Naghol is the Vanuatuan ceremonial land dive often described as a male initiation rite.
The practice is especially associated with Pentecost Island in Vanuatu, where divers leap from tall wooden towers with vines tied to their ankles. The vines are selected and prepared so that the diver comes close to the ground without striking it. The ceremony is traditionally connected with the yam harvest and with demonstrations of courage, strength, and social status.
Land diving is sometimes called “bungy jumping,” but the comparison can be misleading. Modern bungee cords are elastic and designed for repeated recreational jumps, whereas Naghol uses natural vines and follows a highly structured local ritual context. The timing, tower construction, and performance are governed by customary knowledge.
The practice is also frequently cited as an inspiration for commercial bungee jumping. That connection does not make Naghol a modern sport: it remains a culturally significant ceremony whose meaning extends beyond the physical leap.