During our travels in Florida over the years we have been fortunate to enjoy Tarpon Springs, Florida, a quaint and pretty town north of Clearwater and Tampa on the Gulf. When we were actively engaged in Flea Market business in Central Florida, Tarpon Springs became one of our favorite spots for R&R.
Statue honoring the Greek sponge divers. Note the sponge diving boat tied to the dock.
Tarpon Springs is famous for the Sponge Docks where diving boats still sail to the sponge beds and hard hat divers collect the sponges. This industry began here in Florida in 1905 when John M. Cocoris from Leonidion Greece started the now flourishing sponge business.
Sponge diver in a beautiful tile mosaic
Memorial to the founder of Florida’s Sponge Industry
Dodecanese Blvd. is the main street that houses multiple shops and businesses. The shops offer everything from fresh tea and spices, hand made cigars, souvenirs, freshly caught fish shops and of course several shops selling sponges collected by the Greek divers.
Locally collected sponges of all sizes for sale
Also of note in Tarpon Springs are the marvelous Greek Restaurants! Talk about authentic Greek cuisine, you’d have to go to Greece to get any cuisine that is more Greek. We have enjoyed several restaurants and bakeries in this wonderful spot on Central Florida’s Gulf Coast.
We have not yet seen any reports of Tarpon Springs suffering damage from Hurricane Ian. We hope that the Sponge Docks and the town were spared.
Roadtirement 
Ihope itwas spared from the storm.
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Thanks, Ruth. We certainly hope so, too.
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That is a fun place to hang out, I used to live about three miles south of the docks. Good memories.
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I thought you might chime in on this one, John. Didn’t you (or your dad) have boats down there?
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Yes, we both had boats there back in the 90s. I lived in Dunedin, just south of the docks, dad had a 50′ Searay docked near here. Good memories!
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