Haenyeo Breath Dive

Hold your breath, dive along rope lines, grab abalone, conch and seaweed among the rocks, then surface to breathe before your lungs run out; sell the haul and upgrade nets.

Heritage note

Part of the living heritage of South Korea. Some forms of this practice carry deep meaning for the communities who keep it; here we describe the play and the craft only, with respect for its roots.

Origins

Usually placed in the era of Modern Heritage (1800 to today), although its exact origins are uncertain, within the cultural world of Japan and Korea.