Nanggol: Land Diving (Vanuatu) Land diving (known in the local language as Gol or Nanggol) is a religious ritual performed by the men of the southern part of Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, in which men jump off wooden towers with two tree vines wrapped around their ankles without any safety equipment. According to belief, the higher the jump, the more bountiful the harvest.The platforms are at several different heights. The ritual begins with the least experienced jumpers (around the age of eight) on the lower platforms, and ends with the most experienced jumpers on the upper platforms (around 20 to 30 meters). The ideal jump is high, with the jumper landing close to the ground. The goal is to brush the shoulders against the ground. The process is similar to bungee jumping except vines supply absolutely no give, and the man’s head must touch the ground- thus no room at all is left for error here. The diver crosses his arms over his chest to help prevent injury to the arms. The head is tucked in so his shoulders can contact the ground. Therefore, the diver risks a number of injuries, such as a broken neck or a concussion. During the dive, the jumper can reach speeds of around 45 mph. Right after a dive, other villagers rush in and take care of the diver. The tradition has developed into a tourist attraction.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 12:14:33 +0000