn more about that in the sponge diving section.
The helmet is probably made on Kalymnos and is dated 1873. 
It is part of the private collection of the brothers Stravos and Dimitris Valsamidis from Vlihadia, Kalymnos.

A different Greek sponge divers helmet from a later date. It looks a lot like the first one. Alle materials were made on the island, except the suits. They were bought from other producers. DESCO suits were used a lot in Greece.

A Greek Sponge hat showing typical features. Notice the low profile front window and the thick but skill fully made soldered joint between the window
frames and the copper bonnet. Typically the glass in the widows is not protected from impact as there was less risk from the surroundings of such an impact.
 
Rear view of the helmet showing the typically heavily soldered air inlet gooseneck and the support to the elbow. Support of this design are common on Sponge Diver's hats..
 
Front view of the corselet showing the maker’s badge.

P. Manou & Sons
2, Bouboulinas Str.
Piraeus.

Photos courtesy of Jean-Luc Cerjak
A typically Greek Sponge Helmet , you can see the makers soldered seam below the front face glass. The other ports are typically low profile
and unguarded. The tin soldered construction can be seen on the bonnet of the helmet. It was usual for sponge helmets to be built without telephones.


A view of the top of the helmet showing the construction of the helmet which was hand formed.

Pictures by Diving Heritage.

Learn all about this subject in the sponge diving section