Children of the sea

Diving longer and deeper than anyone else, the Bajau Laut are a nomadic seafaring people from Southeast Asia, who have developed a unique way of life, intimately connected to the sea. The culture and practices of these “sea gypsies” reflect a deep knowledge of the ocean from which they draw their livelihood, and recent studies have even shown a mutation in them resulting in a larger spleen, allowing them to better oxygenate the blood and explaining their incredible freediving abilities.
However, modernization, overexploitation of resources, and climate change are now threatening their existence and culture. Their sedentarization is increasing, and their traditional way of life will inevitably disappear in the coming decades.