Second boy land diving sequence #4, Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, South Pacific
Image details
Contributor:
Terry Allen / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
ED16MNFile size:
47.7 MB (2.8 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
3333 x 5000 px | 28.2 x 42.3 cm | 11.1 x 16.7 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
5 April 2013Location:
Pentecost Island, Vanatu, South PacificMore information:
Pentecost Island in Vanuatu is the place where land diving originated and it still the only place in the world where the original form of land diving occurs. The naghol ritual is a ceremony to ensure a bountiful yam harvest. It is the precursor to bungee jumping. Men tie a liana (vine) to each ankle and jump off wooden towers up to 100 feet high - without any safety equipment. As they land, they have to touch their back shoulders or head to the ground, literally blessing the soil with their shoulders. The g-force experienced just before they touch the ground (at around 45 mph) is said to be the greatest experienced by humans in the non-industrialized world. During the jump, some flexibility in the platform absorbs a bit of the force from the falling diver. The ceremony takes place during the dry season (April-June) when the lianas have the right elasticity. It is a rite of passage for young boys to land dive from the tower. So Naghol is a way for young men to step into manhood. They start diving by attempting a dive from one of the lowest platforms. We could see that they were clearly scared, and even terrified. There is no loss of face if they can't get up the courage to jump. The highest platforms are for the very best divers who gain huge prestige from this activity.