Original subtitles

COCOS ISLAND.

A REMOTE AND UNTAMED MARINE RESERVE,

IN THE WILD BLUE WATERS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN PACIFIC.

RINGED BY ONE OF THE WORLD'S RICHEST CORAL REEFS.

COCOS IS A HOLY GRAIL FOR DIVERS AND UNDERSEA EXPLORERS.

DEEP, DISTANT WATERS EXPLODE WITH LIFE,

STRANGE CREATURES.

MONSTER SCHOOLS OF FISH

AND POWERFUL APEX PREDATORS.

AN ASTONISHING JOURNEY DEEP INTO AN UNDERWATER REALM

BEYOND THE EDGE OF LIGHT.

NIGHT TIME AT COCOS BELONGS TO THE HUNTER.

HUNGRY ARMIES OF WHITETIPS SCOURING THE REEFS

AS THEY'VE DONE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

HERE, ON THIS MAGNIFICENT "ISLAND OF THE SHARKS".

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COCOS ISLAND.

A DISTANT AND PRISTINE NATIONAL MARINE PARK.

IN THE WILD BLUE WATERS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN PACIFIC.

MORE THAN 300 MILES OFF THE SHORE OF COSTA RICA.

UNINHABITED BY HUMANS,

SHROUDED IN THICK SWIRLS OF MIST.

ITS TOWERING FORESTS AND CASCADING WATERFALLS.

TEEM WITH WILDLIFE.

MORE THAN 100 SPECIES OF BIRDS PERCH

ON ITS RUGGED PEAKS.

(♪♪♪)

THE LEGENDARY OCEANOGRAPHER JACQUES COUSTEAU CALLED COCOS

"THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND IN THE WORLD".

COCOS ISLAND IS A VERY PARTICULAR ISLAND,

BECAUSE IT'S A COMPLETELY GREEN

UNTOUCHED RAINFOREST.

ALL THE OTHER ISLANDS ARE JUST ROCKSl

THAT COME OUT OF THE OCEAN.

AND THEN YOU ARRIVE TO COCOS

AND YOU'RE SUDDENLY IN THE ISLAND OF ROBINSON CRUSOE,

OR YOU'RE IN THE ISLAND OF JURASSIC PARK.

THE TIP OF AN ANCIENT VOLCANIC MOUNTAIN

COCOS IS BELIEVED TO BE THE INSPIRATION FOR ISLA NUBLAR.

THE FICTIONAL SETTING OF JURASSIC PARK.

ISLA NUBLAR MEANS "CLOUDY ISLAND",

AND COCOS IS HOME TO THE EASTERN PACIFIC'S

ONLY TROPICAL RAIN FOREST.

LIKE JURASSIC PARK

COCOS LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE A LOST WORLD.

PRIMITIVE.

FAR FROM LAND.

THE ONLY WAY TO DIVE HERE IS FROM LIVE ABOARD BOATS

THAT MAKE THE 36 HOUR JOURNEY FROM THE MAINLAND.

COCOS IS A VERY UNIQUE PLACE.

I MEAN ALONE HEARING THE NAME COCOS SHOULD GIVE YOU GOOSEBUMPS

BECAUSE IT'S JUST A LEGEND AMONG IN THE DIVING WORLD.

[BOAT ENGINE REVVING]

DEEP CURRENTS CRASH INTO A STEEP SEAMOUNT.

PUSHING WATER TOWARD THE SURFACE.

THESE CURRENTS, RICH IN NUTRIENTS,

ATTRACT SCHOOLS OF FISH, WHICH IN TURN ATTRACT

LARGER PREDATORS,

SHARKS.

MORE THAN ANY PLACE ON THE PLANET

COCOS IS A KINGDOM OF SHARKS.

IN ANY DIVE AT COCOS ISLAND YOU'RE GUARANTEED TO SEE SHARKS.

WE HAVE WHITETIP SHARKS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

WE HAVE GALAPAGOS SHARKS IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

THAT'S WHY WE CALL COCOS ISLAND,

"THE ISLAND OF THE SHARK".

WHITETIPS,

ONE OF THE ISLAND'S SMALLER SHARK SPECIES,

NAVIGATE THE SEAMOUNT.

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WHITETIPS ARE PRIMARILY NOCTURNAL CREATURES,

ABLE TO BREATHE WHILE STATIONARY.

BY PULLING IN OXYGENATED WATER THAT FLOWS OVER THEIR GILLS.

THIS SHARK WILL REMAIN STILL FOR MUCH OF THE DAY,

PRESERVING PRECIOUS ENERGY

REQUIRED FOR ITS NIGHT TIME HUNT.

IN A FLASH

THESE SMALL REEF FISH DART FOR SAFETY.

SIGNALING THE PRESENCE OF A PREDATOR,

THE HAMMERHEADS HAVE ARRIVED.

DRAWN HERE BY CLEANING STATIONS, SPOTS ON THE ROCK

WHERE SMALL FISH REMOVE PARASITES FROM LARGER CREATURES.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO SEE HAMMERHEAD SHARKS,

YOU DEFINITELY HAVE TO GO TO COCOS.

THE AMOUNT OF HAMMERHEADS IS UNPARALLELED, HUNDREDS,

AND HUNDREDS, AND HUNDREDS OF HAMMERHEAD SHARKS THERE.

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YOU'RE DRIFTING IN THE CURRENT IN MID WATER,

AND THEN YOU START SEEING WHITE LINES COMING AT YOU,

WHITE LINES COMING AT YOU FROM THE DEPTH, (UNCLEAR)

THAT IS THE HEAD OF A HAMMERHEAD.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT YOU SEE.

YOU START SEEING WHITE LINES,

AND SUDDENLY YOU START SEEING SILHOUETTES,

AND SUDDENLY YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY SHARKS,

AND YOU KNOW THAT

IT'S JUST PREDATORS AND PREDATORS EVERYWHERE.

EQUIPPED WITH TRIANGULAR, SERRATED TEETH.

AS STRONG AND SHARP AS THE BLADE OF A HACKSAW,

THE HAMMERHEAD IS AN IMPOSING PREDATOR.

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WHIPPING SWIFTLY,

FROM ONE DIRECTION TO ANOTHER AS IT PROWLS THE OPEN OCEAN.

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COMPARED TO ITS COUSIN, THE WHITETIP SHARK

HAMMERHEADS HAVE SPECTACULAR VISION.

EYES ON THE VERY EDGE OF THE HAMMER

PROVIDE A PANORAMIC VIEW, ALLOWING THE SHARK TO SEE PREY

FROM BOTH ABOVE AND BELOW.

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BUT AN INCREASED RANGE OF VISION ISN'T THE ONLY REASON FOR

THE SHARK'S WIDE, MALLET SHAPED HEAD.

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LIKE ALL SHARKS,

HAMMERHEADS HAVE SENSORY ORGANS IN THEIR SNOUT AND HEAD

THAT DETECT FAINT ELECTRICAL CURRENTS

CREATED BY PREY.

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SPREAD OVER THE BROAD SURFACE AREA OF THE HEAD

THESE HIGHLY SPECIALIZED SENSORS ALLOW THE SHARK

TO SCAN MORE OF THE OCEAN FOR POTENTIAL PREY.

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A SPOTTED EAGLE RAY,

A FAVORITE PREY FOR THE SHARKS AT COCOS,

GLIDES OVER THE SEABED.

AS LONG AS A LIMOUSINE,

WITH A WING SPAN OF UP TO 3 METERS,

EAGLE RAYS ARE THE GIANTS OF COCOS ISLAND.

AT MORE THAN 440 POUNDS THE LARGEST IS HEAVIER

THAN A SILVERBACK GORILLA.

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PROPELLED BY POWERFUL FLAPS OF ITS WING LIKE PECTORAL FINS,

THE EAGLE RAY SOARS OVER THE SEAMOUNT.

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A LONG WHIPLIKE TAIL,

EQUIPPED WITH TWO TO SIX VENOMOUS BARBS

DEFENDS THE RAY AGAINST PREDATORS

AND CAN INFLICT SERIOUS INJURY

TO UNWARY DIVERS.

AS LONG AS WE RESPECT THE DISTANCE,

THERE'S NO HAZARDS INVOLVED IN ANY KIND OF RAY.

IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT YOU DON'T RESPECT

THE DISTANCE, AND THE ANIMAL FEELS DANGER,

AND YOU'RE STING BY A STINGRAY.

WELL, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT A PLEASANT FEELING.

BECAUSE THOSE STINGS ARE QUITE BIG

AND CAN GET THROUGH YOUR FLESH EASILY.

PLUS, THEY ARE POISONOUS, THE WOUND CAN GET INFECTED

AND FOR SURE IT SHOULD BE TREATED QUICKLY.

SPOTTED EAGLE RAYS HAVE A HIGH BRAIN TO BODY RATIO.

AND ARE BELIEVED TO BE HIGHLY INTELLIGENT CREATURES.

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LIKE THEIR SHARK COUSINS, RAYS, SUCH AS THIS ROUND RIBBONTAIL

ARE OUTFITTED WITH SPECIALIZED NERVE CELLS

THAT ALLOW THEM TO PICK UP ELECTRICAL CHARGES

FROM OTHER ANIMALS MOVING IN THE WATER.

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PREY, MAINLY MOLLUSCS,

CRUSTACEANS AND SMALL BONY FISH

ARE SCOOPED UP FROM THE SEA BOTTOM.

BUT IN THE DEEP WATERS OF THE OPEN OCEAN,

THE HUNTER BECOMES THE HUNTED.

SOMETIMES YOU FIND THESE MARBLE RAYS

WITH MISSING PARTS OF THEIR BODY,

AND YOU SEE THE VERY CLEAR SHAPE OF A SHARK MOUTH

AS THEY CAME AND THEY JUST GOT A QUICK BITE.

THE RAY SWAM AWAY WITH AN INJURY

AND SHARK JUST GOT A MORNING SNACK OR AND AFTERNOON SNACK.

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IN THE COVER OF DARKNESS A WRAITHLIKE PREDATOR

EMERGES FROM THE SHADOWS.

THE MIGHTY GALAPAGOS SHARK.

PILLARS OF EVOLUTION,

MILLIONS OF YEARS IN THE MAKING.

THESE ANCIENT CREATURES WERE FIRST DISCOVERED

IN THE WATERS OFF THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.

10 FEET LONG, BUILT LIKE A TORPEDO,

THE GALAPAGOS IS A POWERFUL HUNTER,

ARMED WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN ROWS OF

SAW LIKE TEETH PACKED INSIDE A WIDE MOUTH.

THE GALAPAGOS SHARK IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SHARKS

WE HAVE ON THE ISLAND,

BUT AS LONG AS YOU RESPECT THE ANIMAL,

THE ANIMAL RESPECTS YOU.

WE KNOW THAT THEY HUNT RAYS.

THEY ALSO SOMETIMES EAT WHITETIP REEF SHARKS.

AND WE'VE SEEN THAT IN DAYTIME, AND WE'VE SEEN IT AT NIGHT-TIME.

WHEN YOU SEE THAT THEN YOU DON'T FEEL THE RESPECT ANYMORE,

YOU FEEL JUST PURE FEAR.

SUDDENLY NATURE GOES INTO A CHAOS

THAT MIGHT LAST 10 SECONDS, 20 SECONDS, VERY BRIEF,

BUT IT'S AN EXPERIENCE THAT MAKES YOU A DIFFERENT PERSON.

AFTER THAT YOU'RE NOT THE SAME PERSON ANYMORE.

THOUGH DANGEROUS

GALAPAGOS SHARKS RARELY ATTACK HUMANS.

WHEN THREATENED,

THE SHARK ARCHES ITS POWERFUL BACK.

LOWERS ITS PECTORAL FINS,

AND SWIMS IN LOOPS OF FIGURE EIGHTS.

A CLASSIC THREAT DISPLAY.

EVEN AS AN EXPERIENCED DIVER,

BEING APPROACHED BY A BIG SHARK AT NIGHT

MAKES YOU LOOK TWICE.

YOU'RE NOT AS RELAXED AS IN DAYTIME.

BUT IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING

THAT WILL GIVE ANY DIVER ADRENALINE,

BEING APPROACHED BY A BIG SHARK AT NIGHT

BECAUSE NIGHT IS THE TIME WHEN THEY HUNT, WHEN THEY EAT,

AND YOU KNOW THAT, AND THIS KNOWLEDGE

WILL KEEP YOUR ADRENALINE UP.

I CAN GUARANTEE THAT.

WITH NO THREAT,

AND NO POTENTIAL PREY ON OFFER,

THE GALAPAGOS DISAPPEARS INTO THE DARKNESS,

GRIPPED BY AN ENDLESS SEARCH FOR FOOD.

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BUT AS NIGHT FALLS ON COCOS ISLAND,

LIFE IN THE OCEAN UNDERGOES A PROFOUND TRANSFORMATION.

THE GALAPAGOS SHARK IS NOT THE ONLY HUNTER

LURKING IN THESE DARK WATERS.

NIGHT TIME HERE BELONGS TO THE WHITETIPS.

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HUNDREDS OF WHITETIP SHARKS.

THE NIGHT DIVE AT COCOS IS REALLY SOMETHING SPECIAL

BECAUSE YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY HUNDREDS OF HUNTING

WHITETIP REEF SHARKS.

THEY'RE AGITATED AND THEY WANT TO EAT,

AND WELL, YOU'RE JUST IN THE MIDDLE OF THEM.

EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING SO FAST, AND SOMETIMES YOU

JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.

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A HUNGRY ARMY OF WHITETIPS ASSEMBLES OVER THE OCEAN FLOOR.

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WHEREAS IN THE DAY,

THESE SHARKS LAY RESTING IN CAVES

OR SWIMMING CALMLY OVER THE REEF,

AT NIGHT THEY ARE AGGRESSIVE.

POKING THEIR BROAD HEADS INTO HOLES IN THE CORAL.

TO FLUSH OUT SMALL CRUSTACEANS AND BONY FISH.

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TOUGH SKIN,

PROTECTIVE EYE RIDGES, AND SLENDER BODIES

ALLOW THE SHARKS TO FORCE THEIR WAY INTO CREVICES.

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WHITETIPS ARE SLOW SWIMMERS,

AND PREFER TO HUNT AT NIGHT WHEN MOST PREY ARE SLEEPING.

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A SHARK ZEROES IN ON THE KILL,

BUT IS BEATEN TO ITS PREY BY A LARGE BLACK JACK

THAT HAS JOINED THE HUNT.

SWIFT AND AGILE,

BLACK JACKS HOVER AROUND WHITETIPS

IN THE HOPE OF SCOOPING UP THE SMALL FISH

FLEEING THE SHARKS THAT SCOUR THE REEF.

AS THE SHARKS SWARM A SPINY LOBSTER MARCHES

ALONG THE OCEAN FLOOR, SEARCHING FOR A QUIET SPOT.

AWAY FROM THE FEEDING FRENZY.

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LOBSTERS VENTURE OUT FROM THEIR BURROWS AT NIGHT

SEEKING SNAILS, CLAMS AND SEA URCHINS.

ALTHOUGH IT LACKS THE CRUSHING PINCERS

OF ITS CLAWED COUSINS.

THE SPINY LOBSTER IS ARMED WITH LONG, BARBED ANTENNAS,

THAT ARE WAVED ABOUT TO FEND OFF APPROACHING PREDATORS.

THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR IS LEFT ALONE BY THE SHARKS.

FINALLY,

THE LOBSTER FINDS A PEACEFUL ENCLAVE,

FAR REMOVED FROM THE FRENZY OF THE SHARK HUNT.

MEANWHILE, A GUINEAFOWL PUFFER,

LACED WITH NATURAL TOXINS THAT MAKE IT UNAPPETIZING

TO MOST PREDATORS, ATTEMPTS TO STEER CLEAR

OF THE HUNGRY SHARKS.

A SLOW SWIMMER, THE PUFFER COMPENSATES

BY BEING A MASTER OF SELF DEFENSE.

NOT JUST HIGHLY TOXIC,

IT IS ABLE TO BLOW UP LIKE A BALLOON,

TWO TO THREE TIMES ITS NORMAL SIZE

BY INFLATING ITS ELASTIC STOMACH

WITH WATER OR EVEN AIR.

SIMPLY BY ENLARGING ITSELF

THE PUFFER BECOMES HARD TO SWALLOW,

AND IS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY FEND OFF POTENTIAL PREDATORS,

MAINLY LARGER FISH.

SOME PUFFER FISH ARE CLOAKED IN SHARP SPINES

THAT BECOME FURTHER EXPOSED, THAN MORE DANGEROUS TO HUNTERS

WHEN THE FISH INFLATES.

A PREDATOR THAT DOES MANAGE TO SINK ITS TEETH

INTO A PUFFER BEFORE IT ENLARGES

MAY GET A MOUTHFUL OF TETRODOTOXIN.

A POWERFUL AND FOULTASTING NEUROTOXIN

THAT CAN INCAPACITATE, OR EVEN KILL, OTHER FISH.

TO HUMANS, TETRODOTOXIN IS EVEN DEADLIER.

A THOUSAND TIMES MORE POISONOUS THAN CYANIDE.

THE TOXIN IN ONE PUFFER FISH

IS ENOUGH TO KILL AS MANY AS 30 HUMANS.

THE SHARKS APPEAR UNINTERESTED.

A BOXFISH,

ITS BODY ENCASED IN HARD, SHELLLIKE PLATES,

ROWS ALONG THE OCEAN FLOOR.

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LIKE PUFFER FISH BOXFISH CONTAIN TOXINS,

WHICH CAN BE SECRETED INTO A WATER.

AN EFFECTIVE DEFENSE AGAINST PREDATORS.

SUCH AS SHARKS.

FORTUNATELY FOR THE WHITETIPS

THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS ON OFFER

AND THEY CONTINUE TO CROWD THE REEF,

IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE PREY FROM THE CORAL.

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SUCCESS.

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IN THE DARK OF NIGHT

WHITETIPS DO NOT RELY ON VISION TO HUNT FOR FOOD.

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INSTEAD, OTHER SENSES, SUCH AS SMELL,

AND SMALL, ELECTRICAL SENSING ORGANS

IN THE SNOUT CALLED AMPULAE

WORK TOGETHER TO DETECT PREY.

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OCCASIONALLY, TWO SHARKS WILL LATCH ON TO THE SAME FISH,

RESULTING IN A SCRAPPY TUG-OF-WAR.

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EVEN WHEN HUNGRY AND AGITATED

WHITETIP SHARKS ARE HARMLESS TO HUMANS UNLESS PROVOKED.

(♪♪♪)

BUT DIVERS STILL NEED TO KEEP THEIR DISTANCE,

WHEN THE SHARKS ARE HUNTING THEIR TINY PREY.

IF YOU GET TOO CLOSE TO THE BOTTOM,

THOSE LITTLE FISHES CAN HIDE IN BETWEEN YOUR EQUIPMENT,

SO ALL THE OTHER WHITETIP REEF SHARKS WILL COME

AND YOU KNOW, THEY'LL BITE WHATEVER THEY FEEL,

AND YOU CAN GET BITTEN BY A WHITE TIP REEF SHARK

IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL.

THE SHARKS MOVE SYSTEMATICALLY OVER THE REEF,

VIOLENTLY TWISTING AND TURNING

TO JAM THEIR HEADS INTO EACH CRACK AND CREVICE

IN A RELENTLESS SEARCH FOR FOOD.

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IT IS A FURIOUS SPECTACLE

THAT HAS PLAYED OUT IN THIS LOST WORLD

EVERY NIGHT, FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

BUT IN THE DARKENED DEPTHS OFF COCOS ISLAND.

THERE ARE MORE BEWILDERING SIGHTS TO BEHOLD.

HERE ABOARD THE ARGO IS A CUSTOM BUILT,

ONE ATMOSPHERE SUBMERSIBLE,

CALLED THE DEEPSEE

'WE ARE READY NOW.

OKAY TOPSIDE, WE'RE LOOKING GOOD ON THE SURFACE.'

THE DEEPSEE IS CAPABLE OF DESCENDING

TO A DEPTH OF 1400 FEET.

TO DIVE SO FAR BELOW THE SURFACE,

THE DEEPSEE'S ACRYLIC SPHERE, FOUR INCHES THICK,

MUST WITHSTAND THE HIGH PRESSURE FROM

COCOS ISLAND'S DEEPEST WATERS.

AT 1400 FEET BELOW,

WATER EXERTS 90 TIMES THE PRESSURE ON THE BODY

AS AIR DOES ON THE SURFACE.

IT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE WEIGHT OF A POLAR BEAR

BALANCED ON YOUR CHEST.

TODAY, THE DEEPSEE HAS VENTURED TO A DEPTH OF 1,000 FEET.

AS FAR BELOW THE SURFACE

AS THE TIP OF THE EIFFEL TOWER IS ABOVE IT.

IT IS A JOURNEY DEEP INSIDE A SUBMERGED KINGDOM,

FEW HAVE SEEN BEFORE.

WE HAVE THE BEST PLAYGROUND IN THE WORLD TO TEST THE SUBMARINE.

THE MOMENT WE BROUGHT THE SUBMARINE TO COCOS ISLAND

A WHOLE NEW WORLD WAS UNVEILED.

AND SUDDENLY WE FOUND OUT

THAT COCOS ISLAND IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORLD

ONCE WE GO INTO THE DEEP WATER.

DEEP WITHIN THE COLD, DARK ABYSS,

MYSTERIOUS, GLOWING CREATURES APPEAR.

SIPHONOPHORE.

WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SINGLE ANIMAL,

RESEMBLING A JELLYFISH

IS ACTUALLY A COLONY OF SMALLER MARINE ANIMALS

CALLED "ZOOIDS".

UNABLE TO SURVIVE ON THEIR OWN

ZOOIDS WORK SO WELL TOGETHER AS A TEAM

THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO FUNCTION AS A SINGLE ORGANISM

PREYING ON SMALL ANIMALS.

THE GIANT SIPHONOPHORE IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LONGEST ANIMALS

REACHING UP TO 160 FEET.

THE LENGTH OF AN ENTIRE OLYMPIC SIZED POOL.

HERE IN THE DARKNESS

ONE OF THE OCEAN'S MOST IMPROBABLE CREATURES,

DRIFTS SERENELY IN THE CURRENT.

PYROSOME

THOUSANDS OF IDENTICAL ZOOIDS FORM A HOLLOW STRUCTURE

WIDE ENOUGH FOR A HUMAN TO SWIM INSIDE.

THE BRIGHT LIGHT EMITTED BY A PYROSOME

CAN BE SEEN FROM A DISTANCE OF 100 FEET.

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DOWN HERE,

THE INVERTEBRATES ARE NOT ALONE.

A PRICKLY SHARK,

ILLUMINATED BY THE LIGHT OF THE SUBMERSIBLE,

INSPECTS THE CORAL.

EVEN IN THESE DARKENED DEPTHS

SHARKS REMAIN EXPERT HUNTERS.

SIMILAR TO THOSE OF HUMANS,

SHARKS HAVE PUPILS THAT WIDEN AND NARROW

ALLOWING LIGHT TO STRIKE THE RETINA.

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RODS AND CONES LOCATED IN THE RETINA

MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE SHARK

TO SEE COLOR AND DETAILS.

LIKE CATS,

SHARKS HAVE A MIRRORLIKE LAYER OF CRYSTALSIN

IN THE BACK OF THE EYE.

THAT BOOSTS THE INTENSITY OF LIGHT,

IMPROVING THEIR EYESIGHT IN THESE DEEP, DARK WATERS.

COMPARED TO SHARKS THAT HUNT IN SUNLIGHT

NEAR THE SURFACE

SOME DEEP WATER SHARKS HAVE BIG EYES,

ALLOWING THEM TO PICK UP THOSE SHARDS OF LIGHT

THAT PENETRATE THE DARKNESS.

AT 1000 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE ,

WHAT DIVERS CALL "THE TWILIGHT ZONE",

SUNLIGHT BARELY PENETRATES THE WATER.

BUT IN THE DISTANCE A FOUNT OF LIGHT BLEEDS

INTO THE DARKNESS.

THE FRIED EGG JELLYFISH.

HYPNOTIC, AS GRACEFUL AS A BALLET DANCER.

THE JELLYFISH MOVES IN SLOW MOTION TO COMPENSATE

FOR THE LACK OF OXYGEN IN THESE DEEP WATERS.

FRIED EGG JELLYFISH FEED ON SMALLER ZOOPLANKTON,

STINGING THEIR PREY WITH TENTACLES,

THAT STRETCH UP TO 20 FEET.

95 PERCENT OF ITS TISSUE IS WATER.

THE JELLYFISH EXISTS IN, AND IS PART OF,

THE OCEAN.

THE DARK, DEEP WATERS OFF COCOS ISLAND

PROVIDE A HABITAT FOR RARE AND ALIEN CREATURES

SELDOM SEEN BY HUMANS.

NEARLY TRANSPARENT, THE GLASS OCTOPUS

IS NOT ABLE TO CHANGE COLOR LIKE MANY OF ITS COUSINS.

A TRANSLUCENT, ALMOST COLORLESS BODY

MAKES IT LESS VISIBLE TO PREDATORS.

ELONGATED EYES LIMIT PERIPHERAL VISION,

BUT MAY MINIMIZE THE SILHOUETTE OF THE EYE

WHEN SEEN FROM BELOW.

FURTHER AIDING ITS CAMOUFLAGE.

BECAUSE THEY ARE RARELY SEEN,

LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT THE GLASS OCTOPUS

OR INDEED MANY OF THE

CREATURES THAT EXIST IN THE DEEP SEA ECOSYSTEMS

BEYOND THE EDGE OF LIGHT.

IN THE SUNLIT WORLD ABOVE A MORE FAMILIAR CREATURE

APPROACHES A DROWNED VOLCANIC PEAK,

WARMING ITSELF NEAR THE SURFACE WATER.

THE GREEN SEA TURTLE.

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WITH A NORMAL WEIGHT RANGE OF THREE TO FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS,

GREEN SEA TURTLES ARE THE SECOND LARGEST SPECIES OF SEA TURTLE.

LIVING UPWARDS OF 50 YEARS,

THESE CREATURES HAVE ROAMED THE OCEAN

FOR MORE THAN 100 MILLION YEARS.

WHEN YOU FIND A TURTLE

YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE HISTORY OF THE OCEAN.

YOU SEE THE TURTLE IN THE EYE,

THE TURTLE WILL LOOK AT YOU IN THE EYE

AND THEN YOU SEE THE DEPTH.

IT'S LIKE YOU'RE LOOKING INTO KNOWLEDGE,

INTO EXPLORATION, INTO EXPERIENCES.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT AN ANIMAL THAT MIGHT BE OLDER THAN YOU.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY CONNECTS YOU WITH

THE HISTORY OF THE OCEAN.

THE GREEN SEA TURTLES FEASTS ON A SEA CUCUMBER.

(♪♪♪)

MIGRATORY CREATURES,

GREEN SEA TURTLES TAGGED AT COCOS

HAVE BEEN FOUND AS FAR AFIELD AS THE COSTA RICAN COAST.

MORE THAN 300 MILES AWAY.

THEY'VE SURVIVED IN THE OCEAN FOR MILLENNIA.

BUT GREEN SEA TURTLES ARE NOW LISTED AS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES,

THREATENED BY HUNTING,

BOATING ACCIDENTS

AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THEIR NESTING GROUNDS.

LIKE THE SEA TURTLE COCOS ISLAND PLAYS

AN ESSENTIAL PART IN THE STORY OF THE OCEAN.

FORMED BY A VOLCANIC UPHEAVAL.

MORE THAN TWO MILLION YEARS AGO,

COCOS IS SURROUNDED BY SUBMARINE MOUNTAINS

AND SPECTACULAR UNDERWATER CATHEDRALS.

THE MAGNIFICENT ARCH AT BIG DOS AMIGOS.

RISING 40 FEET OFF THE SANDY OCEAN FLOOR.

THE ARCH IS A SWIM THROUGH WIDE ENOUGH

TO FIT A DOZEN DIVERS,

(♪♪♪)

AND PROVIDES SHELTER FOR A MYRIAD OF FISH,

BLACKNOSE BUTTERFLIES

AND CROWDS OF BLUE AND GOLD SNAPPER.

(♪♪♪)

(♪♪♪)

BUT THE SHOALS OF FISH AT BIG DOS AMIGOS

ARE DWARFED BY ONE OF COCOS ISLAND'S

MOST ASTONISHING SCENES,

BIGEYE TREVALLY, IN THEIR THOUSANDS.

SWIRLING LIKE A THICK, SILVERY TORNADO

BLOTTING OUT THE SUN.

TREVALLY, OR JACKS,

TRAVEL IN TIGHTLY ORGANIZED SCHOOLS TO CONFUSE PREDATORS.

PICKING OUT INDIVIDUAL PREY FROM A TWISTING,

SHINING MASS IS NOT AN EASY TASK FOR A VISUALLY ORIENTED HUNTER.

(♪♪♪)

(♪♪♪)

(♪♪♪)

SWIMMING IN UNISON

THE FISH MAY APPEAR AS A SINGLE LARGE CREATURE

TO WOULD BE PREDATORS.

(♪♪♪)

FROM A DISTANCE

THIS SCHOOL APPEARS TO BE THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF A PILOT WHALE.

ONCE YOU GO DIVING UNDER THAT SCHOOL,

OR IN BETWEEN THAT SCHOOL, SUDDENLY IT'S LIKE NIGHT TIME.

THE LIGHT DOESN'T PENETRATE THE INCREDIBLE

AMOUNT OF FISH.

YOU'RE SILENTLY SURROUNDED.

AND IF YOU'RE EVER LUCKY TO BE THERE IN THE CENTER,

AND THEN SOME OTHER PREDATOR COMES BY

AND SCARES THE JACKS,

THEY'LL ALL SWIM IN ONE SINGLE DIRECTION,

YOU CAN HEAR AND FEEL THE MOVEMENT WAVE.

THEY START SWIMMING AND THEN YOU GET THAT

'BOOM' AROUND YOU, IT'S COMPLETELY AMAZING.

PRECISELY SPACED,

MOVING AT THE SAME SPEED AND IN THE SAME DIRECTION,

THE TREVALLY TURN SWIFTLY AND IN PERFECT HARMONY.

(♪♪♪)

(♪♪♪)

THEN,

AS QUICKLY AS IT APPEARED,

THIS MESMERIZING SCHOOL VANISHES

INTO THE DEEP BLUE WATER.

FROM MONSTER SCHOOLS OF FISH,

AND MAGNIFICENT HAMMERHEADS,

TO BEWILDERING DEEP SEA CREATURES

AND RELENTLESS NIGHT TIME HUNTERS.

COCOS ISLAND IS A LOST WORLD IN THE PACIFIC

AND ONE OF THE MANY WONDERS OF THE GREAT BLUE WILD.

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WE HAVE A SAYING IN COCOS ISLAND,

"IF YOUR NECK IS NOT SORE,

THEN YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO COCOS ISLAND"

BECAUSE YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING HERE, LOOKING THERE,

NONSTOP DURING THE WHOLE TIME THAT YOU'RE UNDER THE WATER.

IT'S ALWAYS ACTION, ACTION, ACTION GOING ON.

IT'S LIKE A PREHISTORIC PLACE.

THIS ISLAND IS UNTOUCHED, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN,

THERE'S THIS TINY ISLAND, COVERED IN GREEN,

WITH WATERFALLS ALL AROUND, CAVES, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL,

BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO SEE.

COCOS IS A MUST FOR ANY DIVER.

YOU HAVE SUCH A HUGE AMOUNT OF SHARKS WITH YOU AT

NO OTHER PLACE.

YOU WANNA SEE SHARKS?

COCOS ISLAND IS ONE OF THOSE SHARKY PLACES,

WHICH BECOME MORE AND MORE RARE ON THE PLANET.

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COCOS ISLAND IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY

FOR YOU TO SEE HOW LIFE IN THE OCEANS WAS BEFORE

THE INFLUENCE OF MAN.

SO YOU'RE LIKE IN A TIME MACHINE,

GOING BACK 200 YEARS IN TIME, SEEING THE OCEANS UNTOUCHED.

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IT'S LIKE A LIBRARY.

WHEN YOU GO THERE IS ALL THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE OCEAN.

IT'S ALL THE DIFFERENT ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN MADE YET.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL CONNECTED

TO THE NATURE.

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