The Last of the Woman Divers

Summary

The island of Chu, off the coast of South Korea, is famous for its women divers known as 'heos,' who dive daily to gather seafood without the aid of oxygen tanks. This dangerous work has been passed down through generations, with women diving for octopus, abalone, and sea urchins. While most of the women continue the tradition, Sunny Hong, a young tour guide, represents the changing face of the island. With more opportunities for young people, she contrasts the dangerous, family-bound life of diving, offering a glimpse of the future for Chu’s inhabitants.

Takeaways

• 😀 The island of Chu off the coast of South Korea is known for its natural beauty and a unique group of women divers called 'heos.'
• 😀 These women dive into the sea daily to search for seafood, performing dangerous and difficult work without oxygen tanks.
• 😀 The divers can hold their breath and stay underwater for up to 5 minutes, a skill passed down through generations.
• 😀 For centuries, the women of Chu have made their living by diving and catching seafood such as octopus, abalone, and sea urchins.
• 😀 Sunny Hong, a tour guide on the island, is one of the few women who does not dive, although all the other women in her family are divers.
• 😀 Sunny chose to become a tour guide because it suited her English-speaking skills, unlike the traditional diving profession.
• 😀 Sunny's aunt, who is 63, started diving at the age of 13, and has been diving for almost 50 years.
• 😀 The women divers on Chu Island are often the sole providers for their families, with many starting their careers as young as 13.
• 😀 Diving is a dangerous profession, and on the island, all divers are women, with the youngest diver being 45 years old and the oldest being 75.
• 😀 The high earnings from diving—up to $300 per day—allow the women to provide for their families and educate their children.
• 😀 Although diving remains a profitable business on Chu Island, Sunny represents the younger generation, who have more job opportunities beyond diving, marking a shift in the island's traditional way of life.

Q & A

What is the island of Chu famous for?

The island of Chu is famous for its natural beauty and a group of women divers known as 'heos' who dive into the sea to collect seafood.

What kind of work do the women divers in Chu do?

The women divers in Chu dive into the sea daily without using oxygen tanks to collect seafood, including octopus, abalone, and sea urchins.

How long can the women divers hold their breath underwater?

The women divers can hold their breath and stay underwater for up to 5 minutes.

What makes the work of the divers in Chu dangerous?

The work is dangerous due to the cold waters and the physical strain of diving for long hours without the aid of oxygen tanks.

How do the women divers of Chu make a living?

The women divers of Chu have historically made a living by diving into the sea to catch seafood, which they sell to support their families.

What is unique about Sunny Hong compared to other women on the island?

Sunny Hong is different because she is not a diver. She is a tour guide who uses her English language skills to help tourists, while most women in her family are divers.

Why does Sunny work as a tour guide instead of diving?

Sunny chose to work as a tour guide because it allows her to use her English and suits her aptitude. She does not want to become a diver.

What is the history of Sunny's family in the diving tradition?

Sunny's aunt and her friends have been divers for nearly 50 years. They started diving when they were young, and it was a tradition in their Sea Village where women were the only divers.

How old are the youngest and oldest women divers on Chu Island?

The youngest diver on the island is 45 years old, while the oldest is 75 years old.

Why do the women divers of Chu continue to dive despite the dangers?

The women continue to dive because they can earn significant money, up to $300 a day, which helps them educate their children. The financial benefits outweigh the risks for them.

What is the future of the women divers on Chu Island?

The women divers of Chu may be the last generation of divers, as younger people on the island have more opportunities and may not follow the tradition of diving.