Oldest order of female divers

Oldest order of female divers

Last updated: April 13, 2020 at 15:02 pm

Ama divers (海女 | Sea Women) of Japan have been diving for food and pearls for 2,000 years. Traditional Ama divers wear only a loincloth (isogi) and no diving equipment. The isogi is white to ward off sharks and bad luck. Today, it is worn mostly for tourists while others dive with masks, fins, and even a wetsuit. Ama divers are also known as Uminchu (Okinawa), and Kaito (Izu Peninsula).

In South Korea, the Haenyo (해녀 | Sea Women) of Jeju Island took over diving from men in the 18th century because they were exempt from a new tax. Many became the biggest earners in their families while the men stayed at home to take care of the children. Some have made small fortunes diving for high-priced abalone and conch. In 1950, the number of Haenyo was about 30,000 on Jeju. In 2003, there were only 5,650 and 85% were over 50 years old.

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EDITOR’S NOTE
Not all Japanese ama divers (海人) are women. A minority of ama divers are men (海士).

The newly built Kosode Ama Center in Kuji City was completely destroyed with the loss of all artefacts by the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011. The Ama Center’s new home—a three-story building made of reinforced concrete—was inaugurated at the same location in 2015.

Rahn, H.; Yokoyama, T. (1965). Physiology of Breath-Hold Diving and the Ama of Japan. United States: National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council. p. 369.

The Mermaids of Jeju – Korean Female Divers Haenyeo | Official Korea Tourism Organization

Ama & Haenyo | 10 outstanding women every scuba diver should know!

Haenyo (Sea Woman) at Jeju Island, South Korea, in 2012. Photo by Idobi (Creative Commons)

A naked ama diver hands an awabi (Haliotis gigantea) shell to a man and a boy waiting in a boat. Woodcut by Shūsui Shimokōbe circa 1789 (Public Domain)

Two amas on shore watching fish in the water (Public Domain)

Japanese pearl divers next to Kokichi Mikimoto, the inventor of pearl farming, in 1921 (Public Domain)

Ama diver in Mie Prefecture, Japan, in 1965. Photo by H. Grobe (Creative Commons)

Ama pearl diver in Japan in 2005 (Public Domain)

Ama divers in Kuji City, Japan, in 2014. Photo by Tai-Jan Huang (Creative Commons)

18th century ivory sculpture of an ama diver. Photo by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Public Domain)

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Oldest order of female divers

Oldest order of female divers

Last updated: April 13, 2020 at 15:02 pm

—
EDITOR’S NOTE
Not all Japanese ama divers (海人) are women. A minority of ama divers are men (海士).

The newly built Kosode Ama Center in Kuji City was completely destroyed with the loss of all artefacts by the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011. The Ama Center’s new home—a three-story building made of reinforced concrete—was inaugurated at the same location in 2015.

Rahn, H.; Yokoyama, T. (1965). Physiology of Breath-Hold Diving and the Ama of Japan. United States: National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council. p. 369.

The Mermaids of Jeju – Korean Female Divers Haenyeo | Official Korea Tourism Organization

Ama & Haenyo | 10 outstanding women every scuba diver should know!

If you have claim to a diving or underwater record or first, if you know of a significant first or record not listed here, or if you can demonstrate that any of the information on this website is false or outdated, please complete the form on the record submission page.

First to dive the Five Deeps

Deepest submersible dive (Solo | Men)

Deepest fish (Observed)

Deepest diving submersible (In service)

Deepest dive by a head of state

Deepest watch (Prototype)

Deepest point in Earth’s oceans

Deepest submersible dive (Ocean)

Oldest diver (Men)

Fastest drift dive

Largest jellyfish

Deepest octopus

First documented case of hydrogen psychosis

Clearest water

First underwater colony

Most fin patents

Largest glacier calving ever filmed

First aquanaut (Men)

Longest migration (Shark)

Oldest active scuba club

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Oldest order of female divers

Oldest order of female divers

Last updated: April 13, 2020 at 15:02 pm

— EDITOR’S NOTE Not all Japanese ama divers (海人) are women. A minority of ama divers are men (海士).

The newly built Kosode Ama Center in Kuji City was completely destroyed with the loss of all artefacts by the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011. The Ama Center’s new home—a three-story building made of reinforced concrete—was inaugurated at the same location in 2015.

Rahn, H.; Yokoyama, T. (1965). Physiology of Breath-Hold Diving and the Ama of Japan. United States: National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council. p. 369.

The Mermaids of Jeju – Korean Female Divers Haenyeo | Official Korea Tourism Organization

Ama & Haenyo | 10 outstanding women every scuba diver should know!

If you have claim to a diving or underwater record or first, if you know of a significant first or record not listed here, or if you can demonstrate that any of the information on this website is false or outdated, please complete the form on the record submission page.

This Is A Custom Widget

This Is A Custom Widget

—
EDITOR’S NOTE
Not all Japanese ama divers (海人) are women. A minority of ama divers are men (海士).