The World’s Most Dangerous Cultural Traditions

Vanuatu Land Diving

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In the Republic of Vanuatu, those living on Pentecostal Island participate in one of the most daring ceremonies in the world. Every year, from April to June, the Nagol men climb 100-foot makeshift towers. They then dive headfirst hoping that the vines tied around their ankles will stop their fall.

The ritual is believed to have come from a woman who first did it to escape her abusive husband in the act of defiance. It was initially a women’s tradition but was taken over by men. It has also transformed into a ritual that has religious symbolism. It is thought that the yam harvest depends on the courage of the previous year’s divers. Boys can start as early as five years old with the highest plank reserved for the most experienced.