INFRAME ASIA, CULTURE – On the volcanic island of Jeju, women known as haenyeo enter the sea to gather abalone, sea urchins, octopus and other marine life. Many dive without scuba tanks, carrying simple tools, nets and knowledge gained through years of practice. Their work is both an occupation and a cultural tradition shaped by the island’s coastal environment.
A haenyeo’s dive begins with careful observation of the water, weather and currents. She descends on a single breath, searches among rocks and reefs, then returns to the surface to breathe before another descent. The rhythm requires stamina, composure and an intimate understanding of the sea.
The sound most associated with haenyeo is the sumbisori, a distinctive whistle-like exhalation made when a diver surfaces and releases the breath held underwater. This sound helps mark the pace of the work across the water. It also gives the practice a recognizable presence along Jeju’s shores.
Haenyeo communities developed systems of shared knowledge that include reading seasonal conditions, identifying marine species and understanding where gathering is sustainable. Skills are passed between generations through observation and practical experience rather than written instruction alone. These local methods connect livelihoods to a detailed memory of the surrounding ocean.
Although outsiders may focus on the physical demands of freediving, the tradition also reflects women’s economic independence and their place in community life. Haenyeo have contributed to household incomes and supported local networks through work carried out in challenging conditions. Their collective experience has helped shape a distinctive sense of identity on Jeju.
The work is not without risk, as cold water, changing weather, strong currents and the limits of breath-holding can make each dive dangerous. Divers must judge when to continue and when to return to shore, often while working far from immediate assistance. Safety depends on experience, mutual awareness and respect for conditions that can change quickly.
Haenyeo practices have varied across generations, and not every diver follows exactly the same routine or works at the same depth. Some communities use modern equipment for parts of their work while preserving the central practice of breath-hold diving. This combination shows that cultural continuity does not require every detail to remain frozen in time.
The tradition has also attracted attention beyond the island, especially as older divers retire and fewer younger women choose the demanding occupation. Training requires time in the water, physical conditioning and a willingness to accept uncertain earnings and difficult working conditions. Community initiatives and public recognition have become important parts of efforts to sustain the practice.
Jeju’s changing marine environment adds another concern, since warmer waters and shifts in marine ecosystems can affect the species divers find. Haenyeo rely on close observation of local conditions, but accumulated knowledge cannot prevent every environmental change. Their experiences offer a grounded perspective on how coastal communities notice transformations in the sea.
The haenyeo tradition is recognized internationally as an example of living intangible cultural heritage, with its knowledge and social practices closely tied to place. That recognition can support preservation, but it also brings a responsibility to represent divers as working people rather than symbols alone. Their own voices and choices remain essential to understanding what the tradition means today.
At Jeju’s coastal villages, divers prepare their gear, check the sea and gather with fellow haenyeo before entering the water. Nets and collected seafood return to shore alongside stories about currents, visibility and the day’s conditions. These ordinary working routines continue to carry knowledge that has been built through generations of life beside the sea.
