The island of barren rock (mainly limestone), golden beaches, tiny green valleys is the 4th largest of the Dodecanese but also the most densely populated.
Sponge diving was the main source of income for the daring Kalymniots for many centuries and up to the 80s when a disease in the Mediterranean killed many sponges and damaged the sponge fishing industry.
Nevertheless, the sea is a way of life to them so today they have the biggest Med. Fishing fleet based on the island as well as about a 100 sponge divers.
The very same rocks from which the locals once plunged into the waters in search of sponges are now utilized by climbers.