KUWAIT -- The 18th memorial diving trip set sail yesterday. The traditional 'Dasha' or departing ceremony was held yesterday morning at the Kuwait Sea Sports Club (KSSC). This annual event is held under the auspices of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and will last until Aug 10. In calm sunny weather, 10 diving dhows (given by late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah) set off on their heritage pearl diving trip. Around 180 young Kuwaiti men were aboard, sailing for the diving spots off Kheiran. The divers said farewell to their families who will meet them on Sunday in Kheiran.

Before boarding their dhows, the Holy Quran was read and the Kuwaiti flag was hoisted as the sign the trip had started. The divers then saluted the representative of HH the Amir, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. After the divers boarded their ships, the 'Athan' (prayer call) was called. This is an old tradition to show the sailors' trust in Allah.

The young divers went through a special training camp before this trip. Most of the young divers are new to this experience and they were also trained for the traditional Riqqa Battle sailing race.

This is a national annual event. "It's a special national occasion, and one of the best marine heritage events in the region. The late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah used to sponsor this event annually, and the present Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad is continuing in this."

"This trip remembers the old Kuwaiti heritage and the work of our fathers. The KSSC is organising this event yearly as the club cares about the marine tradition, which shows the appreciation of this generation for their fathers' sacrifices," said Major General Fahad Al-Fahad, the chairman of the KSSC.

The ceremony was attended by the Hawalli Governor Sheikh Abdullah Al-Fahad, the French Ambassador Corrine Brueze, the Deputy Chairman of the Public Authority for Youth and Sports Tlayan Al-Tlayan and other VIPs. This event was sponsored by public and private institutions, banks, and cooperative societies.

This trip is bridge between the past and present. "I'm honoured to represent HH the Amir in this ceremony that has a great meaning to all of us. This trip teaches the youth many good manners, patience, independence, helping each other...and trusting in God."

"When diving for pearls and resisting these hard conditions on the dhows, the young divers understand the hard work their fathers used to do. We should preserve this tradition and teach the future generations this heritage," said the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.