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Wild Tribe: Reef Gypsies

Free-diving champion Tanya Streeter travels to a remote corner of Indonesia to meet the Bajau tribe, who depend on the reefs that surround them.

Free diver Tanya Streeter travels to a remote corner of Indonesia in search of stunning coral reefs and a shy tribe of people, the Bajau, who depend on the reefs for survival.

For Tanya, free diving is a sport which has allowed her to meet marine animals on their terms. But in Bajau society, free diving is not a sport, it is a fundamental part of a culture completely entwined with life in the water. Children are initiated into the sea from birth and playtime involves swimming and diving in the open ocean. As they hone their skills, they learn to catch octopus by day and sea cucumbers at night. The very best Bajau divers use hand-made spear guns to catch fish on the reefs, staying under for minutes at a time. But how will they take to the arrival of an outsider? Will Tanya be allowed to join them and see for herself just how impressive their diving skills are?

29 minutes

Last on

Sat 28 Mar 2009 16:00

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Role Contributor
Presenter Tanya Streeter

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