Divers' School reopens in Kalymnos

The Kalymnos Island State Divers' School has reopened and welcomed the first 23 students from all over Greece. The school reopened in November, after it was shut down in 2005 because the Merchant Marine ministry was unable to fund it.

 With the South Aegean Region providing the funds and through the efforts of many local agencies and individuals, such as the Kalymnos Sponge Association and the municipality, experienced instructors will teach the school's students the fundamentals of autonomous professional diving.

"Mainly with our own efforts and regional funding we managed to reopen this ornament for our island and the country. The level is high and we are happy to see trained divers, as there was ignorance about this sport in past years," said Pantelis Georgantis, President of the Kalymnos Sponge Association, to the ANA-MPA. Georgantis initially worked as a bank clerk, but soon resigned to fulfill his dream and become a sponge diver.

The school, which has been operating since 1958, is a unique state school was founded by royal decree and was created to initially cover the island's needs in diving training, as diving helped support the island's economy but there were many accidents due to the lack of knowledge.

Attendance is free and the 40-day course provides students with all the knowledge needed for safe diving and for numerous professional diving applications, such as finding and lifting objects, ports' operations, positioning and underwater pipe welding and a diving license.

"Our goal for the school is to remain and be upgraded, to introduce entrance exams and create dormitories and a dining room for students coming from all over Greece.

The school's degree, despite being a degree given by the state, does not provide the necessary European certification for public works and for this reason we seek an upgrade," noted Dimitris Nazos, one of the three school trainers.

"The Kalymnos Island State Divers' School managed to reopen through legislation that came to Parliament when Nikitiadis was a minister and allowed the funding from the municipality, regional authority and individuals, which was previously impossible before due to EU regulations," added Kostas Stavlas, Representative Regional Councillor of Kalymnos, calling for its upgrade by presidential decree.