Bajau people: Incredible sea-gypsies of Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia never fails us in terms of cultural and ethnic diversity. The region is full of unique experiences that inspire travellers to visit again and again. Speaking of unique, one thing about Southeast Asia comes to mind – the Bajau people and their seafaring ways.

The Bajau people are also known as the Sama-Bajau, and they are an indigenous ethnic group primarily found in the coastal regions of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. To call them coastal communities won’t be completely true as they technically live over water, in the sea.


Even though they are spread across these aforementioned countries and may or may not be inspired by the local culture, they all have a very strong sense of cultural identity that is common to all Bajau people. Their nomadic lifestyle might have something to do with that. They may all come from one cultural background but the nomadic lifestyle may have taken them places.

Whatever the case may be, one thing is true about the Bajaus, and that is, they have a deep and unbreakable connection to the sea. They are not called seafarers for nothing.

Historically, the Bajau people have been deep sea fishermen and pearl divers. Due to their unique lifestyle, they have a special adaptation and that is, the ability to hold their breath underwater for at least five minutes! This feat is very difficult to achieve, even for the best of divers. But for the Bajau people, this comes almost naturally.


Their living quarters will help understand their relationship with water. Their homes are often built over water, on stilts, and boats are a big part of their lifestyle. This is probably the most convenient option, given their semi-nomadic lifestyle. They even use houseboats extensively.

The free-divers

The Bajau people are globally known for their free-diving skills. When others go underwater with breathing equipment, the Bajau people easily do free-diving, looking for fishes, other marine animals or deep sea pearls. Diving with them will surely be something we will be talking about for a long time.

Is environmental change affecting the Bajau way of life?

The answer to this is a resounding yes. Environmental changes like rise in temperature which directly affects marine life, and pollution in the water, all these have a tremendous impact on the Bajau people, as it deeply affects their occupation.

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Not only this, modernisation has also made its presence felt when it comes to nomadic and traditional practices. With modern amenities, it’s easier to leave the traditional way and look towards the modern ways of life. But the fact that the Bajau people continue to adapt and keep traditions alive at the same time, now that’s commendable.