Diver's boots

Apparel

Hard hat diver

The pearl shell divers didn't really dive. Rather, the divers walked along the sea bottom, dragged along by the lugger as it drifted over the shell patches. To help keep them down on the seabed, divers wore these heavy, waterproofed boots, designed to protect their feet from the reef and to help keep them down. Each weighing approximately 6 kilos they were hand-made by the crews from leather, wood, brass and rubber.

Available at:

Pearl Luggers by Willie Creek

A real pearler

At the Pearl Luggers, now part of Willie Creek Pearls, you will discover the rich and fascinating history of pearling in Broome and be captivated by the tales of the sea, the people, and the legends...

Address:

31 Dampier Terrace
Broome WA 6725
Australia

Tel:

(08) 9192 0000

Email:

tours@williecreekpearls.com.au

Open Hours

Please view www.williecreekpearls.com.au or call (08) 9192 0000 to check opening hours.

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The Percy Box

Hidden gems

Former policeman and publican Pat Percy turned his business head to pearling in the early 1900s, amassing a small fleet of one schooner and four luggers. Although the major goal was to collect...

Piss bottle and diver’s underwear

Undercover

The hooker divers of old did not get wet. They wore large, waterproofed canvas and rubber suits, that filled with air as they descended to the sea bottom. Working for hours every day, in depths of up...