Who Are the Ama Divers?
The Ama (海女, "sea women") are traditional female free divers of Japan and Korea (called haenyeo in Korea) who dive without breathing equipment to harvest abalone, sea urchins, seaweed, and pearls, reaching depths of 10-25 meters and holding breath for up to 2 minutes. This ancient tradition spans over 2,000 years with historical records from 3rd century CE. Ama divers developed extraordinary physiological adaptations including larger lung capacity, efficient oxygen use, and cold tolerance. Traditionally wearing only loincloths (later simple cotton suits, now wetsuits), Ama dove year-round in cold waters using weighted belts and collecting baskets. The practice was predominantly female-dominated, creating matriarchal economic systems in coastal villages. Ama numbers have declined dramatically from tens of thousands in the 1950s to approximately 2,000 in Japan and 4,000 in Korea today, mostly elderly women. Modern challenges include aging population, lack of young recruits, pollution, overfishing, and changing economics. UNESCO designated Korean haenyeo culture as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016. The Ama represent extraordinary human adaptation to marine environment and unique gender-based occupational tradition.