On the island of Pentecost, north of Efate, men and boys climb wooden towers 20 to 30 metres high and dive off head-first with nothing but two forest vines tied to their ankles. The vines are measured so that the diver’s shoulders just brush the softened earth below. This is the nagol (also written naghol or n’gol), a ritual tied to the yam harvest, and the acknowledged inspiration for modern bungee jumping.
It takes place only in the weeks when the vines have the right elasticity — roughly April to June — and only in certain villages in the south of the island. It is a ceremony, not a show put on for tourists, although visitors are admitted for a fee.
Top things to do: Pentecost Land Diving
Watch a dive
Dives usually take place on set days of the week during the season, building from the youngest boys on the lowest platforms to the most experienced men at the top, while the village sings and dances below.
Take a day trip by air
Operators in Port Vila sell day packages with a small-plane flight to Pentecost, entry to the ceremony and a guide. It is expensive and seats are few.
How to get to Pentecost Land Diving
- Day tour by charter flight from Port Vila: the practical option for most visitors. Book through a local tour operator, your hotel or the tourism office well in advance.
- Independently: scheduled flights to Pentecost are infrequent and accommodation is basic; allow several days.
- These trips are not currently sold on GetYourGuide. While you are in Port Vila, see the tours that are.
Insider tips
- Dates are set by the communities each year. Confirm them before you book flights.
- Trips depend on weather and aircraft availability and can be cancelled at short notice.
- Follow the rules on where to stand and on photography, and do not touch the tower or the vines.
