Today, when the state of Kuwait is mentioned, three likely associations come to mind: oil, wealth, and war. Yet, these associations only reflect ideologies born out of the past 75 years, neglecting the history of Kuwait. Prior to the discovery of the oil that fuels Kuwait’s thriving economy today, maritime merchant activities such as the trading of pearls for goods supported the people of Kuwait. Together with Ghazi Al-Mulaifi, grandson of a Kuwaiti master pearl diver, I joined a government sponsored heritage pearl diving expedition.