Eksmen (2024)

A handmade spear, oval mask, and single makeshift fin is all that a Sama Dilaut diver needs to brave the waters—scouting seafloors bare with breaths held. Eksmen entails the extraordinary diving ability of Badjaos (Sama Dilaut) in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi, in which a similar case has sparked inspiration in biological and physio-ecological research. The sea is their home and source of livelihood, but as they voyage to the open waters, bits of their culture is swept by the passing tides of time. A question lingers: should the Sama Dilaut cling to their ways of life, or should their adaptive nature be utilized to instead keep up with the fast-paced society? Uncover the hidden, revolutionary potential of indigenous breath hold diving, and plunge into the abyss where culture and science intertwine.