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The
Skandalopetra Freediving Games
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The EventKalymnos Hoteliers Association organize annual Skandalopetra Freediving Games in which anyone can participate free of charge. The Skandalopetra dive is easy, safe, spectacular, offers fun, is a unique lifetime experience and anybody who can swim can also try it!. The 2008 event will be held on Kalymnos island Greece from August 17 to August 22 with the participation and support of the Italian Federation of Underwater Activities FIPSAS, and sponsored by Locals ( Authorities, Communities, Individuals and Business). I you are not familiar with it, have a brief Introduction to the Scandalopetra Freediving Games The Skandalopetra Freediving Games include:
The competitionThere will be only 1 discipline at the competition. It is the discipline described in the Regulation of the Skandalopetra Freediving Games and in brief at the Athletes Guidelines.
Participation and Fees.Everybody from 8 to 70 years old can participate to the Skandalopetra Freediving Games and try the Skandalopetra dive to a limited depth. While participation to the competition requires a medical certificate. Please read the Athletes Guidelines for more information. The participation to the Skandalopetra Freediving Games and events is free of charge. No participation or other fees are required (this does not include accommodation, food and transportation)! AccommodationPlease find and book in time your accommodation from the
hotel's list at
www.kalymnos-hotels.com. Links
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The
Skandalopetra is a piece of stone, usually from marble or granite, with rounded
edges and hydrodynamic shape, weighting from 8-14 kilos. For thousands of years
until a few years ago it has been used by sponge divers as diving stone and an auxiliary
diving tool. A long rope tied through a hole at one of it's edge, was unrolled
during diving and rolled during ascending of the sponge diver. Through this
hole a small rope was tied to the shackle bone of the sponge diver so that he
could liberate his hands without missing the
Skandalopetra and his connection
with the boat.
Until the decade of 1960, a lot
of sponge divers were using this ancient
Skandalopetra diving method.
The skin diver was diving from a
boat keeping the stone with his two hands and the small rope tied to his shackle
bone.
During descending he used the
Skandalopetra as weights for quick descending, as a steering wheel to change
direction and as a brake to slow down or accelerate his diving beat.
Upon reaching the sea bed he
would liberate his hands to collect the sponges and when he was done he would
use the long rope to give the appropriate sign to his partner on the boat. Then
his partner would rope him to the sea surface while he was standing on the
Skandalopetra or just hung up on the line.
From this small description it is obvious that the Skandalopetra was a tool with many uses. It was the equivalent of the weights we use today and at the same time it was a steering wheel, a brake and a standing base. While the rope it was tied on, was used as a reference line and for communication with the boat.
The Skandalopetra diving method has a history of thousands of years. Due to this fact it has reached the highest levels of perfection and safety.
But freediving for sponges was a very hard job and as soon as new and more comfortable diving gear was available, the Skandalopetra diving method was totally abandoned !
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for Accommodation Bookings and info for Diving email Tiia at or call her at +30-6938683653
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KOINONIKOS TOYRISMOS
