Souq Waqif stores see surge in demand for diving, fishing gear

Diving and fishing equipment stores in Souq Waqif have witnessed a considerable increase in demand from enthusiasts, as many campers are keen on pursuing their hobbies of diving and fishing during good weather conditions.Speaking to local Arabic daily Arrayah, a number of vendors stressed that all diving necessities are available at their stores, including wetsuits, spearfishing guns, diving masks, fins, and gloves in different materials and from various countries. Others highlighted the availability of manual fishing reels for fans from different sources at attractive prices. The prices of spearguns used for catching large fish while diving, range from QR90 to QR2,100 while wetsuit prices vary between QR850 and QR1,600.The stores offer a wide range of fishing reels from different sources, starting at QR80, including full equipment and fishing rods. These reels are of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese brands among others. Further, all essential fishing supplies for rod fishing, such as sinkers, hooks, and floats, are also available from various brands at these shops.Mohamed Rizwan, a vendor, said: "We have wetsuits, spearfishing guns, diving masks, fins, and gloves made of different materials from various countries."He explained that the prices of spearfishing guns vary depending on the materials used, the manufacturing country, and the gun’s length.He noted that the price of arrows used in spearfishing starts at QR150 riyals and can go up to QR190, depending on their length. The cost of wetsuits varies based on material thickness. The store offers wetsuits in thicknesses of 1.5mm, 2mm, 3mm and 5mm.Prices for 1.5mm wetsuits range between QR850 and QR1,050, while 2mm wetsuits cost QR1,100 or QR1,150. The 3mm wetsuits are available for prices between QR700 and QR1,200, and the 5mm wetsuits cost between QR1,500 and QR1,600. The store imports wetsuits from various countries, including Australia, the United States, Italy, and South Africa, ensuring the availability of all necessary diving gear.Khalifa al-Sulaiti, customer and diving enthusiast, stressed that this period is one of the best times for diving. He noted that diving can be practiced both in summer and winter, with lighter wetsuits worn in summer and thicker ones in winter. He explained that choosing the right wetsuit depends on weather conditions and water temperature. The camping season encourages those passionate about diving to go underwater during these months.Al-Sulaiti advised young people interested in diving to always go with experienced divers, stressing that returning home safely is more important than diving itself. He stressed the importance of proper training before engaging in diving activities. He also pointed out that diving courses are offered by professional trainers.