By Femi Akinola
The Sama -Bajau people are known and referred to as the ”Sea Nomads.” They live most of their life on the water and under the sea. The Bajau people, research revealed, can remain submerged for several minutes at a time, effortlessly hunting and gathering from the ocean floor. They are skilled divers and expert fishermen.
The Sama- Bajau include several Austronesian ethnic group of Maritime Southeast Asia. The people could be found in three Asian countries – Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. The name collectively refers to a related people who usually call themselves the Sama or Samah
Historically, they are known for being nomadic, moving from one coastal area to another while living on boats. That’s why they’re often calles – ”Sea Gypsies,” their whole life revolve around the sea, and the sea is, literally, their home.
Finding about the people showed that they have live this way for over 1,000 years, and their food is entirely dependent on the surrounding seafood. This often forced them to deep dive underwater all day to catch seafood such as shrimp, fish, crab, and squid.
The daily life of Bajau people is all about the sea, and everything they do is connected to the sea. From fishing and diving to hunting underwater creatures, the ocean is their world.
It was revealed that when it comes to fishing system, the Baju do their fishing differently. They don’t use fishing rods, nets, hooks or any fancy fishing equipment. Instead, they free-dive, that is, they hold their breath and dive deep into the ocean with just a harpoon in hand.
They have been doing this for generations, making them incredibly skilled at diving and hunting fish underwater. That is their min way of getting food, and it’s something they have mastered over the centuries.
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How and where do they live?
Many Bajau people traditionally lived on simple houseboats called lepalepa. They move from one place to another, following the fish and other sea creatures.
Some among them lived in stilted houses near the shore but a large numer of Bajau people prefer life on the water. Their boats are not just for getting around, it served as their kitchen, bedroom, and living room all at once. Everything they need is right there on their boat.
According to the research conducted, the Bajau people can dive into the sea and reach depths of up to 60 meters with just a pair of wooden goggles and a harpoon. While average human being can brely last a minute underwater, the Bajau have developed the ability to dive to deeper part of the sea and hold their breath for over 13 minutes. Researchers noted that the feat is not just about training or practice for it but a result of evolution.
What makes them different from us?
A study conducted by Dr. Melissa IIardo, in 2018, showed that Bajau people have larger spleens compared to most humans. It has the ability to pump more oxygen into their blood and works no differently than a biological scuba tank.
Their spleen has a volume greater than regular people by more than 50%. This adaptation allows the Bajau people to dive deeper and longer without needing to come out of the sea for air frequently.
However, while their unique skills might seem amazing, there are significant challenges and trade-offs. For example, many Bajau puncture their eardrums to balance the pressure between the outer ear and middle ear, helping them avoid discomfort when diving deep underwater.
This act have caused many among them hearing loss and leaves them more prone to ear infections. Many older Bajau experience serious hearing issues. This is a trade-off that the Bajau must accept in order to live underwater.
The Bajau people show just how adaptable human being can be. Their ability to hold their breath underwater for long periods, due to both practice and unique genetic traits, makes them an interesting people on earth to study.
They are much more than just great divers. The Bajau people are reminder that there are still communities in this 21st century world that live in direct connection with nature. This is something we can all learn from in today’s world where sustainability is so important.
