In 1955, British scholar Harry Nimmo ventured to the Philippine seas in search of the “new humans” to meet the Bajau people, who have lived a life of diving for a thousand years. After years of observation, he discovered that the Bajau are a constantly evolving race, as many of their organs differ from those of ordinary people.
The Bajau spend five hours a day underwater, can hold their breath for eight minutes, and can dive to depths of 30 meters to catch deep-sea fish without any diving equipment.
Thus, Nimmo boldly speculated: without human intervention, the Bajau might develop webbed feet and gradually evolve into merpeople, eventually becoming “new humans.” But is this really the case? I will provide the answer at the end of this article. 
The Mystical Bajau
The Bajau have lived off fishing for generations, drifting on the ocean with wooden houseboats, rarely setting foot on land. They are born, live, and die at sea, earning the title of the last sea nomads on Earth.
Experts have found that the Bajau have lived in the ocean for a thousand years, adapting by inventing a 5-meter-long houseboat. Though simple in construction, it can accommodate 5-8 people, making it very convenient.
One theory about the origins of the Bajau suggests that their ancestors were once the royal guard of a kingdom. During a mission to escort a princess to her wedding, they were caught in a flood, and the princess was kidnapped by a neighboring country. To avoid punishment, the guards fled to the sea, eventually forming the Bajau people.
Interestingly, the Tanka people of China’s southeastern coast were also once sea nomads living in boats. However, they have now fully migrated to land, with significant improvements in hygiene, education, and living standards.
Evolutionary Changes in the Bajau
The survival of the fittest applies to humans as well. While many believe human evolution has reached perfection, the question of whether humans will continue to evolve remains controversial, especially for the mystical sea-dwelling Bajau people.
1. The Bajau’s Spleen is Twice as Large: The Bajau are the best divers among humans. Their ability to hold their breath is innate, encoded in their genes. Research shows that to adapt to life at sea, the Bajau have evolved much larger spleens, which allow them to hold their breath for 5-8 minutes, maximizing their diving capabilities.
Crucially, even those Bajau who do not engage in diving have larger spleens, suggesting this trait is inherited rather than developed through daily diving. Many experts predict that the Bajau will eventually evolve into “new humans” because a larger spleen stores more blood, providing more oxygen, which is advantageous for diving.
2. Contracted Blood Vessels: The Bajau’s lifestyle leads to unique physical adaptations. Frequent diving stretches the diaphragm, making the chest wall more adherent to the lungs, causing peripheral blood vessels to contract. This adaptation directs more blood to vital organs like the heart, preventing vessel rupture due to increased water pressure, ensuring safety.
Such adaptations are not unique to the Bajau; for instance, people living at high altitudes have larger lung capacities to adapt to low oxygen environments. Many marine workers collaborate with the Bajau to train them as better divers, benefiting everyone.
3. Chronic Health Issues from Diving: Years of diving have caused chronic damage to the Bajau’s bodies, with some suffering from severe decompression sickness, leading to slowed movement, joint pain, and various diseases, the primary cause of death among the Bajau.
To fish more effectively, Bajau children often puncture their eardrums, reducing pain from water pressure, resulting in poor hearing among older Bajau. However, this is a necessity for their survival.
Why Don’t the Bajau Live on Land?
Many wonder why the Bajau don’t choose a life on land, which seems easier. Here are four reasons:
1. Stateless People: The main reason the Bajau don’t settle on land is their lack of nationality. In the past, their seas had no boundaries until colonial powers redefined them, leaving the Bajau stateless. This issue persists, making it impossible for them to live permanently on land.
2. Habitual Sea Life: The Bajau have adapted to sea life with their houseboats, which are their homes and the reason they remain anchored to the sea. Modern society has developed too quickly for them to adapt.
3. Lack of Education and Culture: With a population of several hundred thousand, the Bajau have various branches with slight differences in language and customs, but they lack written language and formal education. They live a primitive life, with time measured by tides, making it difficult for them to adapt to land life.
4. Impact of Modern Fishing: Living in the seas between the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the Bajau face challenges from modern fishing methods, pollution, and dwindling fish populations, which affects their livelihood and increases tensions with land-dwellers.
Will the Bajau Evolve Into Merpeople?
While many experts have questioned evolutionary theory, it’s undeniable that those who cannot adapt to their era will be left behind. A thousand years is enough time to change bodily functions.
The Bajau’s PDA10A gene has mutated, and even their newborns have larger spleens. Many believe the Bajau will undergo further evolution. However, from a biological perspective, it’s unlikely they will develop webbed feet or a merpeople form, as evolution is random and hard to predict.
Ultimately, as the Bajau inevitably move to land, their unique evolution will likely cease, as evolution serves better survival, and their environment will dictate their evolutionary path.
In conclusion, the future of humanity is diverse and unpredictable. Whether the Bajau will evolve into merpeople remains to be seen, but they have certainly adapted for survival with larger spleens and exceptional diving abilities. What are your thoughts on the Bajau?
