For Aiko Ono, an ocean lover and diving enthusiast, plunging into the professional life of an ama (female diver) was a path she chose without hesitation.

The 40-year-old Tokyo native, who previously worked as a photographer, relocated to the central Japanese prefecture of Mie in 2015 to become an ama, a "woman of the sea," a profession that only exists in Japan and South Korea.

"Ama have preserved the sea while sustaining the way of living in this fishing town," says Ono in a recent interview, explaining that ama diving culture is deeply rooted in the daily lives of the people living in the Ijika district of Toba.