Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The Bajo tribe, often referred to as “Sea Gypsies” or “Sea Nomads,” is renowned for its deep connection to the ocean. Scattered across Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, the Bajo people are also known as the “Orang Laut” or “Sama Bajo.”
According to historical accounts, the Bajo tribe originated from the Sulu Archipelago in the southern Philippines, where they led a nomadic life on the open sea. Their sea-bound journey eventually brought them to Indonesia, particularly to eastern regions of the country.
In Indonesia, the Bajo people can be found in East and South Kalimantan, South and Southeast Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, and other areas.
Remarkable Diving Skills
The Bajo tribe is known for their exceptional maritime abilities. For them, the sea is life itself. Most Bajo people work as fishermen and have honed impressive skills. They are particularly famous for their ability to swim and hold their breath underwater for extended periods. Many members of the Bajo tribe can dive to great depths with just a single breath.
Some can dive as deep as 60 meters and remain underwater for up to 13 minutes without any diving equipment. By comparison, the average human without equipment can dive to around 30-40 meters for only 30-90 seconds.
The Bajo people’s extraordinary diving ability has been passed down through generations. Young boys are often introduced to the sea at the age of two, learning survival skills from an early age. This adaptation to marine life has been studied by scientists.
A study published in Cell suggests that the Bajo people have larger spleens, possibly due to a genetic mutation, which allows them to remain underwater longer by conserving oxygen.
The study explained that when a person dives and holds their breath, their heart rate slows, blood vessels constrict, and the spleen contracts. This contraction helps conserve oxygen. In the case of the Bajo, their larger spleens allow them to dive for longer periods.
Their unique abilities even inspired filmmaker James Cameron in creating the underwater scenes in Avatar 2: The Way of Water.
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Way of Life
Historically, the Bajo people lived on boats, leading a nomadic lifestyle. Today, many of them have settled in homes built on stilts over shallow seas. When the sea’s resources in an area are abundant, they establish semi-permanent homes or huts to shelter from bad weather and process their catch.
The Bajo community is divided into two groups: those who live on land, building homes on the coast or atop coral reefs, and those who live entirely at sea, constructing homes on stilts above the ocean.
The Bajo tribe’s seafaring lifestyle, however, poses challenges in their interaction with other communities. Their limited access to land and heavy reliance on the sea make them somewhat isolated in terms of social life on the mainland. Despite these challenges, their bond with the ocean continues to shape their identity as one of the most remarkable seafaring communities in the world.
(Raidi/Agung)
