All language subtitles for River.Monsters.S08E04.Terror.in.Paradise.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-NTb_track4_[eng]

MY NAME IS JEREMY WADE,
AQUATIC DETECTIVE

AND EXTREME ANGLER.

I'VE BEEN FISHING THE WORLD
FOR DECADES,

INVESTIGATING
UNEXPLAINED ATTACKS

WHERE THE FINGER
OF SUSPICION POINTS

TO WHAT LIES BENEATH.

I'VE ENCOUNTERED ALL MANNER
OF STORIES

IN MY TRAVELS
AROUND THE GLOBE.

BODIES RECOVERED WITH STRANGE
AND TERRIBLE MARKS.

DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS.

NOW MY INVESTIGATIONS
HAVE TAKEN ME OUT TO SEA,

WHERE THE MYSTERIES
RUN AS DEEP AS THE OCEANS.

I'VE HEARD REPORTS FROM AN
ISLAND CLUSTER IN THE ATLANTIC

OF SWIMMERS
BEING RIPPED FROM THE SURFACE

AND OF DIVERS DISAPPEARING,
NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN.

NO BODIES, NO REMAINS.

A TROPICAL PARADISE
ROCKED BY UNEXPLAINED DEATHS.

COULD SOMETHING BE USING
THESE MYSTERIOUS WATERS

AS HUNTING GROUNDS FOR HUMANS?

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

TALES OF DEADLY SEA MONSTERS
ARE AS OLD AS TIME.

BUT SOME STORIES
ARE VERY RECENT.

IN A CHAIN OF ISLANDS
IN THE WEST INDIES,

UNEXPLAINED DEATHS
HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED

TO A HIDEOUS UNDERWATER CREATURE

THAT DRAGS DOWN HELPLESS PREY

TO HIS DEEP AND SECRET LAIR.

IS THIS KILLER A FIGMENT
OF FEVERED IMAGINATION?

OR AM I LOOKING
FOR A DEADLY REAL SPECIES?

I MUST CALL ON ALL MY YEARS
OF INVESTIGATION

TO INTERROGATE THE MYTH
AND TEASE OUT THE TRUTH.

MY FIRST TASK IS TO HEAD
TO THE CRIME SCENE.

I'M TAKING A FLIGHT
TO THE LUCAYAN ARCHIPELAGO,

PART OF THE WEST INDIES

AND THE ISLAND OF ANDROS.

UNDERNEATH THE ISLAND LIES
A HIDDEN NETWORK OF PASSAGEWAYS

THROUGH THE ROCK.

WHERE THESE REACH UP
TO THE SURFACE,

THEY FORM WHAT ARE KNOWN
AS BLUE HOLES.

SO THIS IS A BLUE HOLE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ISLAND.

AND I'M JUST LOOKING DOWN
INTO THE DEPTHS.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 50
OF THESE MYSTERIOUS BLUE HOLES

OFF SHORE AND OVER 170 INLAND,

WHICH HAVE A LAYER
OF FRESH WATER OVER SALT WATER.

INCREDIBLY,
80% OF THEM REMAIN UNEXPLORED.

BUT DEPTHS HAVE BEEN MEASURED
CLOSE 1,000 FEET.

WHAT COULD BE LIVING
DOWN INSIDE THEM?

VERY CLEAR WATER.
VERY DARK WATER.

IT'S QUITE A SPOOKY FEELING
LOOKING DOWN INTO THAT.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THAT BEFORE.

THESE ISLAND POPULATIONS
ARE AN ECLECTIC MIX

OF AFRICAN, EUROPEAN
AND ASIAN CULTURES,

GIVING A UNIQUE
CARIBBEAN FLAIR.

THEY'RE PROUD OF THEIR KINSHIP
WITH THE SEA.

HERE, FISHING
IS NOT JUST AN INDUSTRY,

IT'S A WAY OF LIFE.

I SKIRT THE COAST SOUTH,

TOWARDS THE LOCATION OF A
RECENT MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

AT AN INLAND BLUE HOLE.

I'M ON MY WAY
TO MEET A MAN WHO,

APPARENTLY, CAN TAKE ME
TO THE EXACT SPOT

WHERE ONE
OF THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED.

WHERE SOMEBODY WAS PLUCKED
FROM THE SURFACE,

NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN.

PETER HAS LIVED
ON THIS REMOTE PART

OF THE ISLAND
HIS WHOLE LIFE

AND WAS INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH
FOR THE VICTIM'S BODY.

Peter:
NOW, THERE WAS A STORY ABOUT
SOME KIDS CAME FROM SCHOOL.

I MEAN,
WANDERING THE BACK HERE

AND THEY WERE
RIGHT OVER THAT AREA THERE

BECAUSE THAT'S
THE SHORTEST ACCESS

TO THE BLUE HOLE.

THE BOYS CLAMBERED DOWN
THROUGH A SMALL PASSAGEWAY

IN THE ROCK.

THEY SWAM HERE OFTEN AND THERE
DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE ANYTHING

OUT OF THE ORDINARY
ABOUT THE WATER THAT DAY.

BUT THE LOCALS SAY SOMETHING
WAS WAITING FOR THEM.

WHEN THE BALL WAS THROWN
TOWARDS THE MIDDLE

OF THE BLUE HOLE,

ONE OF THE BOYS
SWAM TO RETRIEVE IT.

THREE KIDS LEFT.
AND TWO COME BACK.

Wade: THERE WAS NOTHING
FOUND WHATSOEVER?

NOTHING.
WE DON'T FIND ANY REMAINS.

THERE'S NOTHING.
NO CLOTHING.

NOTHING.

AND THIS ALWAYS
GOES TO THE FOLKLORE

THAT THE LUSCA MONSTER'S
TAKEN THEM.

SO THE MONSTER HAS A NAME.

THE LUSCA MONSTER
IS A HALF SHARK,

HALF OCTOPUS TYPE CREATURE.

SO IT GRABS YOU
AND PUSH YOU IN THE SHARK MOUTH

AND EATS YOU.

SO THAT'S
QUITE A BIG CREATURE,

WHATEVER IT IS, TO CONSUME
AN ENTIRE HUMAN BEING.

SO DO YOU BELIEVE
THE LUSCA EXISTS?

I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S
A LUSCA MONSTER

IN THE BLUE HOLE,
DEFINITELY.

SOMETHING THAT HAS THIS AMOUNT
OF LABYRINTHS,

ANYTHING
COULD BE UNDER THERE.

IT'S INTERESTING
THOUGH THAT DESPITE THIS BELIEF,

IT DOESN'T MAKE COMPLETELY
KEEP OUT OF THE WATER.

THEY'RE CAREFUL.

BUT THEY STILL
GO IN THE WATER.

WE ALL SAW "JAWS."
WE STILL GO SWIMMING, RIGHT?

[ CHUCKLES ]

PETER'S DESCRIPTION
OF THE BEAST

KNOWN AS THE LUSCA
SOUNDS OUTLANDISH.

BUT ANYTHING CAPABLE OF

SUDDENLY DRAGGING
A PERSON UNDER

WOULD HAVE TO BE
BIG, FAST, AND POWERFUL.

I HAVE NO IDEA

WHAT COULD BE LIVING
IN THESE VERY DEEP HOLES.

AND I'M NOT DISMISSING
ANYTHING YET.

BUT IF I ACTUALLY
HOOKED SOMETHING

FROM THIS HIGH, SHARP,
ROCKY BANK, I'D NEVER LAND IT.

AND I'M TOLD THAT AFTER
A NUMBER OF FATALITIES,

DIVING HERE
IS OUT OF THE QUESTION.

SO I'M TAKING MY ROD

TO WHERE THE INTERCONNECTING
TUNNELS MEET THE SEA.

IF THERE IS A MONSTER INLAND,

IT CAME FROM OUT HERE.

I CAN SEE SCHOOLS
OF AGILE FISH DARTING AROUND.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE,
BUT I'M REMINDED

OF SCHOOLING FISH
OF SIMILAR SIZE AND SPEED --

THE TIGER FISH
OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

AND THE PIRANHAS
OF SOUTH AMERICA.

MANY TEETH CAN MAKE
A LIGHT WORK OF HUMAN FLESH.

MAYBE I'M NOT LOOKING
FOR JUST ONE KILLER.

MAYBE IT'S A GANG
OF FLESH-EATERS.

ALL RIGHT.
THIS WATER HERE IS VERY SHALLOW.

SO I'M GOING TO USE
A FLY ON THE END,

WHICH ACTUALLY IS NOT MIMICKING
AN INSECT, AT ALL.

IT'S MIMICKING A SMALL FISH.

IT'S QUITE SILVERY,
QUITE FLASHY.

I'M GONNA RETRIEVE THIS
IN FAIRLY SHORT, RAPID JERKS

ABOUT 2 OR 3 FOOT AT A TIME.

THE IDEA IS THAT MOVEMENT
IS GOING TO REGISTER

IN THE PERIPHERAL VISION

OF ANY PREDATOR
THAT'S DOWN THERE.

AND THEN IN THEORY WHAT IT DOES,
IT'S GONNA LOCK ON.

I WAIT FOR A GROUP TO APPROACH,

AND THEN CAST OUT
IN FRONT OF THEM.

UNDERNEATH THESE SALT FLATS
LIE THE TUNNELS

THAT LEAD TO THE INLAND
BLUE HOLES.

I WANT TO FIND OUT
WHAT'S FEEDING OUT HERE

AND POTENTIALLY
ENTERING THOSE TUNNELS.

SEA FISHING IS NOT
MY AREA OF EXPERTISE.

AND THIS LANDSCAPE IS LIKE
NOWHERE I'VE FISHED BEFORE.

SO I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT I MIGHT FIND.

HERE WE GO.
FISH ON.

I'M ON THE ISLAND OF ANDROS,
IN THE ATLANTIC,

WHERE THE LOCALS BELIEVE
A MONSTROUS PREDATOR

WITH A TASTE FOR HUMAN FLESH

IS USING THE BLUE HOLES
AS HUNTING GROUNDS.

I'M JUST OFFSHORE CASTING
INTO WATER

THAT LINKS
TO THE BLUE HOLE,

HOPING TO CATCH
A TOOTHY PACK HUNTER.

AS IT GETS CLOSER,
I CAN SEE IT'S A BONEFISH.

HE'S A VERY STREAMLINED,
FAST FISH.

THEY ARE IN GROUPS.

I WAS WONDERING
IF THEY WERE PACK HUNTERS

BUT LOOKING IN THE MOUTH
THERE, THERE'S NO TEETH.

THERE'S JUST QUITE RUBBERY LIPS.

SO WHAT'S THAT SPEED FOR?

WHEN THEY'RE FEEDING,
THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE FEEDING

ON ANYTHING THAT IS
PARTICULARLY FAST-MOVING.

THEY TEND TO BE, SORT OF LIKE,
GRUBBING AROUND IN THE SAND.

I RECKON THAT SPEED COULD BE

ALL ABOUT GETTING
AWAY FROM SOMETHING.

NO SOONER DOES THE THOUGHT
CROSS MY MIND,

THEN THE ANSWER BECOMES CLEAR.

THERE'S A SHARK THERE.
SHARK.

A JUVENILE LEMON SHARK
PROWLING THE SHALLOWS

MAY NOT BE THE SIZE
OF A MAN-EATER.

BUT IT'S UNLIKELY TO BE ALONE.

AND SINCE THE MYTHICAL LUSCA
IS OFTEN DESCRIBED

AS BEING A LARGE ANIMAL

WITH SHARK-LIKE
CHARACTERISTICS,

I NEED TO CONSIDER
THE LARGEST KNOWN PREDATORS

IN THESE WATERS.

I'M HEADING NORTH
TO VISIT A RESEARCH PROGRAM

THAT MONITORS THE MOVEMENTS
AND BEHAVIORS

OF DIFFERENT SHARK SPECIES,

TO TRY AND FIND OUT MORE.

THE PLACE WHERE I'M GOING NOW,
IS JUST A SHORT HOP AWAY.

AND IN COMPARISON TO ANDROS,
IT'S JUST A TINY SPECK OF LAND.

BUT WHAT'S SPECIAL
ABOUT SOUTH BIMINI, WELL,

PEOPLE SAY IF YOU WANT TO SEE
A LOT SHARKS

IN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME,
THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO.

IT'S LIKE SOMEONE HAS DRILLED
A HOLE DOWN THROUGH THE FLATS.

BLUE HOLES LIKE THIS ONE
IN THE SEA BED

ARE SAID TO BE EVERY BIT

AS DANGEROUS
AS THE INLAND HOLES.

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCES,

REPORTS OF FISHERMAN
DRAGGED UNDER,

DIVERS VANISHING
WITHOUT A TRACE.

HORRIFYING TALES ALL BLAMED
ON THE LUSCA.

BUT COULD A SHARK
BE THE CULPRIT?

I MEET UP WITH SHARK SCIENTIST,
DR. SAMUEL GROOVER.

-MORNING.
-WELL, WELCOME TO THE SHARK BED.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

LOOKS LIKE I'M
AT THE RIGHT PLACE.

THE BIMINI SHARK LAB
WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE 1990s

AND HAS BEEN A HOTBED
OF LEADING RESEARCH EVER SINCE.

THIS LOCATION
IS KNOWN WORLDWIDE

FOR IT'S EXTRAORDINARILY
HIGH CONCENTRATION

OF DIFFERENT SHARK SPECIES.

IF THERE IS A PROLIFIC
MAN-EATER

STALKING THESE ISLANDS,

DR. GROOVER IS THE PERSON
TO HELP ME FIND IT.

Wade: IN THIS REGION,
THERE ARE STORIES

OF PEOPLE DISAPPEARING
IN BLUE HOLES.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TAKE
ON THAT?

THAT'S NOT A STORY.
THAT'S HAPPENED.

THAT'S REAL.

THAT'S AS REAL AS CAN BE.

BUT WHAT ARE
WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

A LOT OF PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN DRAGGED DOWN

IN THOSE BLUE HOLES.

THEY WENT DOWN
WITHOUT WANTING TO GO DOWN.

AND THEY COULDN'T
GET UP AGAIN.

FROM THE POINT OF VIEW
OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC,

WHAT IS RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY SEEN
AS THE MOST DANGEROUS SHARK

IN THESE WATERS?

THE MOST DANGEROUS SHARK
IN THESE WATERS,

IS THE TIGER SHARK.

THEY CAN GET TO 20 FEET.

THAT'S A REALLY,
REALLY BIG ANIMAL.

TIGER SHARKS HAVE THIS
REPUTATION OF BEING SORT OF,

YOU KNOW, THE GARBAGE COLLECTORS
OF THE SEA.

IS THAT A TRUE
CHARACTERIZATION?

IT IS NOT ONLY
A FAIR DESCRIPTION.

IT'S ACCURATE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE STOMACH
CONTENTS OF TIGER SHARKS,

YOU FIND EVERYTHING
FROM OTHER SHARK SPECIES

TO BIRDS,

TO LOBSTER, TO CONCH.

AND THEY EAT HUMANS.

THEY EAT HUMANS.
THEY DO EAT HUMANS.

SO THERE ARE MAN-EATERS HERE.

BUT TO EXPLAIN
THE SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCES,

I NEED TO FIND OUT
IF THE SHARKS

ARE MAKING TARGETED ATTACKS
OR JUST FEASTING ON REMAINS.

EITHER WAY, ITS HUGE SIZE
AND LIGHTENING SPEED

MAKES THE TIGER SHARK
MY MAIN SUSPECT SO FAR.

DR. GROOVER'S TEAM
IS TAGGING TIGER SHARKS

AROUND SOUTH BIMINI.

BY HELPING THE SCIENTISTS,

I GET A PRIVILEGED CHANCE
TO GET UP CLOSE

AND ASSESS THIS SHARK'S
DEADLY POTENTIAL.

OKAY. HERE WE GO.
I'M GONNA PUT IT IN GEAR.

WE SET A SERIES
OF BAITED HOOKS,

THE TEAM'S USUAL METHOD
FOR CATCHING A TIGER.

SHARKS HAVE BEEN SPOTTED
INSIDE THE OCEANIC BLUE HOLES.

SO COULD THEY BE USING
THE TUNNELS UNDER THE ISLAND

TO TRAVEL INLAND?

SO THAT IS THE LONG LINE SET.

NOW, NEXT TIME
I SEE THOSE HOOKS,

ONE OR MORE OF THEM COULD WELL
HAVE SOMETHING ELSE IN THEM.

BUT I'VE SUCCESSFULLY
CAUGHT BIG SHARKS BEFORE.

SO I'M ALSO GOING TO CAST OUT
A LINE OF MY OWN,

JUST FOR GOOD MEASURE.

THE STORIES I'VE BEEN
HEARING HAVE BEEN

OF PEOPLE BEING PLUCKED
FROM THE SURFACE.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE FISHING
DOWN ON THE BOTTOM,

I'M PUTTING A FLOAT ABOUT
FIVE FEET AWAY FROM THE HOOK.

THAT'S GONNA KEEP THE BAIT
RIGHT ABOUT

WHERE SOMEBODY'S FEET WOULD BE
IF THEY WERE TREADING WATER.

I'M USING WIRE BECAUSE I'M
AFTER SOMETHING WITH TEETH,

AND THEN A FAIRLY MEATY
CIRCLE HOOK ON THE END.

I DON'T HAVE TO WAIT LONG
FOR A BITE.

OH, HERE WE GO.

COULD WHATEVER'S ON MY LINE,

BE THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY
OF THE LUSCA?

IT'S ON THE SURFACE.

I'M FISHING THE WATERS

SURROUNDING THE TINY ISLAND
OF SOUTH BIMINI,

ON THE TRAIL OF A KILLER.

A LARGE AND AGGRESSIVE CREATURE

WITH AN APPETITE
FOR HUMAN FLESH

THAT THE LOCALS CALL THE LUSCA.

OH, HERE WE GO.

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,

I'M BATTLING SOMETHING
LARGE AND POWERFUL.

THIS IS HEAVY.

UGH.

IT'S ON THE SURFACE.
THERE IT IS.

IT'S STILL GOT STRENGTH IN IT.

IT'S A REEF SHARK.

HERE WE GO.

YOU CAN SEE THE FRICTION BURNS
ON MY THUMB, THERE.

THERE ARE AT LEAST FOUR SPECIES
OF REEF SHARK.

ALL SMALLER
THAN THE TIGER SHARK,

BUT THEY ARE SLEEK,
MUSCULAR FISH BUILT

FOR SPEED WITH A MOUTH
FULL OF RAZOR-SHARP TEETH.

THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT CREATURES

YOU'D WANT TO GET
ON THE WRONG SIDE OF.

BUT ARE THEY MAN-EATERS?

17.

17, YEAH.

ONCE THE TEAM HAS GATHERED
ALL THE DATA,

I REMOVE THE HOOK

AND RELEASE THE REEF SHARK
BACK INTO THE WATER.

Woman: ONE, TWO, THREE.

IT ACTUALLY SWAM OFF
VERY STRONGLY.

BUT THE STRENGTH
OF THAT ONE ON THE END A LINE,

WHILE IT LET ME BURNT
MY THUMB.

AND I THINK IF THAT WAS
ATTACHED TO YOUR FOOT,

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'D HAVE NO SAY
IN THE MATTER.

YOU'D JUST BE UNDER THE WATER.

BUT WHAT I'M WONDERING,

IS WHETHER THAT WOULD ACTUALLY
HOLD ON TO YOUR FOOT.

OR WHETHER IT WOULD JUST
TAKE A BITE.

I THINK THE ONLY WAY
TO ESTABLISH THE BIGGER PICTURE,

I'VE ACTUALLY GOT
TO GET INTO THE WATER.

I WANT TO SEE
HOW REEF SHARKS BEHAVE

WHEN PRESENTED
WITH LARGER BAIT,

AND HOW THEY REACT
TO A HUMAN IN THE WATER.

SOON IT'S CLEAR
FROM ACTIVITY ON THE SURFACE,

THAT THEY DON'T FEED ALONE.

SHARKS ARE HERE --
NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

THE BAIT'S READY.

AND DOWN IT GOES.

I CARRY OUT MY FINAL CHECKS

BEFORE FOLLOWING
THE BAIT CAGE DOWN.

[ SCUBA GEAR HISSING ]

SHARKS ALL AROUND ME,
ALL AROUND ME.

OOH.

SO THESE ARE REEF SHARKS.

THEY'RE RESIDENT HERE
OF THE REEF.

AND THEY'RE SIZABLE.
THEY'RE GOOD SIZE FISH.

THIS IS QUITE A SPECTACLE.

LOTS OF FISH.

THEY ARE VERY CONCENTRATED,
VERY STIRRED UP

AND EXCITED BY THE SMELL
OF THE BAIT.

CARIBBEAN REEF SHARKS
ARE COMMON IN THESE PARTS.

THEY CAN GROW
UP TO 10 FEET IN LENGTH,

AND ON OCCASION
HAVE ATTACKED DIVERS.

THEY'RE GETTING VERY CLOSE.

THEY'RE GOING FOR THE BAIT.

THEY'RE NOT GOING FOR ME.

BUT ONLY A FEW YEARS AGO,

A DIVER RIGHT HERE
HAD TO FEND OFF

AN AGGRESSIVE ASSAULT
FROM A REEF SHARK.

AS THEIR NUMBERS
INCREASE AROUND ME,

SO, TOO, DOES THEIR CONFIDENCE.

OH. THAT WAS COMING
RIGHT TOWARDS ME.

I THINK IT MIGHT BE TIME
FOR ME TO GET OUT.

I NEED TO GET
OUT OF THIS SITUATION

BUT NOW MY EXIT INVOLVES
PASSING THROUGH

A PACK OF HUNGRY SHARKS.

I HAVE TO TRY
AND KEEP CALM

AND MOVE SLOWLY
AS THE SHARK'S ACUTE SENSES

CAN PICK UP
MY HEIGHTENED HEART RATE.

AND I'M ALREADY
FEELING PRETTY VULNERABLE.

QUITE A FRENZY GOING ON.

THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.

[ SIGHS ]
THAT WAS PRETTY INTENSE.

BUT WHETHER THEY'D ACTUALLY
TAKE SOMEBODY DOWN --

I THINK THEY'RE CAPABLE OF IT.

BUT I DON'T THINK
THEY HAVE THE MOTIVATION.

BUT IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY
CLEARING UP REMAINS

DOWN ON THE BOTTOM --
WELL, HAVING SEEING THE WAY

THAT THEY WERE GOING
AT THAT BAIT BOX,

ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT
THAT THEY COULD DO THAT.

NO DOUBT AT ALL.

ONE OF THE KEY FEATURES
OF A LUSCA ATTACK

IS THAT NO REMAINS
ARE EVER FOUND.

IN A PACK OF REEF SHARKS,

I CERTAINLY FOUND
A POTENTIAL BODY DISPOSAL TEAM

BUT NOT THE ASSASSIN ITSELF.

SINCE LAST NIGHT, THE TEAM

HAVE BEEN CHECKING
THE LONG LINE.

AND AT LAST,
THERE'S SOMETHING ON IT.

COULD THE ASSASSIN BE WAITING
FOR ME?

THERE'S SOMETHING BIG
ON THE LONG LINE.

WE'RE HOPING
THAT IT'S A TIGER SHARK.

AND ACTUALLY,
I CAN SEE A LONG SHAPE

IN THE WATER UP THERE.

IT'S A VERY BIG SHARK.

IT'S VERY HARD
TO SEE HOW BIG THAT IS.

IT'S DOWN SEVERAL FEET.

BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY,

YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY
A SERIOUS SIZE FISH.

IT'S ON THE SURFACE.
IT'S ON THE SURFACE.

IT'S A BIG TIGER SHARK.

HERE WE GO.
DORSAL, GOT THE DORSAL.

GOT THE DORSAL HERE.

MANY FISH CAN BE
DANGEROUS TO HANDLE.

BUT IT'S A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL

WHEN THE ANIMAL IN QUESTION
WEIGHS HUNDREDS OF POUNDS

AND HAS A MOUTH AS WIDE
AS A GARBAGE CAN,

LINED WITH CURVING,
SERRATED TEETH.

ONCE THE SHARK IS UNDER
CONTROL, THE TEAM SETS TO WORK.

347 CENTIMETERS,
12 FEET.

ABOUT 12 FOOT
TOTAL LENGTH.

THAT'S OVER TWICE MY LENGTH.

A SHARK OF THIS SIZE

COULD EASILY SNATCH A FULL
GROWN MAN FROM THE SURFACE.

SO A CHILD WOULD HAVE
NO CHANCE.

TIGER SHARKS
ARE SOLITARY HUNTERS

AND ARE IN THE TOP THREE
IN TERMS OF DANGER TO HUMANS

ALONG WITH BULL SHARKS
AND GREAT WHITES.

ALL RIGHT.
TIE ON, TIE ON.

DON'T FOOL AROUND.
PULL THE BOAT IN.

PULL THE BOAT IN.

AND THAT WAS A TRANSMITTER
JUST GOING IN.

AND THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF RECEIVERS

AROUND THE ISLANDS HERE.

AND THAT TRANSMITTER
WILL SPEAK TO THE RECEIVERS,

IT WILL GIVE INFORMATION
ON WHERE THE SHARK GOES

AFTER TODAY,
AFTER WE RELEASED IT.

I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN
SURGERY LIKE THIS QUITE BEFORE.

FLIP IT THE OTHER WAY UP, NOW?

FINALLY, I INSERT AN I.D. TAG
INTO THE DORSAL FIN.

Woman: BEAUTIFUL.
EXPERT.

Man:
GONNA GET THAT TAG ON THERE
AND THEN WE'RE GOOD TO GO.

ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO, GUYS. LET'S GO.

THE RELEASE
IS AN ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL TIME.

SOMEONE MUST GET IN THE WATER

TO INSURE THAT WHEN IT'S FREED,

THE SHARK STAYS UP RIGHT
AND SWIMS OFF STRONGLY.

TODAY, THAT SOMEONE IS ME.

THE ROPES ARE RELEASED.

AND I TAKE HOLD OF THE FINS
OF A SHARK TWICE MY LENGTH.

HAVE I BITTEN OFF MORE
THAN I CAN CHEW?

BEFORE THE BREAK,

I ASKED WHAT THESE ITEMS
HAVE IN COMMON.

THEY'VE ALL BEEN FOUND IN
THE STOMACHS OF TIGER SHARKS.

I'M INVESTIGATING
THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

OF SWIMMERS AND DIVERS
FROM THE BLUE HOLES

IN AND AROUND THE ISLANDS
OF THE LUCAYAN ARCHIPELAGO.

THE CULPRIT MUST'VE BEEN LARGE
AND POWERFUL

AND CAPABLE OF NEGOTIATING
THE UNDERWATER LABYRINTH

THAT CONNECTS
THE INLAND BLUE HOLES

TO THOSE OUT AT SEA.

SO FAR, MY MAIN SUSPECT
IS THE LARGEST PREDATORY FISH

IN THESE WATERS,
THE TIGER SHARK.

AND I'M ABOUT TO GET UP CLOSE
AND PERSONAL WITH ONE.

-BEHIND, BEHIND.
-OKAY. GO.

AS SOON AS THE OXYGEN-RICH
WATER FLOWS THROUGH IT'S GILLS,

THE SHARK WILL START TO REVIVE
AND MAY LASH OUT.

SO I NEED TO BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS
ONCE THE ROPES ARE OFF.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE SENSATION.

I CAN FEEL THE GIANT PREDATOR
GAINING POWER.

THEN IT'S GONE.

MASSIVE ANIMAL.
MASSIVE ANIMAL.

THERE WAS A MOMENT THERE,

WHEN I THOUGHT
IT WAS GONNA TURN AROUND

AND TAKE A MOUTHFUL OUT OF ME.

BUT ACTUALLY IT JUST SWAM OFF.

SO, WHAT'S THAT SAY
ABOUT TIGER SHARKS?

MY CLOSE ENCOUNTER
WITH THE TIGER SHARK

HAS GIVEN ME PAUSE FOR THOUGHT.

AND BECAUSE OF ITS SHEER BULK
AND SHAPE,

IT WOULD REALLY STRUGGLE
TO MANEUVER IN ENCLOSED SPACES.

SO I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE IT
NAVIGATING THE NARROW,

TWISTING PASSAGEWAYS
TO THE INLAND BLUE HOLES.

AS FOR THE OTHER SHARKS
THAT I'VE OBSERVED HERE,

I CERTAINLY DON'T FEEL

THAT THEY ARE
BEHIND THESE STORIES EITHER.

BUT THE TROUBLE
IS WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE ME?

WHAT ELSE IS DOWN THERE?

I KNOW THAT WHEN I REACH
A DEAD END IN AN INVESTIGATION,

I NEED TO INTERROGATE
THE MYTH FURTHER.

AND SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE
WHO LIVE WITH THIS LEGEND.

HELLO.

TYMER IS A DEEP-SEA FISHERMAN,

WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE SEEN
A SHARK-LIKE TENTACLED CREATURE

NEAR AN OCEANIC BLUE HOLE.

I'M TOLD THAT ONE DAY
YOU SAW SOMETHING VERY STRANGE.

-YES. YES.
-WHAT WAS THAT?

AND HOW LONG WERE
THE TENTACLES?

YEAH.

I MEAN, DO YOU THINK
THIS COULD'VE BEEN

A LUSCA YOU SAW, EVEN?

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A KID
HAVING A STRANGE PICTURE BOOK

WHERE THE PAGES WERE DIVIDED

SO YOU CAN MIX
DIFFERENT ANIMALS,

CREATING SOME WEIRD,

AND SOMETIMES,
TERRIFYING HYBRIDS.

AND THAT MAKES ME TURN MY MIND
AGAIN TO THE LUSCA,

SUPPOSEDLY PART-SHARK,
PART-OCTOPUS.

PERHAPS IT'S NOW TIME

THAT I TURN MY ATTENTION
TO THE OCTOPUS.

THIS FEELS DIFFERENT
FROM ANY FISH.

THIS IS AN OCTOPUS.

THEY ARE MASTERS OF CAMOUFLAGE.

THEY ARE SHAPESHIFTERS.

THEY CAN BLEND
IN WITH THE BACKGROUND.

THEY ARE AMAZINGLY INTELLIGENT.

THEY'RE JUST INCREDIBLE ANIMALS.

IT'S A CEPHALOPOD.

SO IT'S MADE UP
OF A HEAD AND A FOOT.

AND CONFUSINGLY THE FOOT,
THE BOTTOM BIT, HAS EIGHT ARMS

AND EACH ONE
HAS POWERFUL SUCTION CUPS.

THEY HAVE NO SKELETON,
EXTERNAL OR INTERNAL.

BUT THEY DO HAVE
A VERY POWERFUL BEAK

IN THE MIDDLE
OF ALL THOSE ARMS.

WHEN THEY CATCH THEIR PREY,
THEY DELIVER IT TO THE BEAK.

AND THAT WILL RIP
AND TEAR THE PREY APART.

I RECENTLY SAW SOME AMATEUR
FOOTAGE FROM AUSTRALIA,

PERFECTLY ILLUSTRATING

WHAT AMAZING AND SURPRISING
HUNTERS OCTOPUS ARE.

NOT BOUND
BY THE LIMITATIONS OF FISH,

IT LEAPS FROM WATER AND PURSUES
IT'S PREY OVER LAND.

IT'S A PREDATOR PLAYING
BY A DIFFERENT RULE BOOK.

THIS IS A JUVENILE
CARIBBEAN REEF OCTOPUS.

ADULTS CAN HAVE A SPAN
OF OVER FOUR FEET,

TENTACLE TIP TO TENTACLE TIP.

THAT'S UNLIKELY
TO HARM A HUMAN

IF WE'RE TO BELIEVE AN OCTOPUS
IS SOMEHOW RESPONSIBLE

FOR STORIES OF SWIMMERS
AND DIVERS GONE MISSING.

HOWEVER, IN 2011,
THE REMAINS OF AN OCTOPUS

WASHED UP ON THESE SHORES,

WHICH IF COMPLETE,

COULD'VE SPANNED
MORE THAN 20 FEET.

IS THIS PROOF THAT GIANT
OCTOPUS DO EXIST HERE?

IF THE LUSCA
IS A BIG ONE OF THESE,

THAT'S ACTUALLY
QUITE A TERRIFYING PROSPECT.

IF THIS BEAST WAS SCALED UP
TO THE SIZE OF THE CREATURE

THAT'S BEEN DESCRIBED TO ME,

COULD THOSE TENTACLES
PLUCK SOMEBODY FROM THE SURFACE?

WELL, ABSOLUTELY THEY COULD.

COULD THE BEAK TEAR YOU APART
INTO PIECES?

AGAIN, ABSOLUTELY.

WOULD ANYTHING BE FOUND?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WITHOUT A BONE IN IT'S BODY,
A 50-POUND OCTOPUS

CAN SQUEEZE
THROUGH A TWO-INCH HOLE.

SO IT WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM
NEGOTIATING THE NARROWEST

OF TUNNELS UNDER THE ISLAND.

OCTOPUS ARE INCREDIBLY
INTELLIGENT

AND UNLIKELY TO BE FOOLED
BY A BAIT ON A HOOK.

IF I'M TO STAND
A CHANCE OF SEEING ONE,

I'LL HAVE TO GO DOWN
INTO A BLUE HOLE MYSELF.

ALONG WITH TYMER'S SIGHTING,
I'VE READ OF TWO OTHERS

THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN
OR AROUND AN OCEANIC BLUE HOLE.

BOAT CAPTAINS HAVE DESCRIBED
A HUGE CREATURE

BRIEFLY BREAKING THE SURFACE...

...AND DARK SHAPES
SHIFTING OVER THE REEF

INTO THE OMINOUS DEPTHS.

TYMER HAS TOLD ME
ABOUT THE OCEANIC BLUE HOLE

NEAR TO WHERE HE HAD
HIS SIGHTING.

I NEED TO SEE
WHAT MIGHT BE DOWN THERE.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MIGHT BE
LIVING IN THIS DARKNESS.

IT'S A DANGEROUS, DEEP DIVE.

WITH ALL THE CAVERNS
AND CREVICES,

IT'S VERY DISORIENTATING.

AND THE FURTHER
I VENTURE INTO THE DEPTHS,

THE HARDER IT BECOMES
TO SEE THE SURFACE.

IT'S EVERY BIT
THE MONSTER'S LAIR.

AND AS THE PASSAGES NARROW,

THE IDEA THAT A SHARK
LARGE ENOUGH TO TAKE A PERSON

COULD NEGOTIATE
THIS STONY HONEYCOMB,

SEEMS INCREASINGLY IMPLAUSIBLE.

AN OCTOPUS, HOWEVER,
EVEN A GIANT ONE,

WOULD HAVE NO DIFFICULTY
AT ALL.

[ SCUBA GEAR HISSING ]

I'M AT ABOUT 150 FEET IN.

IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY BLACK
DOWN THERE.

THERE'S NO WAY OF SAYING
HOW FAR THAT GOES.

THAT'S WHAT MIGHT BE DOWN THERE.

BUT THERE'S NO WAY I'M GOING
ANY FURTHER TO FIND OUT.

IT'S TIME FOR ME TO,
HEAD ON BACK OUT, I THINK.

DOWN AT THESE DEPTHS,

EVEN ROCK FORMATIONS
CAN PLAY TRICKS WITH YOUR MIND

AND TAKE ON A SINISTER
LIFE-LIKE APPEARANCE.

I MAY NOT HAVE SEEN
ANYTHING BIG DOWN THERE,

BUT I GET THE FEELING SOMETHING
BIG MIGHT HAVE SEEN ME.

I'VE BEEN JOSTLING
WITH THE DEADLY,

PREDATORY QUALITIES
OF BOTH SHARKS AND OCTOPUS.

PITTING THEM AGAINST EACH OTHER
IN MY MIND.

NOW, THOUGH, I'VE BEEN SENT
EXTRAORDINARY FOOTAGE

THAT LEAVES NOTHING
TO THE IMAGINATION.

THIS FOOTAGE WAS SHOT
AT AN AQUARIUM IN SEATTLE,

IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST.

SOMETHING WAS KILLING OFF
THEIR SHARKS.

SO THEY STAKED OUT
THE TANK WITH A CAMERA

TO RECORD ANY EVIDENCE.

AS A ZOOLOGIST,

MY NATURAL REACTION
TO THIS OTHER THAN AMAZEMENT,

IS TO ASK, IF AN OCTOPUS CAN
CATCH AND CONSUME A SHARK,

COULD A LARGE ONE TAKE DOWN
AND DEVOUR A PERSON?

I'VE UNCOVERED A REPORT
FROM A MAN

WHO HAS NO DOUBT
ABOUT THE ANSWER,

BASED ON TERRIFYING
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

I'VE GOT TO FIND OUT MORE.

I'M ON A QUEST TO UNRAVEL
THE MYSTERY OF THE LUSCA,

DESCRIBED AS A HYBRID CREATURE

WITH A FEROCITY OF A SHARK
AND THE GRIP OF AN OCTOPUS.

IT SAID TO HAVE THE SIZE
AND POWER TO HUNT FOR PEOPLE.

MY INVESTIGATION NOW CENTERS ON
WHETHER A GIANT OCTOPUS

COULD POTENTIALLY CATCH
AND CONSUME A PERSON.

I'VE SEEN THIS ANIMAL'S
AMAZING PREDATORY BEHAVIOR.

SO I KNOW IN PRINCIPLE
THIS IS A POSSIBILITY.

NOW, IT'S JUST A QUESTION
OF SCALE.

THERE ARE 100 SPECIES
OF OCTOPUS.

AND THEY CAN BE FOUND IN EVERY
OCEAN AROUND THE WORLD.

I'M TAKING A FLIGHT

TO WASHINGTON STATE'S PUGET
SOUND TO MEET A MAN

WHO HAD A TERRIFYING ENCOUNTER

WITH THE WORLD'S LARGEST
KNOWN SPECIES OF OCTOPUS.

RON AULT SAYS HE'S LUCKY
TO BE ALIVE.

Ron:
I'VE BEEN DIVING PUGET SOUND
SINCE THE '80s.

I'VE ENCOUNTERED MANY
DIFFERENT OCTOPUS.

BUT THE ONE ENCOUNTER,
THE BIGGEST ON MY MIND, IS,

I WAS WORKING
ON NORTHERN PUGET SOUND...

RON WAS DIVE FISHING
FOR SEA CUCUMBERS

TO SELL TO THE FISH MARKET

WHEN HE CAME ACROSS SOMETHING
FAR BIGGER

AND MUCH MORE VALUABLE.

SO I WAS GOING
TO THE BOTTOM,

PICKING UP
THE SEA CUCUMBERS.

IN BETWEEN TWO LARGE ROCKS,

I SEE A HUGE OCTOPUS.

AND I WENT, $5 A POUND.

SO I GRABBED THE OCTOPUS

AND IMMEDIATELY
IT TRIED TO GET AWAY.

AND THE NEXT THING
I REALIZE,

HE PULLED ME UP
ABOUT 10 FOOT OFF THE BOTTOM.

BUT I HAD STILL HAD
A HOLD OF HIM.

ALL OF A SUDDEN,

THE OCTOPUS' ARMS
WENT ALL THE WAY AROUND ME.

AND ALL I FELT WAS THE BEAK
ON TOP OF HEAD.

THE MASK STARTED SQUEEZING
OVER TO ONE SIDE.

EVERY SUCTION CUP THAT I COULD
FEEL AGAINST THE SUIT,

MY HANDS, MY FACE.

I COULD NOT GET AWAY.

AS FAR AS I KNEW, I COULD DROWN
RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT.

RON CONTINUED
TO FIGHT THE OCTOPUS

AS HIS FISHING PARTNERS
PULLED HIM TO THE SURFACE

BY HIS TETHER ROPE.

Wade: SO ONCE YOU GOT
TO THE SURFACE,

IT TOOK THREE OF YOU
TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL?

IT REALLY TOOK
A LONG TIME.

EVENTUALLY, WE GOT IT UP
ON THE BOAT.

WITH THREE OF YOU, YOU WERE ABLE
TO GET IT IN THE PLASTIC BOX?

YES.
WE THREW A LID ON IT.

50 POUNDS OF WEIGHT
ON TOP OF THAT.

BUT THE OCTOPUS
ACTUALLY PUSHED THE LID UP.

OVER THE SIDE HE WENT.

I'VE HEARD SOME STORIES
FROM THE ATLANTIC

OF PEOPLE BEING PLUCKED
FROM THE SURFACE.

REMAINS NOT BEING FOUND.

DO YOU THINK THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY BE OCTOPUS?

I'M SURE.

THE MORE I HEAR
ABOUT THESE GIANT OCTOPUS,

THE MORE FORMIDABLE THEY ARE.

IF THEY ARE SO STEALTHY,
INTELLIGENT, AND POWERFUL

THAT THEY CAN PLUCK A SHARK
FROM THE WATER COLUMN

AND DEVOUR IT,

THEN WHAT CHANCE DOES
A HUMAN BEING GOT

IN AN UNDERWATER STRUGGLE?

UNLESS YOU'RE REALLY LUCKY,
LIKE RON WAS,

THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY
THAT'S GONNA END.

THE DARK ICY WATERS
OF PUGET SOUND

ARE A FAR CRY
FROM THE TROPICAL ARCHIPELAGO.

BUT BOTH PLACES ARE HOME
TO A NUMBER OF OCTOPUS SPECIES

WHICH SHARE
THE SAME PREDATORY BEHAVIOR.

FOR MY BEST CHANCE
OF AN OCTOPUS ENCOUNTER,

I'M USING A REBREATHER UNIT.

THIS CIRCULATES AND REFRESHES
THE AIR I'M BREATHING

WITHOUT THE RELEASE OF BUBBLES,

HELPING ME TO STALK
A GIANT OCTOPUS

WITHOUT BEING NOTICED.

IT'S ANOTHER VERY
CHALLENGING DIVE.

AND I STRUGGLE TO ADAPT
TO THE LOW LIGHT.

SO, SOMETHING LIVES HERE,
BY THE LOOK OF THIS.

THERE'S SCATTERED SHELLS.

WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE,

LOOKS LIKE IT IS AN OCTOPUS DEN.

AND THE THING IS,
NOT TO BE DECEIVED

BY THE SIZE OF THE OPENING.

OH!

SUDDENLY, I'M NOT SURE
I SHOULD BE HERE.

MY INVESTIGATION
INTO THE LEGEND OF THE LUSCA,

A DEADLY HYBRID CREATURE
THAT STALKS ITS HUMAN PREY

IN THE BLUE HOLES
OF THE CARIBBEAN,

HAS BROUGHT ME
TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST,

WHERE FINALLY I'VE IDENTIFIED
THE LAIR OF A GIANT.

Wade:
WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE,

LOOKS LIKE IT IS AN OCTOPUS DEN.

AND THE THING IS,
NOT TO BE DECEIVED

BY THE SIZE OF THE OPENING.

OH!

WELL, THIS IS A GIANT
PACIFIC OCTOPUS.

THE LARGEST KNOWN SPECIES
OF OCTOPUS, AND CERTAINLY

THE BIGGEST OCTOPUS
I'VE EVER ENCOUNTERED.

IT'S NOT SHOWING ANY SIGNS
OF AGGRESSION.

BUT IT IS IN NO WAY INTIMIDATED
BY OUR PRESENCE OR OUR LIGHTS.

IT SQUEEZES THROUGH
THESE TINY LITTLE GAPS.

A CREATURE LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE
NO DIFFICULTY

OVERCOMING THE ROCKY
PASSAGEWAYS BENEATH ANDROS.

IT SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR
AND THEN REAPPEAR AGAIN.

VERY IMPRESSIVE ANIMAL.

INCREDIBLY, THE OCTOPUS
THAT SEIZED RON

WOULD'VE DWARFED THIS --

SPANNING BETWEEN
15 AND 20 FEET.

WHAT AN ENCOUNTER.

THEY GROW BIGGER THEN THIS.

BUT THIS IS
AN IMPRESSIVE ANIMAL.

AND WHEN IT GOES FROM WALKING
TO SWIMMING,

THIS SHAPE SHIFTER DOES INDEED
LOOK SOMEWHAT SHARK-LIKE.

IS THIS HOW THE HYBRID
LEGEND ORIGINATED?

LOOKING RIGHT INTO HIS EYES.

INTELLIGENT, AGGRESSIVE,
OPPORTUNISTIC,

AND INCREDIBLY MANEUVERABLE,

THIS SECRETIVE GIANT
IS A SUPREME AQUATIC PREDATOR.

REALLY MAKES YOU THINK,
YOU KNOW,

THINKING BACK
TO THE BLUE HOLE,

WHAT COULD BE LURKING
IN THOSE CREVICES DOWN THERE?

IF THE BLUE HOLES OF ANDROS

WERE INDEED TO HARBOR
A GIANT OCTOPUS,

IT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND HOW
IT MIGHT'VE REMAINED HIDDEN.

AND HOW IN THE LABYRINTHS
OF THE HUMAN IMAGINATION,

THIS EXTRAORDINARY CREATURE

COULD'VE INSPIRED
THE LEGEND OF THE LUSCA.