Sea woman

• Women sea

One of the most unusual and famous traditions of the Korean island Chodzhu - Women's Diving. Walking along the coast of the island, almost everywhere you can find quite a middle-aged women dressed in black suits. This so-called "women of the sea" - a professional diver who mined from the bottom of all kinds of seafood. On them will be a short story.

They say that this tradition has appeared in Korea in the 17th century. And for a long time diver profession it was one of the most popular in these parts. Now the number of "mermaids" in Korea - about 5000.

scuba these desperate women do not enjoy. Mask, fins, wetsuit. That's all their uncomplicated equipment.

The extraction is collected in a special grid, and bright buoys used for alarm about his whereabouts to float past the court to know that here, at a depth of working people.

The working day such aunts lasts about 4 hours. Work hard and dangerous, and the years are felt. The average age of diver - 50-60 years.

The largest concentration of diver, in my opinion, can be found on Udo Island. In general, women are quite friendly, but do not like to be photographed. Apparently, the tourists have got their very own pestering.

Frequently diver offer right on the banks buy them some marine life. Here is Madame, for example, is very strongly suggested to buy a couple of thorny subjects, in exchange for its services posing

There are certain places on the coast where the diver organize impromptu trade. You can buy them freshly caught seafood, and on the spot you their Cut and cook.

On the island of Udo diver for all conditions. Along the coast runs excellent road from the Congress to the water.

to move around the island diver at various golf carts, scooters and ATVs:

Directly on the beach every few kilometers, built special houses with changing rooms, beds and bathing facilities. At first I did not know what it is and tried to get into one of them. Angry bare aunt quickly made me realize that nothing I did

Seafood that produce diver, have considerable value on the market, so they could not help but be interested entrepreneurs. They have created for them all the conditions for productive work and joined in the team.

Every now and then far from comfortable for the descent into the sea piers can be found here such boxes. They Haenyeo keep their uniforms and tools:

Along the coast of the island of Udo, a lot of women are laid out on the ground and sorted here are algae in large numbers. I have no idea what they do with them:

Jeju Island - formerly known in Europe under the name Quelpart - an island of volcanic origin. There is a volcano Hallasan, the tallest mountain in South Korea (1950 m).

Since 2007, the unique nature of the island is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

The current strength Haenyeo continues to decline. But the island's authorities are making great efforts to preserve this, the now iconic tradition. By the way, here there are diver quite aged.

On Chodzhu a monument to a female diver and runs Haenyeo Museum. Chances are, if this tradition and will disappear as a profession, then as a tourist attraction - is unlikely.