The haenyeo are female Korean divers, who for centuries have been going underwater without breathing apparatus, in search seafood and seaweed. They stay under for a period of up to 2 1/2 minutes. It’s a tough job and a tough life. There are few books written in English about the haenyeo, and one of them is a photo compilation, ‘Mother of the Sea: the Jeju Haenyeo’ (2007, ISBN 978-89-6003-069-5).  

Each of the sixty or so photos is accompanied by a small essay, describing their songs, diving objectives, laws, rules and social milieu. An entire chapter is dedicated to their rituals. The aspect of danger is never far: sharp rocks, sea snakes, and freezing conditions have killed hanyeo. The economics are rough: when an area is overfished by trawlers, they leave the island to dive elsewhere. The book tells of the falling numbers of haenyeo, from 15,000 in the 1970s, to 5,000 today. Produced by the Haenyeo Museum on the island of Jeju, the book is available in the bookshop, and well worth picking up.