Land diving

Land diving is a special ritual done by men from the southern part of Pentecost Island in Vanuatu. In this tradition, men jump from tall wooden towers that are about 20 to 30 meters high, which is roughly 66 to 98 feet. They wrap two tree vines around their ankles to help them swing safely.

This activity has become popular with visitors to the island, who come to watch and learn about the tradition. It is so extreme that, according to the Guinness World Records, the force felt by someone during the dive is the greatest experienced by people in the non-industrialized world. Land diving shows the bravery and skill of the people who perform it.

Etymology

The word nanggol in Bislama comes from the Saa term gol (also spelled ghol). The prefix na- is common in the languages of the indigenous people of Vanuatu.

Background

Land diving is a special tradition on Pentecost Island in Vanuatu. It began with a story about a woman who wanted to escape her husband. She climbed a tall tree and used vines around her ankles to jump down safely. Her husband jumped too but didn’t use vines and fell. Over time, the men took over this tradition and built special wooden towers instead of using trees.

Today, land diving is done every year during the time of the yam harvest, usually in April, May, or June. The people believe that a good dive helps bring a good harvest and keeps the divers healthy and strong. It is also a way for men to show bravery and courage.

Preparation

The time of yam harvest is important because building the tower works best during the dry season. The vines used also stretch best at this time. Before the diving begins, men stay away from women and do not do certain things together.

Building the tower usually takes two to five weeks. About twenty to thirty men help make it. They cut trees for the tower, clear a spot, and soften the soil. The tower’s center is a big tree with poles tied together with vines for support. There are several platforms sticking out from the front of the tower. The lowest platform is about 10 meters high, and the highest is near the top. When a man jumps, the platform bends down a little to help soften the landing.

The vines are chosen by a village elder and matched to each jumper’s weight. They need to be bendy and stretchy, with plenty of sap, to keep the jump safe. The ends of the vines are prepared so they can be looped around the jumper’s ankles. If the vine is too long, the jumper might hit the ground hard, but if it’s too short, they might hit the tower instead.

Before diving, the men often settle any problems they have with others. The night before, they sleep under the tower to keep away evil spirits.

Ritual

Before the ceremony, the men wash and put on special decorations, including coconut oil and traditional clothing. Only men are allowed to take part in the main event, but women help by dancing and giving support. Usually, between 10 and 20 men from a village will jump.

The ritual starts with newer jumpers using lower platforms and ends with the most experienced men jumping from the highest ones. The goal is to land close to the ground, brushing the shoulders. The higher the jump, the better the harvest is believed to be. Before jumping, men can speak, sing, and make movements to show their skills.

Boys see this jump as a way to become men. After a certain ceremony at around age seven or eight, they can join in. When a boy is ready, he jumps with his elders watching. After the jump, his mother throws away a special item from his childhood to show that he has become a man.

Modern history

In the mid-1800s, missionaries asked the people to stop the land diving ritual. Later, in the 1970s, as the islands moved toward independence, people began to see the ritual as a way to celebrate their culture. After gaining independence in 1980, Christian people from nearby areas brought back the tradition. By 1995, the people of Pentecost Island wanted to receive money from bungee jumping businesses because they felt the tradition had been taken from them.

Notable dives

Dive for French resident commissioner

In 1952, a land dive was done for a French official. This happened after some villages were attacked because of rumors about a group of beliefs called a cargo cult. Some older men were arrested, but their sons offered to do the dive instead. The men were let go if they performed the land dive for the official. During this event, the villagers sang a chant that made fun of the official, saying he thought he was strong, but it was the local men who were brave enough to jump from the tall towers.

Queen Elizabeth II incident

In 1974, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain visited Vanuatu and watched a land dive. The local leaders agreed to perform the dive for her visit. However, the vines used were not stretchy because it was the wrong time of year. One diver’s vines broke, and he fell and was hurt badly.

Kal Müller

Kal Müller, a journalist, was the first person from outside the local community to land dive. He waited two years for the villagers of Bunlap to invite him to jump. Before his jump, he lived with the villagers for seven months. He wrote about his experience in National Geographic Magazine in December 1970.

Karl Pilkington

Karl Pilkington was planned to jump from the highest bar for a TV show called An Idiot Abroad, because he had refused to bungee jump in New Zealand. In the end, he only jumped from the lowest bar after the local people said it still counted as a real land dive.

Tourism

Land diving has become a popular activity for visitors to the area. The local leaders created a tourism council to help manage visitors and keep the tradition meaningful. This council works with tour companies and brings in money by welcoming people from other places. In 1982, visitors paid 35 pounds to see the event. Today, visitors usually pay about $100–120 to watch. Land diving used to happen once a year, but now it happens every week from April to June because it helps the community. Some visitors ask if they can try land diving, but this is usually not allowed to keep everyone safe. In 2006, filming the event for commercial purposes was stopped to protect the cultural importance of the tradition.