Yusniar Amara
Rescuer from the Land of Rencong

Yusniar once vowed never to dive again after she nearly died when she was pulled by the tide at Lampuuk Beach in Greater Aceh. The incident, 14 years ago, is strongly etched in her mind. "My legs suddenly got cramps so a friend had to drag me over to the beach," said Yus, short for Yusniar, at Sabang in Aceh, two weeks ago.

At the time, Yusniar, now 36, was training with the Greater Aceh diving team to participate in the 2002 Aceh Regional Sports Week. When she was seized by cramps, her friend forgot to tell her they had reached the beach and released her just like that. Then the waves rolled her back into the sea. "Fortunately, I held my breath so I didn't swallow much seawater," she said.

April 19, 2016