All language subtitles for Expedition.X.S05E07.The.Beast.of.Andros.Island.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-SLAG_track3_[eng]

my team journeys to a remote,
tropical paradise.

Get ready for the most
beautiful waters, ever.

[Josh] But, locals say,
the island's blue holes,

hide a mysterious,
aquatic beast.

I don't swim in the blue hole,
'cause they live
in the blue hole.

[Josh] A strange hybrid
creature, that's not
only aggressive...

[Sammy] And out of the clear,
blue sky, boom!

And tear my finger right open.

[Josh] ...it's downright
deadly.

I had family friends that went
diving in the blue hole.

[water splashing]

[Charlene] And, they never
came back.

[Josh] Phil and Jess brave
the dangers of the deep.

[Phil over comm]

[Josh] And possibly
expose a decade's old
military secret.

Due to the secret
nature of the work there,
they didn't talk about it.

[Josh] It's a mission
to reveal...

[Jessica] Oh, I got
something, Phil.

[Josh] The beast
of Andros Island.

[Josh] My name,
is Josh Gates.

In my travels,
I've experienced
strange things

that defy logic and made me
question everything.

Oh, my God.

[Josh] Now, I've put
together a team

to investigate the stranger
side of the unknown.

Let's go.

[Josh] Phil Torres,
is a scientist, who hunts
for rational explanations.

[Phil over comm]

[Josh] Jessica Chobot's
paranormal research has
made her a true believer.

If you're here with us,
knock again.

[Josh] Together,
we're searching for answers...

[Phil] What is happening
here, Jess?

[Josh] ...to the world's most
extraordinary mysteries.

This isExpedition X.

Jess, Phil, I have to say,
I feel bad

about some of the really
challenging places that
I sent you.

No, you don't.

I feel kind of bad.

Uh, and for this next
investigation, you're
actually gonna be going to

The Bahamas!

-Oh, that's great!
-No!

-Pack your bags!
-Come on!

Yes, I'm gonna be
on the beach.

I'm gonna get tropical drinks
with the little umbrellas.
This is gonna be perfect.

Yeah, you're not exactly there
to work on your tan.

Uh, it may actually be
your most dangerous
investigation, ever.

How do you feel about
shark infested waters?

Are we going to look
for a shark?

You're half right.

[Josh] Situated
in warm Atlantic waters,
near the Caribbean Sea,

Andros is the largest
of the 700 islands that
make up The Bahamas.

Not exactly a beach resort
hot spot.

This mostly undeveloped,
hidden paradise is dotted

with unusual geologic
formations known
as blue holes.

They formed during
the Ice Age,

as glacial run-off carved
caves into the limestone,

that later
collapsed and flooded
as sea levels rose.

There are over 200 of these
sunken caverns,

located both inland
and off shore.

Famed oceanographer
and one of my personal
heroes, Jacques Cousteau,

was instrumental
in demonstrating that many
of the inland blue holes

are connected
by an underground labyrinth

to the blue holes
in the ocean.

Few of these blue holes
have ever been fully explored.

They're deemed too dangerous.

Not only because they can be
several hundred feet deep,

but because some locals
believe that inside
the blue holes,

hides a mysterious
and deadly creature.

A legendary sea beast.

With a head resembling
a shark's

and the long, powerful arms
of an octopus.

They call it, the Lusca.

Disappearances of swimmers,
divers and fishermen

are often blamed on the Lusca.

But, details of its origin

are like the depths
of a blue hole, murky.

1896, a badly decomposed
six ton carcas

washes up
on a beach in Florida,
Northwest of Andros.

And over the next century,
scientists debate whether
it could be a giant octopus,

squid or whale.
Whatever it is, it fuels
the sea monster legend.

Many locals believe
that modern sightings
of an octopus shark hybrid

are somehow tied
to an abandoned military
facility on the island.

Others say,
the Lusca is a relative
of the giant squid,

which was once thought
to be pure fiction,

until carcasses
were documented
in the mid 1800's.

The first live specimen
wasn't captured on film
until 2005.

So, is it possible that
the Lusca could be more

than just a terrifying,
local legend?

And now, with the number
of reported creature
encounters on the rise,

swimmers, divers, fishermen,
and investigators best beware
of the blue holes.

Okay, who is ready to go
look for a Lusca?

-[Josh] Phil?
-Come on. What are we
talking about here?

-The head of a shark
and the body of an octopus?
-[Josh] Yes!

A Sharktopus, Phil.
A Sharktopus.

This sounds like something
out of a comic book.

I mean, it does sound
a little farfetched.

But, locals there,
they've been claiming

that they see something
they can't explain

from the bottom of these
blue holes, for generations.

They don't know what it is.
So, the question to me is,

what is it?

Like, they're
seeing something.

What I do know
about these blue holes,

is that they're incredibly
dangerous to explore.

They're deep.
They're really dark.
Super technical dives.

So, if you are in
or around them,

and you're thinking
about the Lusca,

and you see something
you can't identify,

your mind might play tricks
on you.

So, a case
of misidentification.

But what would that be?

I don't know. I mean, imagine
seeing an octopus swimming
by you in profile,

if it's body is all together,
it could look, almost like
a shark too.

The folks on the island,
they know their sea life.

They know the difference
between a shark and an octopus

and they're saying,
specifically,

that they're seeing something
they can't explain.

[Josh] So, to get to the
bottom of this, I'm sending

both of you to Andros Island
in The Bahamas.

First, to meet
with an eye witness,
who not only claims

that he saw a Lusca,
but that he survived
an attack.

And Phil, you're going
to learn all about
these blue holes

because you're going to dive
in and get to the bottom
of what the Lusca really is.

And could it be the thing
responsible for swimmers
and divers disappearing?

You up for this?

-Oh, yeah.
-Absolutely.

See, I knew you guys
couldn't turn down
a free trip to The Bahamas

and a terrifying mystery.

Can I still drink some
tropical drinks?

-After-- Yes, if you survive.
-Okay. Goals.

Good luck.

[Josh] From New York, the team
flies three and a half hours
south, to Nassau,

the capital of The Bahamas.

Then, it's another three hours
by boat to Andros Island.

There it is!

There's Andros.

Get ready for the most
beautiful waters, ever.

-I mean, this is gorgeous,
right here.
-[Phil] Yeah.

Oh and look at that shipwreck.

[Jessica] I know.
What's that all about?

[Phil] You know what
they're selling out.

-[Jessica] Lusca!
-[both chuckle]

[Jessica] We dock and head
to meet the witness Josh told
us about.

Sammy Rahming is the owner
of a local watering hole.

Hi, how you guys doing?

[Jessica] Looks like I'm about
to get that drink.

[Sammy] Welcome
to Sammy's, man.

I'll take a beer, please.

[Jessica] Yeah.

[Sammy] The Bahamian way.

-Like it.
-Nice.

[Phil] So, we are here because

we're really interested
in this mystery of the Lusca.

Let me tell you,
I got the mark to show.

-You've got a mark?
-What do you mean, mark to--

[Sammy] The mark to show.
On my hand, right here.

See that? That's the stitch
right there.

-[Jessica] Oh, yeah. Yeah.
-[Phil] That scar
right there?

[Sammy] I have, like, may be
ten stitches in there.

Let me tell you my story.

I was in a blue hole.

I got big fishing line,
big hook like that.

I hook it on and I threw
it in.

And I was holding a spool.

And out of the clear,
blue sky, boom!

I mean,
that's just pulled
through my hand. "Pow."

And tear my finger right open.

If I had to hang on
to that line hard enough,

it would have yucked me
right in the blue hole,
with me.

So, it came up from the bottom
and then snagged you and then,
like, went back down?

[Sammy] It snagged the line
from the bottom.

-[Jessica] Oh.
-[Sammy] And I said,
"Holy [bleep], what's that?"

So, all of a sudden,
I saw this big riffer.

[Sammy] And I come back
on top of the water,

and they swim right around,
but I didn't get to see
exactly what

the face of this thing.

But, I saw
the backside of it.

And it looked almost like
a octopus and this thing
was like, humungous.

So, then what makes
you think it's a Lusca?

And not necessarily, just
an octopus or a squid.

There's no big squid like that
around here.

This thing was huge.

When I say huge, I talking
about, his tentacles,
was about six feet.

[Josh] An octopus
with six foot appendages

would be considered
huge around here.

The largest species
in The Bahamas
are the Caribbean reef octopus

and the common octopus.

Whose arms typically
don't grow past two
or three feet long.

[Jessica] Have you gone back
there and tried fishing again?
Try to bring it out?

Never, never. Cause I know
what I see at that blue hole.

That's why me, I don't swim
in the blue hole.

Cause they live
in the blue hole.

Do you have anybody
else that you know
that has stories?

I mean, this whole island,
actually had an encounter
with this thing.

[Jessica] Sammy offers
to spread the word that
we're looking for the Lusca.

[Sammy] A lot of crazy stuff
around here.

-Y'know?
-Yeah.

You guys got to go
and experience it
for yourself.

[Jessica] We follow Sammy's
directions towards the remote
blue hole,

where he was nearly reeled in
by the creature.

In order to get to the bottom
of what's in this blue hole,

we need to get to the bottom
of the blue hole, itself.

So, we've brought along
our scuba gear.

-[Jessica] You carry the tank
and stuff?
-[Phil] Yeah.

[Jessica] Come on, pack mule.
[chuckles]

[Phil] Sammy says it's about
a half a mile off the road,
down a rocky path.

Not that there's actually
much of a path.

-[Phil] Whoa! See that
peeling bark?
-[Jessica] What?

-[Jessica] Yeah.
-[Phil] This is poisoned wood.

This is basically like,
Bahamas' poison ivy.

[Jessica] Oh, [bleep]

[Phil] It's all over
this forest.

This is a hike, all right.
Umm...

[Jessica] Luckily, I'm well
practiced in the art
of machete.

How about I hop across
and you can pass me
that stuff over?

-[Phil] That works.
-[Jessica] Does that work?

[bleep]

-[Phil] Get this.
-[Jessica] Got it.

-[Phil grunts]
-[Jessica sighs]

[Phil] Whoa!

[Jessica] This is amazing.

[Phil] Reaching depths
of several hundred feet,

most blue holes connect
to the ocean

via an underground labyrinth
of tunnels.

But, some are cut off
from the sea.

And have become isolated,
unique ecosystems.

I brought the comms,
so that we can keep
track of you.

-[Phil] Okay.
-But I also brought
the ROV.

Honestly, the more eyes,
the better down there.

-[Jessica] Yep, I agree.
-[Phil] All right.

[Phil] I doubt that
an isolated sinkhole

would have enough food
to sustain something large.

-[Jessica] Comms are set.
Be on the ready.
-[Phil] Oh, yes.

[Phil] If there really is
a massive creature here,
octopus or otherwise,

I'm thinking, it would have
to travel to and from
the ocean

through an underwater tunnel.

So, I'm looking not just
for signs of whatever
marine animal

Sammy encountered
in this blue hole,

but also a tunnel
it could have used
to get here.

[Phil over comm]

Yeah, I got ya.

[Phil over comm]

[Phil] As freshwater from rain
collects on the surface,

denser salt waters trap below.

In the murky middle layer,
where fresh and saltwater mix,

a toxic gas called
hydrogen sulfide can build up

from all the decaying
plant matter.

To a diver, hydrogen sulfide
can cause skin irritation,

dizziness, nausea and with
long enough exposure,

even delirium and death.

I wonder if
hydrogen sulfide-induced
delirium could explain

some of the monster reports
from divers.

You seeing any fish
or anything like that
in there?

[Phil over comm]

[Phil] The cubera snapper
is a mostly marine species.

And likely wouldn't be found
here, if this blue hole
wasn't connected to the ocean.

[static from comm]

[static]

-[beep]
-Repeat that.

Phil, can you hear me?
Copy.

Are you okay?

[Phil over comm]

[Phil over comm]

[Jessica] Phil, quick
walkie check.

[Jessica over comm] Can you
hear me at all?

[Phil over comm]

You found a cave?

[Jessica over comm] Okay,
be careful.

Can you access it?

[static]

[Phil over comm]

How far back does it go?

[Phil over comm]

You want to grab the ROV
and see how far back
that cave goes?

[Phil over comm]

[Jessica] Who knows how deep
or narrow this blue hole gets.

Or whether the Lusca Sammy saw
might be hiding in the cave
Phil found.

But, the ROV can safely go
where Phil can't.

[Jessica over comm] I see
the cave.

I'm at the entrance.

[Phil] It's a narrow cave,
but an octopus can fit
into some very narrow places

because it has no bones.

The only rigid part
of its body is the beak,

which is made of chitin.
The same hard substance
as an insect's shell.

As long as an octopus' beak
can fit through a crack,

the rest of its highly
malleable body can
maneuver through as well.

That means, even an unusually
large octopus can squeeze
into this tight cave.

Feel like I'm constantly
fighting against a current.

I keep thinking I'm getting
hung up on some
of these rocks,

but then, I look and there's--
I'm actually fine, I'm just
getting pulled around.

[Jessica] Look at that.

I mean, how could I not
go through here?

[Jessica] I think I can fit it
in there.

Oh, [bleep] I'm going
to get that ROV stuck.

[clicks tongue] Ugh!

[Jessica] Okay, come on.
Where are we?

There we go. We're out.

[Jessica over comm] That's
as far as I can go.

Any further and we'll lose
the ROV.

I'm bringing it back up.

[Phil over comm]

[Jessica over comm]
The ROV's up.

[Phil] Whoo!

That thing was so deep
in there, Jess.

Easily, something
could fit through there.

It's feasible.
It's feasible for a Lusca
to be in here.

Or at least come here,
use it as a feeding ground,
hang out for a while

and then ditch out and go
somewhere else.

Which could also
explain multiple sightings.

I definitely think
this particular cave
system connects to the ocean.

-Oh, yeah. It has to.
-[Jessica] Absolutely. Yeah.

[Jessica] While we
were investigating
the inland blue hole,

where Sammy had
his frightening encounter,

I got a message
from another local.

So, I think us being
on the island, looking for
the Lusca's making the rounds.

One of the locals, this lady
named, Charlene, she reached
out to me.

I figured we could
go meet up with her
where she works.

In a weird twist,

guess what the restaurant
where she works at is called.

Uh, what?

Lucky Lusca.

Oh, interesting choice.

[Jessica] Whoop.

[Phil] There's
the Lucky Lusca.

[Jessica] Charlene Whyms
was born and raised
on Andros.

In addition to running
the restaurant, she
is also a police officer.

From a little girl, always
hear my mom speaking
of the Lusca.

I thought it was just odd.
It was something that
they were making up

when they didn't want us
to go to the holes.

But, I had family friends
that went out on a boat.

These were actual divers.

And they went diving
in the blue hole in the ocean.

And, they never came back.

So what's the theory behind
what happened to them?

Well, up today,
we have no story.

They had divers come in to go
and look for them.

They dove all of those
blue holes and they found
absolutely nothing.

Could it not have been, well,
a shark or something?

Well, they found no tide,
no swim gears.

-Zero--
-Which made me
believe that there is a Lusca.

I would think, even with
a shark, you would still have
tanks and other equipment

left over,
even if it was torn up.

So, I guess, if they
completely disappeared,
the idea is that

-the Lusca-- Took them into
one of the caves.
-The Lusca, yes.

-And tunnels.
-Entered caves and carried
them away.

-[Phil] And that's where
it's hiding.
-Yes.

So, where's the location
of the blue hole?

The location of the blue hole
is about two miles off
of Small Hope Bay.

[Jessica] Charlene gives us
the location

and suggests where we can
grab a boat to take us
to the offshore blue hole

where the divers disappeared
without a trace.

I'm wondering if this blue
hole could be the marine lair
of the Lusca.

And somehow connected
to the inland blue hole

where Sammy has his run in
with the beast.

So much of this, I initially
just thought was stories
to keep kids from drowning

-in the blue holes.
-Mmm-hmm. Yeah.

-They're dangerous,
I get it.
-Yeah.

But, now we're hearing
about people dying,

-from a supposed Lusca.
-I know...

-Charlene's story was kind
of tough to hear.
-Yeah.

Definitely.

[Phil] The list of known
ocean predators here,

that have the ability to kill
and consume a human
is pretty short.

And most of the names
on that list, end in shark.

I've dived
in The Bahamas before,

and know that these waters
are home to tiger sharks,

bull sharks,
and the occasional
great white.

If we're going to investigate
deadly diver attacks,

we're gonna need some
experienced back up.

-Hey, Josh.
-Hey.

Hey, team. Looks like you're
enjoying The Bahamas.
Look at that, it's paradise.

Phil, did you do a dive
in a blue hole?

-Oh, yes.
-Mmm-hmm.

It's dark and murky.
It's like a totally
different world.

[Josh over phone] It really
is, but the big question is,

did you see a Lusca?

[Jessica over phone] No Lusca,
yet.

But Phil did see saltwater
fish in the inland hole.

And a cave that probably
connects with the ocean
blue holes.

[Phil over phone] Yeah,
so there's a big
blue hole out here

where some divers disappeared.

So, we're gonna go dive.

[Phil over phone] But, we'll
need some support.

People don't call
The Bahamas the shark capital
of the world for nothing.

You're definitely right
to be cautious, Phil.

As I'm sure you know,
there are more than 40
different shark species there,

including some serious
apex predators.

I'm gonna let Phil do
the diving.

-Thanks, Jess.
-[chuckles] You're welcome.

Well, you are in luck.
I've been diving down
there a lot.

Uh, and I have a contact.
A Shark Weekbuddy of mine.

Uh, and if
you want to dive
in The Bahamas,

this is the guy. So, I'm gonna
connect you with him.

And, uh, be careful
down there, okay?

You got it.

-Bye, Josh.
-[Phil over phone] See you,
Josh.

Bye-bye.

[Jessica] We grab the rest
of our gear and connect with

Josh's dive contact,
Khrys Carroll,

a Bahamian marine scientist
who specializes in the ocean
life here.

-This is Jessica.
-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.
-[Jessica] Including shark,

octopus,
and I'm hoping,
something in between.

Have you ever heard
of anything called the Lusca?

I have heard stories.

Divers afraid to go
in the water, cause
chances of them being eaten,

or snatched
by this mysterious creature.

[Jessica] Do you think
it's actually half shark,
half octopus?

Or do you think it's something
that's actually based off
of a real animal?

With the sharktopus part
of it,

I think, that's a bit,
for me, farfetched.

What it could be is,
a hammerhead shark
eating a very large octopus

and some people may have
seen that and they see the,
the tentacles

in the shark's mouth
and the shark
is swimming away.

Somebody may have seen that
and been like, "What is that?"

That's what I chunk it
up to be.

[Phil] Sharks are known
to prey on octopuses,

so it makes perfect sense
that people reporting
a creature

with the head
of a shark and flailing
cephalopod appendages

could have actually witnessed
natural predation in action.

Should we gear up
and get ready?

[Khrys] Yes, let's do it.
Let's get in.

Okay.

[Jessica] Sure,
it's an interesting theory,
from another scientist.

But, with so many
Lusca sightings,

they can't all simply
be seeing a shark eating
its lunch.

We close in on the coordinates
Charlene gave us
for the blue hole

where the divers
were last seen.

And as we take our first look
at the submerged blue hole,

I'm suddenly extra glad
that we brought
reinforcements.

[Jessica] Holy... [bleep]

[Phil] Oh, boy.
Right there.

[Jessica] Holy... [bleep]

Oh, boy.
Right there.

[Phil] Diving with sharks
is serious business.

There's safety in numbers.
So, marine scientist,
Khrys Carroll and I,

along with our cameraman
and safety diver are going
down, as a group.

Having extra eyes under water,
reduces the risk

of a sneak attack
from these ambush predators.

[Jessica] How's that feel?
Good?

[Phil] It's good.

[Phil] The plan is
to stay alert

and respectful of these
amazing creatures.

Test, test, test.
Phil, do you copy?

[Phil over comm]

Don't get eaten.

[Phil over comm]

Oh, my gosh.

[shudders]

[Phil] In 2011, The Bahamas
declared its entire marine
habitat, a shark sanctuary.

Aside from the potentially
deadly tiger and bull sharks,

this water is teeming with
hammerheads, oceanic whitetips
and Caribbean reef sharks.

Which are pretty much
surrounding me, right now.

Though unprovoked attacks
on swimmers and divers
are rare, they do happen.

[Phil over comm]

[Jessica over comm] Copy that.

Keep your eye on those sharks.

And keep your eyes open
for any caves where
a monster could live.

Or tunnels where it could be
using to travel inland.

[Phil] A recent study found
that more than half
of Americans

are absolutely terrified
of sharks,

though most people
would never actually
encounter one.

Even in areas where sharks
are more common,

I think it's possible fear
can alter perception

to the point that some might
believe they've seen
a monster.

Perhaps, witnesses are leaning
into Lusca legend

when they see either
a larger than average octopus

or as Khrys suspects,
a shark eating an octopus.

[Phil over comm]

[Phil] So, I'll be searching
the blue hole where
the divers disappeared

for signs
of an oversized predator.

[Phil over comm]

[Jessica over comm] How big
is it?

Is it Lusca big?

[Phil over comm]

[Phil] Octopuses are masters
at marine hide and seek.

They have cells
called chromatophores
in their skin

that allow them
to adjust their color

and papillae that change
their texture.

All to better match
their environment.

[Phil over comm]

[Jessica] If a Lusca
can camouflage itself,

maybe that's how it's managed
to remain so elusive
over the years.

And, if it also has
the intelligence
of an octopus,

combined with the power
of a shark,
that is one formidable beast.

But, you don't have to be
a biologist to know that
sharks and octopuses

are very different animals.

It gets me wondering how
such a hybrid could come
to exist.

Do you see any caves
or channels that lead to
any of the inland blue holes?

[Jessica over comm] Where
a Lusca could live or hide?

[Phil over comm]

[Phil over comm]

Okay, you stay there,
send Khrys up,

I'll have him sit next to me
and help me guide the ROV
around and we'll figure out

how to tackle this thing.

[Phil over comm]

All right. Copy.

[Phil] While we're waiting
for the ROV to arrive,

the crew and I stay
on the lookout

for the return of any sharks.

Most sharks
are crepuscular hunters.

Meaning they seek prey
at dawn and dusk.

And with sunset
quickly approaching,

I'd rather not be down here
when the dinner bell rings.

[Jessica] ROV
in the water really quick.

ROV's in.

[Jessica] So, towards
the front, straight down.

-[Khrys] Oh, that's a Phil.
-[Jessica] That's a Phil.

Follow them into the crevice,
into the crack.

[Phil over comm]

[Phil] I wonder
if this current is flowing
into an inland blue hole.

Like the one where Sammy
was attacked by what
he believed was a Lusca.

What he encountered could
have been a misidentified
ocean animal

that found its way inland
through this tunnel.

But, what is it?

[Khrys] That's it.
That's the crevice
right there.

[Phil over comm]

[Jessica] If some kind
of strong creature dragged
divers in here,

good chance they
wouldn't be found.

I mean, it's like,
pure darkness.

If we go down, then you're
gonna see another opening,

but it's too small for us
to go down with our gear on.

[Jessica] Let's drop down.

[Phil over comm]

[Jessica over comm] We are
at 30.8 meters depth.

That looks pretty tight,
actually. Let me see if I can
get this ROV in there.

-We might be losing
this bad boy today.
-[Khrys] Oh.

[Khrys] Oh, okay, I don't
think we went down, this deep.

This is new.

Who knows what's down there?

[Jessica] Got plenty of line,
right?

[Khrys] We have tons.

[Jessica] This is nice, cause
I have a little bit of the um,
side of the rock wall

in the view finder.

Which is helping me
kind of get some bearings.

Ooh, I just got hit
by something.

-[Khrys] What do you think
it was?
-Ah, I don't know.

I mean, I can't tell
if I landed on something,

or if something grabbed
the ROV.

[Khrys] How deep are we?

[Jessica] We are at
50.4 meters.

Oh, see? Something's
grabbing it.

Oh, my God, something
grabbed it.

[Jessica] Oh, my God,
something grabbed it.

I'm not even touching
the controllers right now.

Yeah, something's dragging it.

I mean, something's definitely
attacking the ROV.

[Jessica] Or something's
attacking the line
and messing with it.

Look at this.

[Khrys] That's a strong
current.

[Jessica] That's really weird.

[Jessica over comm] Phil,
do you see any movement right
now, in that crevice?

Something's messing
with the ROV.

[Phil over comm]

Look at the flow
of the particles in the water.

Look how fast
they're flowing.

Mmm-hmm and they all seem
to be flowing, kind of down
in that direction

and then they get caught
in that little whirlpool area.

I think, we've reached a point
where the current is at
its strongest.

It's getting
sucked around, like it's
in a washing machine.

Would that mean that
that's a channel that

leads to one of the inland
blue holes?

Very well.

[Jessica] This hidden tunnel

could explain how the Lusca
has been attacking people

in both, the inland
and offshore blue holes,

while also managing
to stay so elusive.

Whatever's down there,
it's going to destroy
my robot.

Or worse.

Phil, do you copy?

[Jessica over comm] I'm having
problems with the ROV.

I've got to bring it back up,
before I lose it.

[Phil over comm]

[Jessica] All right, we are at
eight meters and rising.

[Phil] Whoo!

[Jessica grunts] Got it.

-Whoo.
-[Phil] Okay, Jess,
what did you see?

Well, I mean we--
We got past where you guys
had originally dove.

-Okay.
-[Jessica] And then it just
started spinning everywhere.

Flipping, flopping, spinning
around, I couldn't control it,
at all.

At all. So, I don't know,
may be something
was yanking on it.

All right, there definitely
were a few times where it felt
like something had hit it.

-[Phil] Weird.
-Yes.

[Jessica] I mean, I was down
to 50 meters.

-Wow.
-And then, everything went
to [bleep]

Was there a giant shark
slash octopus in there?

[Jessica] I mean, may be,
it definitely got hit
by something.

[Phil] I know Jess thinks
a Lusca hiding in the cavern

could have attacked
the ROV.

And possibly the divers
that went missing.

but, I felt that strong
current firsthand

and at high tide, that pull
would be even stronger.

That makes me think
the current could
have possibly

played a role
in the divers' disappearance,

dragging and trapping them
deep inside a rocky tunnel.

It could also be
what dragged the ROV.

[Jessica] All right, let's
pack it up.

[Jessica] The current might
explain what happened
to the divers,

but it doesn't explain
the generations
of Lusca sightings.

I think, we need to expand
our search for clues.

I recall Josh mentioned
that some locals believed

the monster reports over
the past few decades,

are tied to a now,
abandoned military
facility on the island.

To find out if any work
they were doing there

could somehow be connected
to the Lusca,

I've tracked down a former
high security clearance
contractor who worked there.

What was your job
with the military base?

I was involved in the recovery
spec torpedoes

at the conclusion of attache.

We understand there's a lot
about your job you cannot
talk about.

But, we're hoping to gain
some insight into what type
of military activity

was happening here,
on Andros Island.

Weapons testing,
sea trials, war games,
things of that nature.

Were you ever aware of any
kind of experiments
on animals?

Yes, there was some activity
with marine life.

They have used dolphins
and other animals,

and some techniques.

It wasn't part of what I did,
but I am aware of it.

Due to the secret
nature of the work there,

there were a lot
of things that

you would kind of see and be
aware of, but you were
supposed to just ignore it.

You didn't talk about it.

Did you ever see anything,
I guess out of the ordinary,
in the waters out here?

Y'know there was a lot
of animals in the waters.
So...

Particularly, a lot of sharks.

They always seemed
to be attracted to that area.

Ha, that's interesting.

So, I guess,
given the compartmentalization

of the top secret research
that was happening there,

and you add on
history of using,
I don't know,

dolphins and other marine life
in research,

do you think it's possible
that some of that research

was happening here,
on this island?

Yeah, you can't rule it out.

-[Jessica] Yeah.
-[Phil] Perfect.

So, if we wanted to go
and check out this facility,

where would we have to go
on the island, like what
should we look for?

[Jessica] Dave gives us
the approximate coordinates
of the old military site.

A location that we agreed
not to reveal.

[Phil] Well, thanks
for the leads, Dave.

Glad to help.

Well, that was some
good intel.

Yeah, I... It's...

Here's the deal, do I think
the military was experimenting

-and made some shark-octopus
hybrid?
-Sharktopus?

-No.
-[Jessica] Mmm-hmm.

Do I think top secret activity
around here

could easily be playing a role
in the Lusca legend?

-Yeah.
-Yeah.

[Phil] I think we should try
and find that abandoned base.

Perfect.

[Jessica] We head back
on our boat to explore
the shoreline.

The plan is to look
for evidence of any
scientific research

that might have been
conducted on marine life.

Things like lab equipment
or animal holding tanks

could be clues to what
was happening there.

The question in my mind is,
could they have been trying
to harness the unique,

innate abilities of both,
sharks and octopuses

for some kind
of military purpose?

All right, so what do you
think we should be
looking for,

besides abandoned buildings?

[Phil] They probably have
some sort of access
to the water.

Either a dock or some kind
of gate that would open up
to the water,

-especially if they're doing
research in the water.
-[Jessica] Yeah.

-Can I see those really quick?
-[Phil] Yeah.

I wanna just do a quick scan.

All right, I'm not
seeing anything.

And one thing to keep
in mind too is, this thing
was abandoned

decades ago, so it could be
overgrown.

[Jessica] Ooh, what's that?

Check this out.

Wow, okay.

-[Phil] Looks fortified.
-[Jessica] Yeah.

-[Phil] Looks very abandoned.
-[Jessica] Access
to the water.

Access to the water.

Jess, I'm thinking,
this is it.

[Jessica] I think
you're right.

To find out if this was some
kind of military testing
facility,

we need a closer look.

[Phil] Check this out, Jess.

-[Phil] Wow.
-[Jessica] Ooh, this is cool.

[Phil] It's way bigger
than it looked from shore.

[Jessica] Yeah, I mean,
it extends all the way down.

Well, I'm gonna go inside.

Okay, I'm gonna leave
the ROV here.

-[Jessica] Okay.
-[Phil] And yeah,
see what we can find.

[Jessica] Ooh, this is creepy.

Look at all the old wires
and insulation.

Got to say, this cement
has held up pretty well

-over time,
from all the storms.
-[Jessica] Mmm-hmm.

[Phil] But, everything else,
did not.

[Jessica] I'm gonna go
check over here.

[Phil] Seeing anything
over there?

[Jessica] I'm gonna go
head back and check out
the outside.

[Phil] Okay.

Oh, yeah. What's that?

[Phil] Concrete bar
just sticking right out.

Gonna move under this quickly.

[branch snaps]

Oh!

[Jessica] Oh, I got
something, Phil.

Recruiting wild animals
for military service

may seem like a science
fiction plot.

But, surprisingly,
it's happened.

Or, I should say,
it's been attempted.

[Josh] During World War II,
the American military

experimented with strapping
miniature explosives

to Mexican free-tailed bats,

in something known
as Project X-Ray.

The idea was that a plane
would drop special shells

filled with millions of these
tiny bombers,

which would then shelter
in the eaves of homes
and buildings,

which is when
they would detonate,

igniting devastating infernos
all across enemy territory.

Unfortunately, at the testing
site in New Mexico,

a few of these fully loaded
bats escaped.

[Josh] And roosted under
a massive fuel tank.

Half of Carlsbad Army Airfield
and a general's car
were destroyed.

The army wisely decided
to explore other projects,

leaving weaponized bat attacks
to Bruce Wayne.

[Jessica] Oh, I got
something, Phil.

-[Phil] You got something?
-Yeah.

[Phil] All right,
give me a sec.

[Jessica] Yeah, it's a sign
that says,

"Warning, no trespassing,
government property."

-[Jessica] Check it out.
-[Phil] Oh, yeah.

I guess, the only problem is--

Completely cleaned out?

-It's pretty cleaned out.
-[Jessica] Yeah.

[Jessica] If this waterfront
research facility was studying
marine life,

it would make sense that part
of the facility might actually
be underwater.

This would also keep any
secret experiments away
from prying eyes.

But, not away from
out ROV.

I'm hoping we'll find some
submerged signs

that this place,
is connected to the Lusca.

-[Jessica] All right.
-[Phil] Off it goes.
See what we find out there.

[Jessica] Okay, going under.

[water splashing]

[Phil] All right, seeing
some coral.

[Jessica] Yeah. No, that's all
empty, just sand.

Ooh, what's that?

-Yeah, there's definitely
structures under the water.
-[Jessica] Yeah?

[Jessica] Yeah, for sure.
What is this?

[Phil] Oh, we got some posts
in the water.

-[Jessica] That looks like
a dock post.
-[Phil] Totally does.

Okay, so we've got [sighs]
confirmation on structures,

but I'm not seeing anything
that says they're doing
any experiments, yet.

Yeah, I'm not seeing anything
that indicates they
would have made

some kind of structure
to keep something in.

Yeah.

-Oh.
-Oh... [bleep]

-[Jessica] That's a cage,
right?
-[Phil] That's a cage.

That looks too big
to be a crab pot.

Here's the thing though,

there's no way that,
that cage is going
to hold a huge Lusca.

I'm not taking about a Lusca,
I'm just saying,

this is showing that
they probably held

-animals out there.
-Animals. Yeah.

The octopuses, could be
all sorts of things.

[Jessica] There's
another one.

[Phil] There's another
cage. Just a minute.

-There's a fish in it.
-There's a fish
inside it.

[Jessica] I mean, it wouldn't
surprise me

if the military was doing
something with the marine
life around here.

The problem is there's not
really any good way for us
to find out what.

Nobody's gonna talk.

[Jessica] I mean,
this is as good as
it's going to get.

For me, it's really hard
to say that what was happening

here, decades ago,
has to do with the legend
of the Lusca, today.

-Yeah.
-[Phil] There was a lot
of secrecy, obviously.

Who knows what they had
in these cages,

but I don't know if that
relates to the blue holes.

I just feel like every
little bit adds up.

It's just that it's not
necessarily a clear picture.

[Phil] See, the bottom line is

there's a lot of hidden
secrets in the water
out there.

Mmm-hmm.

It's just hard to know
what exactly they were doing.

Yeah, I agree.

[Josh] When my team returned
from Andros,

we reviewed the evidence
to piece together

what's behind the legend
of the Lusca.

Phil and Jess might have found
a possible explanation

for what happened to at least
some of those reported missing
in the blue holes.

[Phil over comm]

[Josh] Perhaps, they got
trapped inside the tunnels

connecting the inland
and ocean caverns.

Jess' ROV almost fell
victim to this phenomenon.

The footage clearly shows
the strength of the current.

But, she remains convinced
that there was something
else down there.

[Jessica] Oh, my God.
Something grabbed it.

[Josh] And when we examined
the footage, frame by frame,

we did see something
we can't identify.

Could that be a tentacle
from a large sea beast

getting handsy
with an intruder in its lair?

Or is it merely the arm
of an octopus?

Or a stray piece of kelp?

Without more footage,
we can't say for sure.

Between the former employee's
testimony and what
my team uncovered,

there are indications some
kind of research involving
marine life

was happening at a now,
abandoned military site.

-Oh.
-Oh... [bleep]

[Jessica] That's a cage,
right?

[Josh] Is it possible that
reports of an aggressive
sea monster

were intentionally fueled
to keep the curious away

from what was really
going on in these waters?

Something that
remains classified.

Still, we can't discount
the many witness reports
over the years.

[Josh] But it's also hard
to reconcile the existence
of a sharktopus.

So, until hard, physical
evidence surfaces,

I'll lean toward a more
plausible scientific theory.

What it could be is,
a hammerhead shark

eating a very large octopus.

And they see the,
the tentacles
in the shark's mouth.

[Josh] For the people
of Andros Island, however,

the Lusca remains a creature,
both feared and fascinating.

Very much alive
in their legends.

And in their nightmares.

For more information
on Expedition X,

head to
discovery.com/expeditionx.