Pentecost Island has become famous throughout the world for the land diving ritual (Nagol or N’gol) which occurs every Saturday between April and June. The ritual, which influenced the invention of bungee jumping by Kiwi AJ Hackett, sees local men and boys as young as seven jump from a 20 - 30metre high manmade tower with only a vine attached to their legs.
The tower itself takes locals five weeks to build using materials from the forest. The vines are carefully selected by jumpers who know that just 10 centimetres may be the difference between life and death. Travelling to view this magnificent ceremony is a once in a lifetime experience. No words can express the feeling of the ground vibrating under the dancing and stomping feet of villages and the excitement of sitting beneath the tower waiting with unease for the diver to jump safely to the ground. The awe-inspiring ceremony celebrates the yam harvest and is a fertility rite for men.
Both Nagol and Waterfall Bungalows have transportation available for guests. Tours can be arranged on request at the bungalow such as custom village tour, hiking, snorkelling, paddle an outrigger canoe, and visiting historical sites including diving the warplanes, the freshwater prawns, waterfall village tours and stopping by and learning about significant landmarks.
Pangi community in south Pentecost host cruise ships and is a cruise port of call during the land diving festival.