Lesson 2: The Ama Divers

Key Words: rare, descend, hazardous, rely

A. Read the text and answer the questions.

Before the beginning of the 20th century, pearls were obtained from pearl oysters. These oysters were collected from the bottom of the ocean, lake, or river.

To get enough pearl oysters, free-divers were often forced to descend to a depth of more than 100 feet in one breath. Because of the difficulty of diving, pearls at that time were of different quality as well as very rare.

In Asia, some pearl oysters could be found on shoals at a depth of 5-7 feet from the surface. At times, the divers had to go 40 feet or even up to 125 feet deep to find enough pearl oysters. These deep dives were extremely hazardous to the divers.

Questions

1. What is the text about?
2. Where did the people get the pearls from?

B. Read about the Ama divers of Japan. Discuss in pairs the information that you have got from the text and answer the questions.

In some fishing villages along the coast of Japan, there are amazing groups of women known as ‘Ama divers’. These women worked and are still working as Ama. The word ‘Ama’ means ‘women of the sea or sea women’. They are independent divers. They make their living by diving. They can dive to the depth of the sea up to 25 meters. And they dive without using oxygen tanks or other breathing equipment.

The Ama divers rely on their own skills and breathing techniques. They use that skill and technique to push themselves down to the bottom of the sea and back to the surface again. They can hold their breath for up to two minutes. Careful watching, lung capacity, and hunter instincts are the special qualities of Ama divers.

However, some of these young villagers are going to the city for other jobs. The remaining Ama divers are now aged between 50 and 60. But there are still some who continue to dive even at their 70s. If the young people do not take up Ama diving, soon this profession will die out.

Questions

1. Why are the Ama divers amazing?
2. How deep can the Ama divers go down into the sea?
3. What techniques and skills do the Ama divers use in diving?
4. Why do you think the young villagers are going to the city?