Nomads of the sea: stateless Bajau face up to a future on land – photo essay

Famed for their freediving skills, only a few hundred Bajau still live in the traditional way. Caught between laws hostile to their unique way of life, they are being forced to resettle as outcasts on shore

Words and photographs by Claudio Sieber in Semporna

The Bajau people have been crisscrossing the waters of the Sulu Sea for centuries, the world's only community of self-sufficient sea nomads. To the Bajau, a border" is merely the farthest distance they can reach by boat.

Noted for their exceptional freediving abilities, the Bajau have evolved to have larger spleens, enabling them to stay underwater for up to 10 minutes at depths of 200 feet. Their diet includes a diverse array of sea creatures, including sea cucumbers - a valuable protein source also used for medical purposes and even as an aphrodisiac.

Only about 100 to 200 Bajau families still live on the traditional Lansa houseboats. This one, part of the Bohey Bual community off Bodgaya Island, has 10 sq metres of living space and houses nine people