Most people can hold their breath underwater for a few seconds, some for a few minutes. But a group of people called the Bajau takes free diving to the extreme, staying underwater for as long as 13 minutes at depths of around 200 feet.
These nomadic people live in waters winding through the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, where they dive to hunt for fish or search for natural elements that can be used in crafts.
The Sama-Bajau are traditionally from the many islands of the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines, coastal areas of Mindanao, northern and eastern Borneo, the Celebes, and throughout the eastern Indonesian islands.
A tribe from Borneo known as the Bajau, the peaceful tribe has made a life revolving around water for years. Traditionally, the Bajau made homes on small boats, spending their days out on the water relying completely on their fishing gear to sustain life.
In the past, most members of the tribe lived in hiding from the outside world, and many still do reside in the middle of nowhere, creating their own floating villages from the coral reefs.
Today, some of these incredibly resourceful people come on shore to live on the small islands and sell their fish. The Bajau continue to rely on the water to make a living and keep expanding their knowledge of the ocean.
The Bajau children get immersed in their aquatic heritage at a very young age and being around water from such young ages results in them growing up to be excellent divers and have the ability to stay submerged at depths of 20 meters for several minutes, while they hunt for fish without drowning or losing focus.
Their children spend much of their day in the sea, diving for food. They are uniquely adapted to this job – because they can see underwater. And it turns out that with a little practice, their unique vision might be accessible to any young person.
They have their eyes wide open, fishing for clams, shells and sea cucumbers, with no problem at all. They are also able to see twice as well as any other children. They do this by acting like dolphins – they make their pupils smaller and change their lens shape.
Modern Sama-Bajau are generally regarded as peaceful, hospitable, and cheerful people, despite their humble circumstances. However, a significant number are also illiterate, uneducated, and impoverished, due to their nomadic lifestyle.
