Imagine a world with no cars,fancy houses, designers, sophisticated techs,among others.Imagine living in the ocean all your life,even going as far as walking comfortably in the seafloor without oxygen tanks.This type of world,is the one the Bajaus live in.
Often called "sea normads",the Bajau refer to several ethnic groups of the Southeastern Asian waters with their origin in the Philippines.
They live off the sea mainly engaging in fishing and also live in their boats or in houses built on shallow waters.They were first recorded by European explorers in 1521.
ORIGIN
A popular legend has it that the Bajau people were originally land dwellers who were escorting the daughter of their king. After the princess was taken captive,the people chose to live roaming the seas rather than go back home to face the wrath of the king.
FUN FACTS
•They dive up to 230ft below the sea surface in their search for food.Without an oxygen tank!
•They spend 60% of their active hours underwater.
•They are citizens of nowhere!
•Most of them have ruptured eardrums.
•They are oblivious of time,dates and age.
•The boat is their primary home.
•Majority of them are Muslims.
•They can hold their breath for as long as 13mins at depths of around 200ft.
•They have lived on the sea for around 1000 years.
•They can walk on the seafloor without any special kits except for their wooden masks.
MYSTERY SOLVED
The ability of the Bajau people to survive in water is largely due to their spleen size.
The spleen acts as an oxygen warehouse for the body.When the breath is held, the spleen gets triggered and releases oxygen-carrying red blood cells.
Althoughs spleens can be trained,the Bajaus' spleen aren't a result of training as Bajaus who don't dive are also found to have a very large spleen.This has led to the assumption that it is most likely genetic.
Often called "sea normads",the Bajau refer to several ethnic groups of the Southeastern Asian waters with their origin in the Philippines.They live off the sea mainly engaging in fishing and also live in their boats or in houses built on shallow waters.They were first recorded by European explorers in 1521.
ORIGIN
A popular legend has it that the Bajau people were originally land dwellers who were escorting the daughter of their king. After the princess was taken captive,the people chose to live roaming the seas rather than go back home to face the wrath of the king.
FUN FACTS
•They dive up to 230ft below the sea surface in their search for food.Without an oxygen tank!
•They spend 60% of their active hours underwater.•They are citizens of nowhere!
•Most of them have ruptured eardrums.
•They are oblivious of time,dates and age.
•The boat is their primary home.
•Majority of them are Muslims.•They can hold their breath for as long as 13mins at depths of around 200ft.
•They have lived on the sea for around 1000 years.
•They can walk on the seafloor without any special kits except for their wooden masks.
MYSTERY SOLVEDThe ability of the Bajau people to survive in water is largely due to their spleen size.
The spleen acts as an oxygen warehouse for the body.When the breath is held, the spleen gets triggered and releases oxygen-carrying red blood cells.
Althoughs spleens can be trained,the Bajaus' spleen aren't a result of training as Bajaus who don't dive are also found to have a very large spleen.This has led to the assumption that it is most likely genetic.
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