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[starlagurl]

Most of the sponge diving industry has gone under in the last 20 odd years or so. But there are a few still operating on Andros Island.

Check out these photos and words from GlobalPost for more info...

Does anyone know what they used to use sponges for? The article doesn't really explain it. It wasn't just for in the bath, was it?

[mmbcross]

The sponge is an aquatic animal. It clings to a hard object such as rock or coral. Through a system of chambers it ingests the plankton on which it lives. Every two months the growing sponge increases in diameter by half an inch. The natural sponges we use are actually the skeletons of aquatic animals.

http://www.spongeorama.com/household.htm

[starlagurl]

Oh right, people use them for cleaning too... No bacteria grows on them ? I find that hard to believe!

[vipdistinct]

I've used them as a natural sponge, and yet no bacteria does grow on them (at least not any more than a sponge you buy at the store). You would be surprised at how much they are like a common store sponge.