I always wanted to see and meet these amazing ladies!
Haenyeo, or “sea women,” are female free-divers from Jeju Island, South Korea, renowned for harvesting seafood like abalone, seaweed, and octopuses without oxygen tanks. Their tradition dates back centuries, with the first official records from 1629.
Haenyeo have developed genetic adaptations and can hold their breath for over three minutes at depths of up to 30 meters. Today, fewer than 4,000 remain, mostly elderly, as climate change warms waters and depleting resources deter the younger generations.
#diving #southkorea #freediving #natgeo
