Background Information

The Bajau tribe, also known as the Sama people, are a nomadic group of individuals who have settled in areas of Indonesia, Malaysia, and The Philippines. The Bajau people were mostly settled on the coastlines or oceans in homes built on stilts, or often boats built by themselves.

Almost all Sama people today classify themselves as being Sunni Muslim. They believe their ancestors and themselves to be descendants of Mohammed himself. 

On one side of the Bajau tribe, the Sama Dilaut, the people have based their entire lives around the ocean and the many resources that it has to offer. But, around 200 years ago, the Sama Dilaya began to form settlements on strictly land and develop skills in agricultural practices such as farming and tending cattle.

Although not all recent Bajau people are skilled divers, the seafaring tribe known as the Sama Dilaut are known to be extremely experienced divers capable of holding their breath up to 5 minutes and descending to depths as far as 100 ft.

Sources:

Peoples of the World Foundation
     2013 The Bajau Tribe http://www.peoplesoftheworld.org/text?people=Bajau accessed April 10, 2013