by KIKE CALVO
On the wind-swept shores of Jeju Island, South Korea’s volcanic crown jewel, live some of the most extraordinary women in the world — the Haenyeo, or “sea women.” These elderly female divers plunge up to 20 meters deep without oxygen tanks, harvesting seafood from the ocean floor in a practice that dates back centuries.
Their lives are steeped in culture and myth. But today, scientists are discovering something even more astonishing: the Haenyeo may be biologically different.
A Vanishing Tradition, A Rising Mystery
Video: Video © Sherri Donovan. Make sure you check the full interview with Sherri on Reflections with an Accent.
The Haenyeo tradition is fading fast. Most active divers today are in their 60s, 70s, or even 80s. Fewer young women are learning the skill. But just as this way of life risks disappearing, a breakthrough scientific study has uncovered genetic clues that may explain the Haenyeo’s remarkable underwater endurance.
🧬 Key Discovery: In May 2025, a study published in Cell Reports revealed that women from Jeju — especially Haenyeo divers — are more than four times as likely to carry a genetic variant associated with lower blood pressure.
This trait may protect them during pregnancy while diving, when elevated blood pressure can be dangerous, and help them avoid the risks of hypertension under deep-sea stress.
What the Research Found (in Plain Language)
The international team of scientists — led by Dr. Melissa Ilardo from the University of Utah — compared 30 Haenyeo, 30 non-diving women from Jeju, and 31 women from the Korean mainland. Their findings paint a portrait of a population shaped by the sea:
- Genetic Variants for Blood Pressure: Jeju women, including Haenyeo, carried a version of a gene that helps regulate blood pressure, possibly evolved over generations of underwater diving.
- Cold and Pain Tolerance: Another variant more common in Jeju women is linked to improved cold and pain endurance — helpful for women diving year-round, even in snow.
- Training Trumps Genetics: Haenyeo showed a dramatic drop in heart rate — about 50% more than non-divers during breath-holding tests. This is likely due to decades of free diving, not just genetics.
- Spleen Size? Not the Key Here: Unlike similar free-diving cultures like the Bajau in Indonesia (known for their large spleens), spleen size wasn’t a significant factor for the Haenyeo.
Key Insight: This means both nature and nurture are at work. The Haenyeo’s physiology may be partially inherited — but years of training, adaptation, and rhythm with the sea have shaped their bodies in ways science is just beginning to understand.
Why This Matters — A Bigger Story Than Just One Island
This isn’t just about one group of divers. It’s a window into human adaptation, women’s roles in history, and how local traditions offer untapped scientific value. Most medical research still focuses on urban, sedentary populations. But for most of human history, we were active, sea-foraging, land-roaming beings.
Travel Takeaway: Visiting Jeju is no longer just a scenic detour — it’s a chance to witness a living experiment in evolution, culture, and climate resilience.
How to Experience the Haenyeo on Jeju Island
Start at the Haenyeo Museum (Hado-ri): It’s one of the best places to understand the history, stories, and science behind the divers.
Watch Haenyeo in Action: Villages like Seongsan Ilchulbong, Gueom, and Udo Island offer respectful viewing opportunities — some even have small platforms for public observation.
Eat What They Harvest: Look for local dishes like sea urchin rice, boiled conch, and grilled abalone — freshly brought in by Haenyeo.
Photography Tip: Sunset dives with volcanic cliffs in the background provide unforgettable compositions — but always respect the divers’ privacy and space.
When to Visit: Spring (April–June) and Autumn (September–November) offer mild weather and high diving activity.
Final Thoughts: Nature, Culture, and a Vanishing Legacy
The Haenyeo are living proof that humans can adapt to extremes, not only with technology but through tradition, community, and body awareness. They dive for survival, not glory — and in doing so, have quietly become some of the world’s most extraordinary elders.
As their numbers dwindle, so does a unique genetic, cultural, and ecological story. But the recent DNA research offers hope: that by understanding their bodies, we might unlock new treatments for hypertension — and perhaps inspire new generations to dive into tradition, not away from it.
References:
- Cell Reports, May 2025, Study by Melissa Ilardo et al.
- Inspired by a CNN article by Katie Hunt (May 7, 2025): “Did South Korea’s legendary female free divers evolve for a life underwater?”
