Sponge Docks (Tarpon Springs, Florida)

The Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs is a unique area in Pinellas County (Florida), and is home to the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the United States. The first local sponge business was started in the 1880's, and the industry quickly grew. Soon spongers from Key West and the Bahamas settled in Tarpon Springs, and by the 1890's a few Greek immigrants arrived here to work. In 1905 John Cocoris introduced the technique of Sponge Diving to Tarpon Springs and recruited divers and crew members from Greece. The sponge industry soon became one of the leading maritime industries in Florida, and the most important business in Tarpon Springs, generating millions of dollars a year. A red tide algae bloom occurred in 1947, wiping out the sponge fields in the Gulf of Mexico, and much of the industry in this area. Eventually the sponges recovered and there has remained a consistent but smaller sponge industry since then. Visitors to Tarpon Springs can often view sponge fisherman working at the Sponge Docks on Dodecanese Boulevard, as well as enjoy the many Greek themed shops, restaurants, and museums detailing the Tarpon Springs' Greek heritage. The January day we visited the area was sunny and bright, perfect for walking around the village and enjoying the sights.