As dawn breaks over Jeju Island, South Korea, the shoreline slowly stirs to life. Women in black wetsuits, their bright orange buoys bobbing beside them, step into the chilly surf. These are the Haenyeo, “sea women” in Korean, who have been free diving in these waters for centuries, passing the skill from one generation to the next.
For generations, Haenyeo have been free diving into the East China Sea to gather abalone, conch, octopus and seaweed, all without oxygen tanks. Many began as teenagers and continue well into their 70s or even 80s, relying on practised breath control and deep knowledge of the ocean to sustain their communities.
Their role is more than economic. In a society where women’s independence was once limited, Haenyeo created their own space of strength and resilience. Recognising their cultural significance and sustainable fishing practices, UNESCO inscribed the Haenyeo tradition on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016.
Studies in Current Biology reveal just how remarkable they are. On long days, Haenyeo can spend hours beneath the surface, surfacing only for a breath before plunging back down, more time underwater than almost any other human. Their bodies have adapted to endure repeated breath-holding and rising carbon dioxide levels, something scientists are only beginning to understand.
Yet, this tradition is fading. Most Haenyeo are now in their 60s or older, and younger women are choosing safer, more stable jobs away from the shore. Without fresh divers to carry the practice forward, the future of this heritage hangs in the balance.
Even so, on Jeju’s rocky coast, their presence endures. Watching the women surface is a quiet reminder of the resilience of a culture deeply tied to the rhythm of the sea, and to the strength it takes to keep an old way of life alive.