The Haenyeo – literally "sea women" – are a group of women who live on Jeju Island, South Korea’s largest island where a unique culture holds on to life.

A group of Haenyeo pose for photographers as they perform a demonstration during a media event on November 6, 2015. The term "Haenyeo," or "sea women," refers to women who use free-diving ...

Scientists have investigated the unique biology of the Haenyeo, women from the South Korean island of Jeju who are known for their ability to free dive.

The Haenyeo, an all-female group of divers on South Korea’s Jeju Island, spend much of their lives underwater without equipment—a “superpower” that may be written into their DNA ...

The Haenyeo women live their entire lives diving off Jeju Island, 50 miles south of mainland South Korea, spending hours each day harvesting seaweed, abalone, and other food items from the ...

For generations, the all-female Haenyeo divers have routinely dove into frigid waters off the coast of South Korea, holding their breath for minutes at a time, as they collect seafood to eat and sell.

The all-female Korean Haenyeo divers show genetic adaptations to cold-water diving involving their blood pressure and cold tolerance. It's "like they have a superpower," says one of the researchers.

The Haenyeo, a group of all-female divers from the Korean island of Jeju, are renowned for their ability to dive in frigid waters without the aid of breathing equipment — even while pregnant.

South Korean Haenyeo Divers’ Extreme Lifestyle Is Shaping Their Genetics The Haenyeo, an all-female group of divers on South Korea’s Jeju Island, spend much of their lives underwater without ...

Now, scientists have confirmed that the Haenyeo, renowned for their remarkable diving abilities in frigid waters, are another such population that has “evolved for diving”.

The Haenyeo, a group of all-female divers from the Korean island of Jeju, are renowned for their ability to dive in frigid waters without the aid of breathing equipment -- even while pregnant. A ...

Often likened to mermaids in media reports and popular culture, South Korea’s famed Haenyeo (“sea women”) spend much of the day underwater, diving without scuba gear to collect abalone ...