Diving Women of Jejudo (2007)

Jejudo is the largest of Korean islands and lies between Korea and Japan There for hundreds of years women dive without breathing apparatus to the ocean floor and collect shellfish octopus and urchins that they sell The divers are in their sixties and seventies and their daughters do not want to inherit their work lifestyle and health problems that go with diving As a filmmaker I was privileged to meet many of these women and dive with them Their stories of hardship and pride confirmed my desire to record this unique and ancient tradition