Mongabay · Climate & nature

Bajau Freediving Traditions and Marine Conservation

A ban on dangerous compressor diving in Indonesia is boosting traditional Bajau freediving skills. Local fishers and NGOs are working to preserve these methods and manage marine resources sustainably.

The Bajau people, traditionally sea nomads, rely on freediving. A ban on compressor diving in West Nusa Tenggara highlights the importance of their ancestral methods.

On Sumbawa, Bajau fishers and NGOs are passing down freediving knowledge and conservation practices to younger generations.

Bajau fishers use skilled techniques like the 'pocong' decoy lure for octopus, requiring significant expertise.

Compressor diving poses severe health risks, including paralysis and drowning, unlike traditional freediving.

The Jari Foundation supports a shift from compressor diving to traditional methods through the PELITA group, promoting conservation and ecotourism.

Implementing the ban is challenging, but PELITA members have stopped compressor diving, prioritizing health and the environment.

There's a move towards community-led marine resource management, integrating traditional knowledge with conservation efforts.

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