Haenyeo hard at work in the waters off Seopjikoji (Photo-essay)

Remember the haenyeo I wrote about a few posts ago?  I have to admit that after watching their performance in the cove that lies in the shadow of Seongsan Ilchulbong, I was moved to think that the legendary sea women of Jeju had been reduced to being more of a tourist attraction than a (still) seriously active community of working divers.  

After encountering an actual working group of haenyeo the next day at nearby Seopjikoji, however, I got to radically changing my opinion about them -- and being inclined to look about this celebrated traditional community with far more respect, admiration and awe.  For not only were these women going about their business without much hype or hoopla but they went far further away from shore and very noticeably into deeper waters than the ones who had put on what, in comparison, really had been a show at the cove the previous day...

It seems that many -- if not all of -- the haenyeo get to 

their assembly point by the sea via motorscooters!

 

 From there, it's a short walk over black volcanic rocks to the sea

 

 For much of the year, the waters off Jeju probably are 

cold enough for wetsuits to be a welcome costume option

Even so, I reckon it takes quite the effort to voluntarily

go into the water and far away from shore...

...which may be one reason why I saw that the haenyeo 

tend to do so in groups rather than solo :S

See what I mean about this group of haenyeo having gone

further away from the shore than the previous day's group?

Yes, these are divers, not "just" swimmers...

It's also worth pointing out that some three hours 

after I saw them go into the water, they still were 

working away far away from shore... :O