the pearl diver

Once the last breath of air is inhaled and I slip underwater, the world expands as my lungs contract. I lose all sense of time, transported to a different dimension. My skin dissolves and I am one with the ocean. Immersed in my element - water. 

I dive down to the bottom as quickly as I can - no time or gesture wasted. Loose, fluid, relaxed - yet intent and focused to get to the good part and my main objective. 

Pearl Diver | © StefanLins/Flickr

Walking on the sea bed. Feeling the crunch of the grit and sand. Colors dimmed. First the reds go. Then the oranges. The yellows after. I float in a world of greens and blues in the light, indigo and purple in shadow. 

Skimming past undulating seaweed. Zipping by coral and rock. 

Pulling, Propelling. Projecting. 

Purposeful. Primed. Primordial. 

Lost in my overblown sense. Blanked out. No agenda. 

Aimless and free, I dive as I please, in sensual pleasure. Poised on the brink of a precipice. What now? Time for more exploring? Or should I head back up? 

The youngest of a dying breed, at 65 she was still 10 and 20 years younger than the other pearl divers. There were only 2,000 of them left worldwide. Eight hundred in her home country. 

Lessons from Jeju

Already they were being treated as curiosities. This quaint interesting thing they did - not for profit or any tangible gain. There were much more efficient and effective ways to harvest pearls nowadays. 

Even natural pearls were being cultured in large scale beds. Blame Mikimoto for turning them into every woman's dress up accessory. Or blame the girl with a pearl earring. 

Today, only about 2,000 ama remain in Japan. 
photos courtesy of the photo book Ama by Nina Poppe

Our seas dredged and natural pearl beds destroyed, it took too long to grow a pearl naturally anymore. In this current world of immediate gratification and entitled pampering these elite tribe of pearl divers were the last of their breed. 

She knew she had arrived too late. She was glad to have missed the grand old hey days. She loved the dives too well. Finding a pearl was just the bonus. 

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