
Yes, you read correctly. For generations, the Bajau Tribe has lived near water on the shores of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The "Sea Gypsies" are a talented group of people who can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes. Let's learn more about this distinctive group.
Nomadic Lifestyle
This tribe's members are proficient freedivers and sailors. This tribe has led a wandering lifestyle for millennia. Depending on the season, they migrate across islands. The Bajau Tribe resides in Lepa-Lepa houseboats and wooden pol homes. This tribe still uses spears to catch fish in the contemporary era.
Professionals in Diving
This tribe's members are skilled divers who can descend 20 to 30 meters without the need for any equipment. These individuals are surprisingly better than many professional divers and athletes in holding their breath for five minutes underwater. Scientists claim that the Bajau people's genetically larger spleens enable them to submerge for extended periods of time.
They use traditional spears and wooden goggles while diving barefoot. This tribe's youngsters learn to swim at a very young age, and fishing is the main activity in the culture.
Things Are Changing
Government relocation plans and changing ocean habitats have resulted in an influx of people into coastal areas. The Bajau people have preserved their seafaring customs in spite of these notable shifts. Being a part of the Bajau culture offers a rare chance to observe a traditional way of life that is vanishing. The sight of the colorful coral reefs, children playing in crude canoes, and the tribe's wooden boats on the blue ocean makes for an unforgettable and breathtaking sight.