A small tribe in Philippines have developed an incredible genetic mutation that enables them to spend huge amounts of time underwater and to thrive in the isolated and watery environment they live in.
Dubbed the "fish-men", the people of the Badjao tribe located in province of Tawi Tawi in the Philippines are able to hold their breath for extremely long periods of time and have mastered the art of free diving over generations. Santarawi Lalisan, an elder statesman of the tribe told Giuseppe from Project Happiness that free diving is a huge part of their culture and livlihood and that children in the community are taught to swim almost as soon as they are born, reports the Daily Star.
The 85-year-old spoke about how at one time, he was able to hold his breathe for nearly 10 minutes. He explained: "I am a champion in Tawi Tawi, in my time I lasted eight minutes underwater, now I can last a maximum of five minutes."
At the age of 85, Santarawi still free-dives hold his breathe for five minutes (Project Happiness/YouTube)Researchers studying the amazing abilities of the Badjao people, who can hold their breath far longer than the average human - which is usually about 30 to 90 seconds without any training - and spend up to five hours a day underwater, believe they have developed a genetic mutation in their spleens that allows their blood to hold more oxygen.
The entire Badjao village stands on tall wooden stilts above the water below, with bridges made of bamboo and driftwood connecting each house and section of the intricate structure. But now, the water is beginning to fill up with plastic litter. This is because, one villager informed Giuseppe, some members of the community are abandoning their traditional lifestyle in favour of a more Western one.
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The Badjao children learn to swim almost as soon as then can walk and are naturals in the water (Project Happiness/YouTube)He said: "A lot of plastic has arrived here because today the Badjao go to the supermarket and here they use plastic and no longer paper. In the past, the Badjao only used paper when they were buying something." However, many of the tribespeople still choose to stick by their old ways, including spearfishing underwater whilst diving and wearing traditional handmade goggles crafted from wood with lenses made from repurposed discarded and broken glass.
Santarawi explained that he was daight to dive by his own father, saying: "He taught me that whatever happens underwater, I have to resist and hold my breath no matter what. In my head I always wonder if I'll make it back up. Then I trust in God and may he give me my life back once I return to the surface."
The people of the tribe have a genetic mutation, according to researchers, which enables them to carry more oxygen in their blood (Project Happiness/YouTube)He added: "In the sea I find everything I need to live. I look among the corals and rocks to see if I find any fish. Once I find them I shoot them with the harpoon and eat them."
Another villager explained how he had inherited everything from his own father, including his skills at diving, and also his goggles and his speargun. He said: "This weapon was built by my father, it was given to me to continue the fishing tradition. In the past, when our fathers went fishing, we tried to be as attentive as possible to learn from them because we knew that one day it would be our turn to go and get food for our families. This is why when we go fishing it is a sacred moment for us, because it connects us to our ancestors."
Their small and isolated town is built on stilts, but now the water below them is become polluted (Project Happiness/YouTube)Despite this, the Badjao way of life of increasingly under threat as Western influence continues to impact the semi-nomadic tribe in the form of temptation, which is leading members to abandon the lifestyle and traditions, but also pollution which is affecting the waters surrounding their village and the fish they catch and eat.
Santarawi is a proud relic of a disappearing way of life. He said: am a true Badjao. I get some water to drink and then go into the sea. Before diving I take another sip... but this time of salt water to feel at one with the sea... and then I dive. Living in the sea is the only thing that can make me happy... until the end of my days."
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