In 1955, British scholar Harold Gatty, seeking “new humans,” ventured into the Philippine Sea. He wanted to study the Bajau people, who have lived by diving for 1,000 years. After years of observation, he found they are an evolving race. Many of their organs are different from other people.
The Bajau spend five hours a day underwater. They can hold their breath for eight minutes. They can dive 30 meters deep without diving gear. They catch deep-sea fish.
Gatty boldly speculated that the Bajau might grow webbed feet. He believed they could evolve into mermaids. Ultimately, they would become “new humans.” Will this happen? I’ll provide an answer at the end of this article. 
The Amazing Bajau People
The Bajau have lived by fishing for generations. Many spend their lives at sea. They live in wooden houseboats. They rarely set foot on land. They are born at sea, grow up at sea, and die at sea. They are known as the last sea nomads on Earth.
Experts say the Bajau have lived at sea for 1,000 years. To adapt, they invented a 5-meter-long houseboat. The houseboats are simple. But they can hold 5-8 people. This is very convenient.
The Legend of Their Origin
One story says the Bajau were once a royal guard. They were escorting a princess for her wedding. They encountered a flood. Neighboring countries stole the princess. To avoid punishment, the guards fled to the sea. Over time, they became the Bajau.
In China, the Tanka people also lived on boats. They were sea nomads. But now, they have moved to land. Their hygiene and education have greatly improved. Their living standards have increased significantly.
Physical Evolutions of the Bajau
Survival of the fittest applies to humans too. Science says human civilization is 10,000 years old. Many believe human evolution is complete. However, whether humans will evolve is debated. The Bajau are a mysterious group living at sea. They offer insight into this question.
Larger Spleens for Diving
The Bajau are the best divers in the world. Ordinary people can train to hold their breath longer. But the Bajau’s breath-holding is natural. It’s in their genes.
Experts have found that the Bajau evolved larger spleens. They are twice the size of other people’s. This allows them to hold their breath for 5-8 minutes. They can dive to the extreme. Bigger spleens mean better breath-holding.
Even Bajau who don’t dive have large spleens. This wasn’t just from diving. It was inherited. Many experts predict the Bajau will evolve into “new humans.”
Larger spleens store more blood. This provides more oxygen. This body structure is better for diving. Their bodies are different from others.
Constricted Blood Vessels
The Bajau’s lifestyle is different from others. They move their diaphragm frequently while diving. Their chest walls fit their lungs better. Their blood vessels also changed. The outer blood vessels are relatively constricted.
Constricted vessels send more blood to the heart. This avoids blood vessel bursts. Bursting is caused by increased water pressure during diving. This provides great safety. Many call this adaptation.
People in high-altitude areas have large lung capacity. They need to adapt to low-oxygen environments. Over time, this ability is passed down through genes.
Many marine workers cooperate with the Bajau. They train them to be better divers. They become excellent sea rescuers. This benefits everyone.
The Dangers of Their Lifestyle
Years of diving have caused chronic injuries. Some have serious decompression sickness. This leads to slow movement. It also causes joint pain. These are the main causes of death for the Bajau.
Bajau children often puncture their eardrums. This reduces pain from water pressure. Many older Bajau have poor hearing. But there is no other way.
Human civilization is short. It’s just a small part of Earth’s history. But evolution is endless. Human lifespans are too short. We can’t feel small changes.
Human development is too fast. We can’t predict how humans will develop. But the Bajau provide a unique experience. We can guess at future mysteries.
Why Don’t the Bajau Live on Land?
Many wonder why the Bajau don’t live on land. Life on land seems easier. There are many reasons for this.
Stateless Sea Nomads
The main reason they don’t live on land is because they lack citizenship. Centuries ago, their sea had no borders. Colonizers invaded. They redefined these seas.
The colonizers ignored the Bajau. They became stateless people. This issue hasn’t been fully resolved. The Bajau can’t live on land permanently.
This has a bad impact on the Bajau. Without citizenship, they can’t get jobs. They can’t own land. They can’t receive education. They can’t live on land.
A Life Embedded in the Sea
The Bajau have special habits. Houseboats are their homes. They secure them at sea. Modern society develops too fast. They can’t adapt.
They live isolated lives. The ocean is their home. They eat, drink, and live on the ocean. Besides buying supplies, the Bajau avoid going ashore.
Some traditional elders have never left the sea. It’s impossible for them to live on land.
Lack of Education
The Bajau population is around 100,000. There are many branches. The languages and habits vary slightly. But they all lack writing and education.
The Bajau are excellent swimmers. But they can’t go to school. They can’t read. They have no concept of age. They judge time by the tides. Their lives are primitive.
They have lived this way for 1,000 years. Just like land people get seasick, the Bajau have “land sickness”. This feeling can’t be changed quickly.
The Impact of Modern Fishing
The Bajau live between the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The sea is isolated. The economy is backward. But their lives are being disrupted.
Modern fishing challenges the Bajau’s traditional ways. Their fishing methods are outdated. Their fishing volume is limited. Increasing ocean pollution has reduced fish. This affects their lives. This causes conflict with land people. It makes them unwilling to live ashore.
Will The Bajau Evolve?
Many experts question evolution. But people who can’t adapt are eliminated. Thousands of years can change bodies.
The Bajau’s PDA10A gene has changed. Their newborns have larger spleens. Many believe the Bajau will evolve again.
However, evolution has randomness. It’s hard to predict. Whales have lived in the sea for millions of years. But they haven’t evolved gills.
More importantly, the Bajau will eventually go ashore. Their evolution will end. Evolution is for better survival. The environment determines the direction.
Final Thoughts
The future is diverse. It’s hard to predict. Whether the Bajau will evolve into mermaids is hard to say. But they have evolved larger spleens. They have also developed excellent diving ability. What are your thoughts on the Bajau?
