LAND DIVING

WHAT IS LAND
DIVING ?
Most people are
familiar with
bungee
jumping,but did
you know
bungee jumping
started on
Pentecost Island
in Vanuatu and is
almost fifteen
centuries old?

The original
activity, called land
diving, is part of a
religious ceremony. A
man ties tree vines
to his leg. He jumps
head-first from a high
tower. The goal: to
touch the earth with
the top of his headwithout breaking the
vine and hitting the
ground hard. Every
spring, island natives
(men only) still
perform this amazing
test of strength.

THIS IS CRAZY

 Before dawn on the day of the ceremony, the men

undergo a ritual wash, anoint coconut oil on
themselves, and decorate their bodies. The men
wear traditional nambas and the women wear
traditional grass dresses and are barebreasted. Only the men are allowed to dive, but
the dancing women provide mental
support. Around 10 to 20 men in a village will
jump.
Men jump off wooden towers around 20 to 30
metres high, with two tree vines wrapped around
the ankles.