1 00:00:03,203 --> 00:00:05,806 THE SOCORRO ISLANDS - 2 00:00:05,806 --> 00:00:10,611 A REMOTE AND SPECTACULAR HAVEN FOR MARINE LIFE, 3 00:00:10,611 --> 00:00:13,947 IN THE WILD-BLUE WATERS OF THE EASTERN PACIFIC. 4 00:00:15,415 --> 00:00:19,253 A MUST FOR UNDERSEA EXPLORERS: 5 00:00:19,253 --> 00:00:21,755 DIVING EYEBALL-TO-EYEBALL 6 00:00:21,755 --> 00:00:25,859 WITH SOME OF THE OPEN OCEAN'S MOST SPECTACULAR CREATURES... 7 00:00:27,294 --> 00:00:30,264 MYSTERIOUS GIANTS, 8 00:00:30,264 --> 00:00:32,900 RELENTLESS HUNTERS 9 00:00:32,900 --> 00:00:37,104 AND LEGENDARY 'MONSTERS' OF THE DEEP, 10 00:00:37,104 --> 00:00:41,842 ALL CAUGHT IN A DAILY BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL... 11 00:00:41,842 --> 00:00:46,546 HOME TO CUNNING MASTERS OF DISGUISE, 12 00:00:46,546 --> 00:00:50,417 MAGNIFICENT SCHOOLS OF FISH, 13 00:00:50,417 --> 00:00:53,420 AND PLAYFUL MARINE MAMMALS. 14 00:00:53,420 --> 00:01:03,630 (♪♪♪) 15 00:01:03,630 --> 00:01:13,740 (♪♪♪) 16 00:01:13,740 --> 00:01:23,884 (♪♪♪) 17 00:01:23,884 --> 00:01:34,394 (♪♪♪) 18 00:01:34,394 --> 00:01:48,675 (♪♪♪) 19 00:01:58,118 --> 00:02:00,153 THE SOCORRO ISLANDS - 20 00:02:00,153 --> 00:02:03,657 A TINY VOLCANIC ARCHIPELAGO, 21 00:02:03,657 --> 00:02:06,259 RISING ABRUPTLY FROM THE UNTAMED WATERS 22 00:02:06,259 --> 00:02:08,395 OF THE EASTERN PACIFIC, 23 00:02:08,395 --> 00:02:12,366 370 MILES OFF THE WESTERN COAST OF MEXICO. 24 00:02:16,937 --> 00:02:19,139 PRIMITIVE AND REMOTE, 25 00:02:19,139 --> 00:02:22,209 SOCORRO IS UNINHABITED BY HUMANS. 26 00:02:22,209 --> 00:02:31,251 (♪♪♪) 27 00:02:31,251 --> 00:02:34,721 THE ONLY WAY TO DIVE HERE 28 00:02:34,721 --> 00:02:36,923 IS FROM LIVE-ABOARD BOATS. 29 00:02:39,459 --> 00:02:41,895 SOCORRO IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE 30 00:02:41,895 --> 00:02:45,198 BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENCOUNTER BIG PELAGIC ANIMALS 31 00:02:45,198 --> 00:02:46,700 ARE HIGH. 32 00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:48,835 BUT ONCE WE GET IN THE WATER, IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WORLD. 33 00:02:48,835 --> 00:02:52,973 IT'S LIKE BEING IN-- 34 00:02:52,973 --> 00:02:55,475 IN A WILD LABORATORY. 35 00:03:01,148 --> 00:03:05,819 THE SOCORRO ISLANDS HAVE BEEN CALLED 'THE MEXICAN GALAPAGOS'. 36 00:03:05,819 --> 00:03:07,687 LIKE THE GALAPAGOS, 37 00:03:07,687 --> 00:03:11,792 THE DEEP-BLUE WATERS OF SOCORRO OVERFLOW WITH WILDLIFE. 38 00:03:13,860 --> 00:03:15,862 LOST IN THE PACIFIC, 39 00:03:15,862 --> 00:03:18,799 HOURS FROM THE NEAREST COAST, 40 00:03:18,799 --> 00:03:20,133 ISLANDS LIKE SOCORRO 41 00:03:20,133 --> 00:03:23,503 ATTRACT A BREATHTAKING ABUNDANCE OF ANIMALS. 42 00:03:23,503 --> 00:03:35,949 (♪♪♪) 43 00:03:35,949 --> 00:03:37,918 EXPLOSIONS OF FISH 44 00:03:37,918 --> 00:03:40,387 DRAWN HERE BY AN ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTIC 45 00:03:40,387 --> 00:03:44,458 OF THE ARCHIPELAGO - 46 00:03:44,458 --> 00:03:46,526 ITS DEEP CURRENTS. 47 00:03:49,763 --> 00:03:53,366 FAR BELOW THE PEAK, 48 00:03:53,366 --> 00:03:57,437 CURRENTS CRASH AGAINST THE ISLAND'S FLANKS. 49 00:03:59,539 --> 00:04:01,575 THEN SURGE UPWARD 50 00:04:01,575 --> 00:04:04,711 CARRYING WITH THEM NUTRIENTS FROM THE DEEP WATER 51 00:04:04,711 --> 00:04:07,447 THAT NOURISH LIFE-GIVING PLANKTON 52 00:04:07,447 --> 00:04:10,283 IN THE WARMTH OF THE SUN. 53 00:04:16,623 --> 00:04:19,259 MICROSCOPIC MARINE CREATURES, 54 00:04:19,259 --> 00:04:22,896 NO LARGER THAN THE DIAMETER OF A STRAND OF HUMAN HAIR, 55 00:04:22,896 --> 00:04:24,698 PLANKTON ARE THE FOUNDATION 56 00:04:24,698 --> 00:04:29,002 FOR THE ENTIRE OCEANIC FOOD CHAIN... 57 00:04:30,370 --> 00:04:34,541 CRUCIAL TO THE SURVIVAL NOT JUST OF LARGER FISH 58 00:04:34,541 --> 00:04:37,544 BUT OF THE LARGEST OF ALL FISH... 59 00:04:41,114 --> 00:04:43,617 THE WHALE SHARK. 60 00:04:43,617 --> 00:04:47,821 FORTY FEET LONG, THE LENGTH OF A TRACTOR TRAILER, 61 00:04:47,821 --> 00:04:51,491 WHALE SHARKS CAN WEIGH MORE THAN 20 TONS - 62 00:04:51,491 --> 00:04:54,794 FOUR TIMES THE SIZE OF THE GREAT WHITE SHARK. 63 00:04:57,230 --> 00:04:59,199 WHEN YOU SWIM NEXT TO THEM, 64 00:04:59,199 --> 00:05:02,035 YOU'RE NOT EVEN HALF OF THEIR PECTORAL FINS. 65 00:05:02,035 --> 00:05:05,839 YOU'RE LIKE A TINY LITTLE THING SWIMMING NEXT TO THEM. 66 00:05:07,574 --> 00:05:11,711 THE GIANT MOVES SLOWLY CLOSE TO THE SURFACE. 67 00:05:13,113 --> 00:05:15,682 WHALE SHARKS ARE FILTER FEEDERS - 68 00:05:15,682 --> 00:05:20,120 VACUUMING VAST AMOUNTS OF PLANKTON, FISH AND PLANTS 69 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:22,989 INTO A GAPING MOUTH SO WIDE 70 00:05:22,989 --> 00:05:27,227 A SPORTS CAR COULD FIT INSIDE. 71 00:05:27,227 --> 00:05:30,230 IF IT'S A 40 TO 50-FOOT WHALE SHARK, 72 00:05:30,230 --> 00:05:32,432 THE SIZE OF THE MOUTH HAS TO BE LIKE-- 73 00:05:32,432 --> 00:05:35,835 I DUNNO-- THIS BIG, THIS WAY BIG. 74 00:05:35,835 --> 00:05:37,637 AND IT GIVES YOU THE SENSATION 75 00:05:37,637 --> 00:05:41,741 THAT IF IT OPENS ITS MOUTH, IT WOULD SWALLOW YOU COMPLETELY. 76 00:05:43,610 --> 00:05:47,981 FILTERS IN THE WIDE MOUTH COLLECT THE TINY PREY 77 00:05:50,150 --> 00:05:54,487 WHILE SEAWATER, UP TO 1,500 GALLONS AN HOUR, 78 00:05:54,487 --> 00:05:57,257 IS EXPELLED THROUGH MASSIVE GILLS. 79 00:06:02,028 --> 00:06:04,130 THOUGH FORMIDABLE CREATURES, 80 00:06:04,130 --> 00:06:07,834 WHALE SHARKS ARE LANGUID, DOCILE FISH. 81 00:06:07,834 --> 00:06:10,437 HOWEVER, A CLOSE ENCOUNTER 82 00:06:10,437 --> 00:06:13,006 IS NOT WITHOUT ITS DANGERS. 83 00:06:13,006 --> 00:06:15,442 IF YOU GET SLAPPED BY THE TAIL, YOU'RE GONNA PASS OUT 84 00:06:15,442 --> 00:06:18,278 OR YOU MIGHT GET YOUR ARM BROKEN. 85 00:06:18,278 --> 00:06:19,379 WE NEED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS - 86 00:06:19,379 --> 00:06:21,715 YOU KNOW, KEEP AN EYE ON THE TAIL, 87 00:06:21,715 --> 00:06:22,749 HOW THE TAIL IS MOVING, 88 00:06:22,749 --> 00:06:24,918 AND AVOID TO BE TOUCHED BY IT. 89 00:06:26,253 --> 00:06:27,520 IT'S JUST A MAJESTIC ANIMAL. 90 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,690 THEY'RE SO BIG AND THEY MOVE SO GENTLE. 91 00:06:30,690 --> 00:06:32,892 THEY EVEN SOMETIMES SEEM LIKE THEY'RE NOT MOVING AT ALL, 92 00:06:32,892 --> 00:06:37,564 BUT YOU HAVE TO KICK REALLY HARD TO ACTUALLY KEEP UP WITH THEM. 93 00:06:39,099 --> 00:06:41,534 THE DISTENDED ABDOMEN ON THIS FEMALE 94 00:06:41,534 --> 00:06:44,771 MEANS THAT IT IS PREGNANT. 95 00:06:44,771 --> 00:06:48,508 SOCORRO IS A PIT STOP FOR PREGNANT WHALE SHARKS 96 00:06:48,508 --> 00:06:53,013 AND MANY MIGRATE HERE EACH AUTUMN. 97 00:06:53,013 --> 00:06:57,651 HOWEVER, LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT MATING AND BIRTHING BEHAVIOUR - 98 00:06:57,651 --> 00:06:59,653 THE LARGEST FISH IN THE WORLD 99 00:06:59,653 --> 00:07:04,457 IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST MYSTERIOUS. 100 00:07:04,457 --> 00:07:07,427 WHALE SHARKS LIVE LARGELY OUT OF SIGHT - 101 00:07:07,427 --> 00:07:09,496 ADDING TO THEIR MYSTIQUE 102 00:07:09,496 --> 00:07:14,501 AND THE SPELL THEY HOLD OVER HUMANS. 103 00:07:14,501 --> 00:07:18,638 ONCE WE ARE RIGHT NEXT TO A WHALE SHARK THAT BIG, 104 00:07:18,638 --> 00:07:19,873 I MEAN YOU FINALLY REALIZE 105 00:07:19,873 --> 00:07:22,175 THAT WE'RE SUCH A SMALL SPECIES ON THE PLANET 106 00:07:22,175 --> 00:07:24,411 AND THEY'RE SUPER GIANTS. 107 00:07:24,411 --> 00:07:27,480 WE ARE SURROUNDED BY GIANT ANIMALS IN THIS WORLD. 108 00:07:29,215 --> 00:07:31,117 AT SAN BENEDICTO, 109 00:07:31,117 --> 00:07:34,187 THE WHALE SHARK IS NOT THE ONLY GIANT 110 00:07:34,187 --> 00:07:37,190 ENCOUNTERED BY DIVERS. 111 00:07:37,190 --> 00:07:46,032 (♪♪♪) 112 00:07:46,032 --> 00:07:49,502 THE GIANT PACIFIC MANTA RAY. 113 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,009 WELL, SAN BENEDICTO IS REALLY SPECIAL 114 00:07:56,009 --> 00:07:58,545 BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST PLACE IN THE ARCHIPELAGO 115 00:07:58,545 --> 00:08:00,847 TO ENCOUNTER GIANT MANTA RAYS. 116 00:08:03,249 --> 00:08:05,418 IT'S PROBABLY, I'D SAY, THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD 117 00:08:05,418 --> 00:08:07,387 TO INTERACT WITH THEM. 118 00:08:07,387 --> 00:08:08,688 THEY JUST LAY ON TOP OF YOUR HEAD 119 00:08:08,688 --> 00:08:11,257 AND JUST GO WITH, GO WITH THEM, GO WITH THEM. 120 00:08:11,257 --> 00:08:14,694 YOU FEEL A PART OF THEIR WORLD, PART OF THEM. 121 00:08:14,694 --> 00:08:17,430 LIKE, IT LETS YOU IN THEIR HOUSE I'D SAY, 122 00:08:17,430 --> 00:08:19,199 IT'S JUST AMAZING. 123 00:08:21,601 --> 00:08:26,039 THE PACIFIC MANTA IS THE LARGEST SPECIES OF RAY 124 00:08:26,039 --> 00:08:29,342 WITH A WINGSPAN OF UP TO 30 FEET - 125 00:08:29,342 --> 00:08:31,344 THE WIDTH OF A TENNIS COURT. 126 00:08:31,344 --> 00:08:46,025 (♪♪♪) 127 00:08:46,025 --> 00:08:50,263 LIKE THE WHALE SHARK, MANTAS ARE FILTER FEEDERS 128 00:08:50,263 --> 00:08:52,198 TRAVELLING WITH THE CURRENTS 129 00:08:52,198 --> 00:08:55,969 ACROSS EXPANSES OF OPEN OCEAN, 130 00:08:55,969 --> 00:08:59,539 IN SEARCH OF WATERS MADE RICH WITH PLANKTON, 131 00:08:59,539 --> 00:09:03,843 BY UPWELLINGS FROM DEEP BELOW THE SURFACE. 132 00:09:10,617 --> 00:09:13,086 TWO BLADE-LIKE FINS UNFOLD 133 00:09:13,086 --> 00:09:17,056 TO CHANNEL WATER INTO THE MANTA'S LARGE, OPEN MOUTH. 134 00:09:17,056 --> 00:09:27,200 (♪♪♪) 135 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:32,439 (♪♪♪) 136 00:09:32,439 --> 00:09:36,109 TINY SHRIMP, KRILL AND PLANKTONIC CRABS 137 00:09:36,109 --> 00:09:40,447 ARE THEN SIFTED FROM THE WATER BY TISSUE BETWEEN THE GILLS. 138 00:09:40,447 --> 00:09:50,590 (♪♪♪) 139 00:09:50,590 --> 00:10:00,467 (♪♪♪) 140 00:10:00,467 --> 00:10:03,269 (♪♪♪) 141 00:10:03,269 --> 00:10:05,738 WEIGHING AS MUCH AS TWO TONS, 142 00:10:05,738 --> 00:10:10,877 A LONE MANTA CAN EAT MORE THAN 440 POUNDS OF PLANKTON 143 00:10:10,877 --> 00:10:12,979 IN A SINGLE WEEK. 144 00:10:12,979 --> 00:10:24,424 (♪♪♪) 145 00:10:24,424 --> 00:10:25,859 WHEN IT'S NOT FEEDING, 146 00:10:25,859 --> 00:10:29,095 THE FINS AT EITHER SIDE OF THE MANTA'S BROAD HEAD 147 00:10:29,095 --> 00:10:30,830 RESEMBLE HORNS 148 00:10:30,830 --> 00:10:34,901 AND FOR GENERATIONS, MANTAS WERE KNOWN AS DEVILFISH. 149 00:10:34,901 --> 00:10:45,044 (♪♪♪) 150 00:10:45,044 --> 00:10:51,684 (♪♪♪) 151 00:10:51,684 --> 00:10:55,522 THEIR IMPOSING SIZE AND BAT-LIKE SHAPE 152 00:10:55,522 --> 00:10:59,659 FED INTO THE LEGEND OF THE MANTA AS 'MONSTER'. 153 00:11:01,961 --> 00:11:06,766 AND FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, TALE OF MANTAS SMASHING SHIPS 154 00:11:06,766 --> 00:11:11,004 AND FEASTING ON SAILORS PERSISTED. 155 00:11:18,845 --> 00:11:21,180 NOT UNTIL THE 1970S, 156 00:11:21,180 --> 00:11:24,851 WHEN DIVERS BEGAN INTERACTING WITH GIANT RAYS 157 00:11:24,851 --> 00:11:28,154 WAS THE EASYGOING NATURE OF THESE GENTLE GIANTS 158 00:11:28,154 --> 00:11:30,356 BROUGHT TO BEAR. 159 00:11:30,356 --> 00:11:36,462 (♪♪♪) 160 00:11:36,462 --> 00:11:37,597 IT'S LOOKING AT YOU. 161 00:11:37,597 --> 00:11:39,265 IT CONNECTS TO YOU WITH ITS BIG EYE. 162 00:11:39,265 --> 00:11:42,835 AND YEAH, I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT IN ANY OTHER PLACE 163 00:11:42,835 --> 00:11:44,137 WITH THAT INTENSITY. 164 00:11:44,137 --> 00:11:47,006 AND BEING ABLE TO BE SO CLOSE TO THAT ANIMAL - 165 00:11:47,006 --> 00:11:48,441 THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WILL NOT FIND 166 00:11:48,441 --> 00:11:52,145 IN ANY OTHER PLACE ON THE PLANET. 167 00:11:54,547 --> 00:11:57,050 UNLIKE MOST SPECIES OF RAY, 168 00:11:57,050 --> 00:12:00,687 THE GIANT MANTA DOES NOT HAVE A STINGER IN ITS TAIL. 169 00:12:00,687 --> 00:12:13,666 (♪♪♪) 170 00:12:13,666 --> 00:12:17,136 ITS ONLY DEFENSE AGAINST LARGE OCEAN PREDATORS 171 00:12:17,136 --> 00:12:20,039 SUCH AS SHARKS AND KILLER WHALES 172 00:12:20,039 --> 00:12:22,775 IS ITS SIZE AND SPEED. 173 00:12:22,775 --> 00:12:37,690 (♪♪♪) 174 00:12:37,690 --> 00:12:41,427 BUT NEITHER SIZE NOR SPEED CAN DEFEND THE MANTA 175 00:12:41,427 --> 00:12:45,965 FROM ONE OF THE OCEAN'S MOST REMARKABLE CREATURES - 176 00:12:45,965 --> 00:12:50,236 THE GARGOYLE-LIKE REMORA OR SUCKERFISH. 177 00:12:50,236 --> 00:12:57,610 (♪♪♪) 178 00:12:57,610 --> 00:13:02,148 HIGHLY SPECIALIZED OVER 50 MILLION YEARS OF EVOLUTION, 179 00:13:02,148 --> 00:13:06,619 THE TOP OF THE REMORA'S HEAD IS A POWERFUL SUCTION CUP 180 00:13:06,619 --> 00:13:10,823 ALLOWING IT TO CLING ON TO THE MANTA FOR A FREE RIDE. 181 00:13:13,426 --> 00:13:16,562 THE REMORA'S GRIP IS SO INTENSE, 182 00:13:16,562 --> 00:13:20,299 IT IS ABLE TO STAY ATTACHED THROUGH STRONG CURRENTS 183 00:13:20,299 --> 00:13:22,635 AND CAN EVEN HANG ON, 184 00:13:22,635 --> 00:13:26,739 AS THE HOST FISH ATTEMPTS TO SCRAPE IT OFF ON THE SEAMOUNT. 185 00:13:32,011 --> 00:13:36,082 REMORAS WILL AT TIMES VENTURE INTO THE MOUTH OF A MANTA 186 00:13:36,082 --> 00:13:39,719 TO FIND FOOD OR ESCAPE FROM PREDATORS. 187 00:13:43,122 --> 00:13:46,259 THERE IS SOME BENEFIT TO THE MANTA - 188 00:13:46,259 --> 00:13:49,862 REMORAS FEED ON PARASITES AND DEAD TISSUE. 189 00:13:51,831 --> 00:13:55,902 BUT THESE HITCHHIKERS CAN BECOME A NUISANCE AS WELL - 190 00:13:55,902 --> 00:13:58,137 SLOWING DOWN THE MANTA 191 00:13:58,137 --> 00:14:01,340 AND CREATING SKIN ABRASIONS AND SORES 192 00:14:01,340 --> 00:14:04,343 CAUSED BY THE CONSTANT SUCTION. 193 00:14:04,343 --> 00:14:17,356 (♪♪♪) 194 00:14:17,356 --> 00:14:20,893 THESE GIANTS HAVE COME TO SAN BENEDICTO 195 00:14:20,893 --> 00:14:23,329 FOR ITS CLEANING STATIONS - 196 00:14:23,329 --> 00:14:27,667 GATHERING POINTS ON THE SEAMOUNT WHERE RESIDENT 'CLEANER' FISH 197 00:14:27,667 --> 00:14:30,703 WILL REMOVE TROUBLESOME PARASITES. 198 00:14:30,703 --> 00:14:40,847 (♪♪♪) 199 00:14:40,847 --> 00:14:50,389 (♪♪♪) 200 00:14:50,389 --> 00:14:55,328 SAN BENEDICTO IS HOME TO A CONSTANT UNDERWATER BALLET. 201 00:14:55,328 --> 00:15:05,538 (♪♪♪) 202 00:15:05,538 --> 00:15:14,347 (♪♪♪) 203 00:15:14,347 --> 00:15:18,851 PROPELLED BY POWERFUL BEATS OF THEIR PECTORAL FINS, 204 00:15:18,851 --> 00:15:23,189 MANTAS MUST SWIM CONTINUOUSLY, TO KEEP WATER MOVING 205 00:15:23,189 --> 00:15:26,893 OVER AND THROUGH THEIR GILLS FOR RESPIRATION. 206 00:15:26,893 --> 00:15:33,232 (♪♪♪) 207 00:15:33,232 --> 00:15:37,470 IT IS A LIFE OF PERPETUAL MOTION. 208 00:15:37,470 --> 00:15:47,613 (♪♪♪) 209 00:15:47,613 --> 00:15:55,755 (♪♪♪) 210 00:15:55,755 --> 00:15:58,457 ANCESTORS OF SHARK-LIKE CREATURES, 211 00:15:58,457 --> 00:16:00,393 RAYS FIRST APPEARED IN THE OCEANS 212 00:16:00,393 --> 00:16:04,096 MORE THAN 170 MILLION YEARS AGO. 213 00:16:14,507 --> 00:16:19,512 MANTAS, IN PARTICULAR, HAVE EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE BRAINS 214 00:16:19,512 --> 00:16:21,681 SPECIFICALLY THE REGION OF THE BRAIN 215 00:16:21,681 --> 00:16:25,251 RESPONSIBLE FOR SENSORY FUNCTIONS. 216 00:16:30,122 --> 00:16:32,191 WHEN THEY SWIM, LIKE, NEXT TO YOU, 217 00:16:32,191 --> 00:16:33,426 THEY ACTUALLY LOOK AT YOU 218 00:16:33,426 --> 00:16:37,330 AND THAT'S WHEN YOU FEEL, LIKE, A KIND OF BOND. 219 00:16:38,731 --> 00:16:41,067 I THINK THEY ARE VERY, VERY SMART ANIMALS. 220 00:16:41,067 --> 00:16:54,914 (♪♪♪) 221 00:16:54,914 --> 00:16:56,983 LIKE THEIR SHARK RELATIVES, 222 00:16:56,983 --> 00:17:00,152 MANTAS HAVE SPECIALIZED NERVE CELLS 223 00:17:00,152 --> 00:17:02,421 THAT ALLOW THEM TO PICK UP ELECTRICAL SIGNALS 224 00:17:02,421 --> 00:17:05,658 FROM OTHER ANIMALS MOVING IN THE WATER. 225 00:17:05,658 --> 00:17:15,801 (♪♪♪) 226 00:17:15,801 --> 00:17:23,276 (♪♪♪) 227 00:17:23,276 --> 00:17:26,212 EYES LOCATED ON EACH SIDE OF THE HEAD 228 00:17:26,212 --> 00:17:29,649 PROVIDE AN OPTIMAL FIELD OF VISION. 229 00:17:29,649 --> 00:17:39,792 (♪♪♪) 230 00:17:39,792 --> 00:17:49,669 (♪♪♪) 231 00:17:49,669 --> 00:17:54,273 (♪♪♪) 232 00:17:54,273 --> 00:17:57,143 A THIN LAYER OF SLIME ON THE SKIN 233 00:17:57,143 --> 00:17:59,845 PROTECTS THE MANTA FROM BACTERIA 234 00:17:59,845 --> 00:18:01,747 HELPS TO HEAL INJURIES 235 00:18:01,747 --> 00:18:04,283 AND REDUCES FRICTION AS IT GLIDES GRACEFULLY 236 00:18:04,283 --> 00:18:07,887 THROUGH THE WATER... 237 00:18:10,856 --> 00:18:12,658 ...WANDERING THE OCEAN, 238 00:18:12,658 --> 00:18:15,928 GRIPPED BY AN ENDLESS SEARCH FOR FOOD. 239 00:18:15,928 --> 00:18:26,072 (♪♪♪) 240 00:18:26,072 --> 00:18:33,946 (♪♪♪) 241 00:18:33,946 --> 00:18:38,250 CLARION ANGELFISH INSPECT THE REEF. 242 00:18:38,250 --> 00:18:44,323 (♪♪♪) 243 00:18:44,323 --> 00:18:46,192 A POPULAR AQUARIUM FISH, 244 00:18:46,192 --> 00:18:50,363 THESE RADIANT ANGELS ARE LISTED AS VULNERABLE. 245 00:18:54,367 --> 00:18:58,270 THEIR HABITAT AT SOCORRO IS NOW PROTECTED. 246 00:18:58,270 --> 00:19:09,715 (♪♪♪) 247 00:19:09,715 --> 00:19:14,153 BLACK-NOSED BUTTERFLYFISH, OR BARBER FISH, 248 00:19:14,153 --> 00:19:16,355 ACTIVE DURING THE DAY, 249 00:19:16,355 --> 00:19:19,658 WHEN THEY FEED ON ALGAE AND SMALL CRUSTACEANS, 250 00:19:19,658 --> 00:19:21,594 THESE FISH SPEND MOST OF THEIR NIGHTS 251 00:19:21,594 --> 00:19:24,663 HUDDLED NEAR THE REEF'S SURFACE. 252 00:19:24,663 --> 00:19:31,003 (♪♪♪) 253 00:19:31,003 --> 00:19:35,941 BARBERS ARE CLEANER FISH, REMOVING AND EATING PARASITES, 254 00:19:35,941 --> 00:19:38,778 FROM THE SKIN OF LARGER MARINE ANIMALS, 255 00:19:38,778 --> 00:19:41,213 SUCH AS SHARKS AND RAYS. 256 00:19:43,416 --> 00:19:45,751 CLEANER FISH, LIKE THESE BARBERS, 257 00:19:45,751 --> 00:19:49,622 ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE SOCORRO ECOSYSTEM, 258 00:19:49,622 --> 00:19:52,758 CONTRIBUTING TO THE GOOD HEALTH OF MANTA RAYS 259 00:19:52,758 --> 00:19:56,328 BY REMOVING DEAD AND INFECTED FLESH FROM WOUNDS 260 00:19:56,328 --> 00:19:58,931 CAUSED BY SHARK BITES. 261 00:20:04,537 --> 00:20:08,574 SOCORRO IS A HAVEN FOR GREAT OCEAN GRAZERS... 262 00:20:10,743 --> 00:20:15,748 THE WHALE SHARK... 263 00:20:15,748 --> 00:20:18,017 AND THE MANTA RAY. 264 00:20:20,719 --> 00:20:23,589 BUT IT IS ALSO HOME TO HUNTERS - 265 00:20:26,792 --> 00:20:30,696 LIKE THE WHITETIP REEF SHARK. 266 00:20:30,696 --> 00:20:31,931 EVERY TIME I DIVE THERE, 267 00:20:31,931 --> 00:20:35,801 IT REMINDS ME OF AN ANCIENT PLACE - VOLCANIC. 268 00:20:35,801 --> 00:20:37,670 IT REMINDS ME SOME OF JURASSIC PARK . 269 00:20:37,670 --> 00:20:39,238 IT'S KIND OF SPOOKY - 270 00:20:39,238 --> 00:20:41,006 BECAUSE THE VISIBILITY IS NOT ALWAYS STELLAR, 271 00:20:41,006 --> 00:20:43,109 SO IT CAN BE MISTY AND YOU DON'T REALLY SEE FAR. 272 00:20:43,109 --> 00:20:45,177 YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE SHARKS AROUND. 273 00:20:55,788 --> 00:21:00,226 A SMALL SHOAL OF WHITETIPS PATROLS THE UNDERSEA MOUNTAIN... 274 00:21:02,094 --> 00:21:04,163 DRAWN TO SOCORRO BY THE RESIDENT FISH 275 00:21:04,163 --> 00:21:07,299 THAT FEED ON THE PLANKTON 276 00:21:07,299 --> 00:21:10,336 NOURISHED BY NUTRIENTS, DRIVEN UP BY CURRENTS, 277 00:21:10,336 --> 00:21:13,072 FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR. 278 00:21:13,072 --> 00:21:23,215 (♪♪♪) 279 00:21:23,215 --> 00:21:33,092 (♪♪♪) 280 00:21:33,092 --> 00:21:36,362 (♪♪♪) 281 00:21:36,362 --> 00:21:39,431 AS THE NAME SUGGESTS, WHITETIP REEF SHARKS 282 00:21:39,431 --> 00:21:42,902 ARE LARGELY FOUND NEAR CORAL REEFS, 283 00:21:42,902 --> 00:21:47,540 PREFERRING CAVES, CREVICES OR ROCKY LEDGES FOR PROTECTION. 284 00:21:47,540 --> 00:21:53,646 (♪♪♪) 285 00:21:53,646 --> 00:21:57,750 WHITETIPS ARE PRIMARILY NOCTURNAL ANIMALS. 286 00:21:57,750 --> 00:22:02,421 DAYS ARE SPENT RESTING AND PRESERVING PRECIOUS ENERGY. 287 00:22:05,558 --> 00:22:08,494 INDIVIDUAL SHARKS WILL GATHER IN GROUPS - 288 00:22:08,494 --> 00:22:09,895 CROWDING TOGETHER 289 00:22:09,895 --> 00:22:13,199 AND STACKING ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER. 290 00:22:15,834 --> 00:22:19,171 WHITETIPS ARE CAPABLE OF LYING MOTIONLESS LIKE THIS 291 00:22:19,171 --> 00:22:21,540 FOR HOURS AT A TIME. 292 00:22:21,540 --> 00:22:34,253 (♪♪♪) 293 00:22:34,253 --> 00:22:38,991 UNLIKE OTHER REQUIEM SHARKS, WHICH MUST SWIM CONSTANTLY 294 00:22:38,991 --> 00:22:42,861 TO FORCE OXYGENATED WATER OVER THEIR GILLS, 295 00:22:42,861 --> 00:22:46,031 WHITETIPS ARE ABLE TO BREATHE WHILE STATIONARY - 296 00:22:46,031 --> 00:22:48,634 USING MUSCLES AROUND THEIR MOUTHS 297 00:22:48,634 --> 00:22:50,402 TO PULL IN WATER 298 00:22:50,402 --> 00:22:54,073 THAT THEN FLOWS OVER THEIR GILLS. 299 00:22:54,073 --> 00:23:03,015 (♪♪♪) 300 00:23:03,015 --> 00:23:06,952 THESE SHARKS WILL REMAIN STILL FOR MUCH OF THE DAY 301 00:23:06,952 --> 00:23:10,889 BEFORE JUMPING INTO ACTION AT NIGHT, 302 00:23:10,889 --> 00:23:12,958 SCOURING THE DARKENED REEFS 303 00:23:12,958 --> 00:23:16,362 FOR SMALL FISH, EELS AND CRABS. 304 00:23:16,362 --> 00:23:30,976 (♪♪♪) 305 00:23:30,976 --> 00:23:35,648 LARGE OVAL EYES ALLOW THE SHARK TO SEE IN DIM LIGHT. 306 00:23:36,682 --> 00:23:38,584 BUT IN THE DARK OF NIGHT, 307 00:23:38,584 --> 00:23:42,588 WHITETIPS RELY ON OTHER SENSES SUCH AS SMELL 308 00:23:42,588 --> 00:23:44,957 AND SMALL, ELECTRICAL SENSING ORGANS 309 00:23:44,957 --> 00:23:49,495 IN THE SNOUT CALLED AMPULLAE TO DETECT PREY. 310 00:23:49,495 --> 00:23:59,638 (♪♪♪) 311 00:23:59,638 --> 00:24:09,581 (♪♪♪) 312 00:24:09,581 --> 00:24:15,154 (♪♪♪) 313 00:24:15,154 --> 00:24:16,588 IN THE DISTANCE, 314 00:24:16,588 --> 00:24:20,759 A FAMILIAR UNDERWATER SOUND CAN ONLY MEAN ONE THING - 315 00:24:25,698 --> 00:24:29,435 THE ARRIVAL OF THE OCEAN'S DEEP THINKERS - 316 00:24:29,435 --> 00:24:31,870 BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS. 317 00:24:31,870 --> 00:24:35,240 (DOLPHINS WHISTLING) 318 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:43,148 (♪♪♪) 319 00:24:43,148 --> 00:24:46,919 THREE METRES LONG, POWERING OVER THE SEAMOUNT 320 00:24:46,919 --> 00:24:49,988 WITH MUSCULAR THRUSTS OF THE TAIL. 321 00:24:49,988 --> 00:24:56,261 (♪♪♪) 322 00:24:56,261 --> 00:24:59,298 NAMED FOR ITS SHORT, STUBBY BEAK, 323 00:24:59,298 --> 00:25:02,267 BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS - 324 00:25:02,267 --> 00:25:05,204 TRAVELLING IN PODS OF 10 TO 30. 325 00:25:05,204 --> 00:25:12,511 (♪♪♪) 326 00:25:12,511 --> 00:25:14,279 THEIR BRAIN TO BODY RATIO, 327 00:25:14,279 --> 00:25:16,482 BELIEVED TO BE A MEASURE OF INTELLECT, 328 00:25:16,482 --> 00:25:19,518 IS SECOND ONLY TO HUMANS. 329 00:25:22,988 --> 00:25:26,959 SHREWD CREATURES, DOLPHINS ARE ABLE TO COORDINATE HUNTS - 330 00:25:26,959 --> 00:25:30,863 HERDING AND THEN HARVESTING SCHOOLS OF FISH. 331 00:25:30,863 --> 00:25:44,510 (♪♪♪) 332 00:25:44,510 --> 00:25:48,580 THEY ARE EXPERT AT ECHO LOCATION - 333 00:25:48,580 --> 00:25:51,116 MAKING CLICKING SOUNDS... 334 00:25:51,116 --> 00:25:53,652 (CLICKING) 335 00:25:53,652 --> 00:25:56,221 AS MANY AS 500 PER SECOND, 336 00:25:56,221 --> 00:25:58,824 THAT TRAVEL THROUGH THE OPEN OCEAN, 337 00:25:58,824 --> 00:26:02,361 BOUNCING OFF OF POTENTIAL PREY, 338 00:26:02,361 --> 00:26:04,396 AND REVEALING TO THE DOLPHIN, 339 00:26:04,396 --> 00:26:08,400 THE ANIMAL'S SIZE, SHAPE AND LOCATION. 340 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:12,404 (WHISTLING AND CLICKING) 341 00:26:12,404 --> 00:26:27,019 (♪♪♪) 342 00:26:27,019 --> 00:26:30,722 ESSENTIALLY, THEY SEE THROUGH SOUND. 343 00:26:32,925 --> 00:26:35,394 A WHISTLE THEN SIGNALS THE CATCH 344 00:26:35,394 --> 00:26:37,963 TO OTHER DOLPHINS IN THE GROUP. 345 00:26:43,335 --> 00:26:46,805 EACH MEMBER OF THE POD USES A 'SIGNATURE' WHISTLE 346 00:26:46,805 --> 00:26:49,274 TO IDENTIFY ITSELF. 347 00:26:52,511 --> 00:26:54,346 JUST LIKE LAND MAMMALS, 348 00:26:54,346 --> 00:26:56,014 DOLPHINS BREATHE AIR, 349 00:26:56,014 --> 00:26:59,151 TAKING IN OXYGEN AT THE OCEAN SURFACE 350 00:26:59,151 --> 00:27:02,054 THROUGH A BLOWHOLE ON TOP OF THE HEAD. 351 00:27:02,054 --> 00:27:12,197 (♪♪♪) 352 00:27:12,197 --> 00:27:19,471 (♪♪♪) 353 00:27:19,471 --> 00:27:21,073 CONSCIOUS BREATHERS, 354 00:27:21,073 --> 00:27:24,576 THEY NEVER FALL COMPLETELY ASLEEP. 355 00:27:24,576 --> 00:27:28,747 ONE HEMISPHERE OF THE BRAIN ALWAYS REMAINS AWAKE. 356 00:27:28,747 --> 00:27:30,549 SO, EVEN WHILE SLEEPING, 357 00:27:30,549 --> 00:27:33,352 THE DOLPHIN IS ABLE TO SURFACE FOR AIR 358 00:27:33,352 --> 00:27:36,321 AND REMAIN ALERT TO PREDATORS. 359 00:27:36,321 --> 00:27:46,465 (♪♪♪) 360 00:27:46,465 --> 00:27:56,341 (♪♪♪) 361 00:27:56,341 --> 00:28:00,579 (♪♪♪) 362 00:28:00,579 --> 00:28:03,282 THE INTELLIGENCE AND CUNNING OF DOLPHINS 363 00:28:03,282 --> 00:28:05,751 HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED. 364 00:28:09,388 --> 00:28:11,757 BUT HERE AT SAN BENEDICTO, 365 00:28:11,757 --> 00:28:15,827 THE DOLPHINS EXHIBIT A STRANGE AND REMARKABLE BEHAVIOUR, 366 00:28:15,827 --> 00:28:19,798 UNLIKE ANY OTHER. 367 00:28:19,798 --> 00:28:21,867 THE DOLPHINS AT SAN BENEDICTO, EVERY TIME THEY ENCOUNTER US, 368 00:28:21,867 --> 00:28:25,237 THEY TEND STOP VERTICALLY 369 00:28:25,237 --> 00:28:27,306 AND WHEN THEY DO IT, THEY START SINKING 370 00:28:27,306 --> 00:28:28,840 BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SWIMMING ANYMORE. 371 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:31,476 AND JUST BECAUSE THEY STOP VERTICALLY, 372 00:28:31,476 --> 00:28:32,911 AND START BLOWING BUBBLES, 373 00:28:32,911 --> 00:28:37,382 AND THE GIVE US A CHANCE TO BE SUPER-CLOSE TO 'EM. 374 00:28:37,382 --> 00:28:49,962 (♪♪♪) 375 00:28:49,962 --> 00:28:51,863 BUT I THINK-- I'VE BEEN STARTED THINKING LATELY 376 00:28:51,863 --> 00:28:53,966 THAT THE DOLPHINS ARE MIMICKING US. 377 00:28:53,966 --> 00:28:57,302 IT'S KIND OF LIKE A MIMIC BEHAVIOUR. 378 00:28:57,302 --> 00:29:07,512 (♪♪♪) 379 00:29:07,512 --> 00:29:13,919 (♪♪♪) 380 00:29:13,919 --> 00:29:17,055 (WHISTLING) 381 00:29:17,055 --> 00:29:27,966 (♪♪♪) 382 00:29:27,966 --> 00:29:32,204 80 MILES WEST OF SAN BENEDICTO, 383 00:29:32,204 --> 00:29:35,774 A STONY PINNACLE RISES 100 FEET 384 00:29:35,774 --> 00:29:38,510 FROM THE WATERS OF THE EASTERN PACIFIC. 385 00:29:41,546 --> 00:29:46,084 ROCA PARTIDA OR 'PARTED ROCK'. 386 00:29:46,084 --> 00:29:50,122 JUST 300 FEET LONG, 25 FEET WIDE, 387 00:29:50,122 --> 00:29:55,127 COATED IN GUANO FROM NESTING SEA BIRDS, 388 00:29:55,127 --> 00:30:00,198 ROCA PARTIDA IS THE SMALLEST OF SOCORRO'S FOUR ISLANDS. 389 00:30:01,233 --> 00:30:05,370 BUT THIS LONELY SPIRE IS JUST PART OF THE STORY. 390 00:30:06,505 --> 00:30:10,842 I THINK ROCA PARTIDA IS, IT JUST NEEDS TO BE CLASSIFIED 391 00:30:10,842 --> 00:30:14,579 AS THE BEST SINGLE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD. 392 00:30:16,248 --> 00:30:20,719 WHEN YOU GET IN THE WATER AT ROCA PARTIDA, 393 00:30:20,719 --> 00:30:22,020 DEFINITELY YOU EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. 394 00:30:22,020 --> 00:30:24,289 YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE. 395 00:30:29,828 --> 00:30:32,931 (WATER GUSHING) 396 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:38,437 (WATER GURGLING) 397 00:30:38,437 --> 00:30:43,108 (WATER GUSHING) 398 00:30:43,108 --> 00:30:45,310 A POWERFUL OCEAN SURGE 399 00:30:45,310 --> 00:30:49,247 CAUSED BY WAVES PASSING OVERHEAD, 400 00:30:49,247 --> 00:30:51,883 CRASHES INTO THE SEAMOUNT. 401 00:31:00,926 --> 00:31:03,595 THE SWELL PUSHES WATER TO THE SURFACE 402 00:31:03,595 --> 00:31:08,233 AND BACK DOWN ROCA PARTIDA'S VOLCANIC WALLS. 403 00:31:08,233 --> 00:31:09,901 WE ARE DIVING IN TINY ROCKS 404 00:31:09,901 --> 00:31:11,870 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN, 405 00:31:11,870 --> 00:31:14,473 SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT IN EVERY DIVE FOR SURE. 406 00:31:17,609 --> 00:31:19,711 DEFINITELY, 'CAUSE YOU WOULD ENCOUNTER SOMETIMES 407 00:31:19,711 --> 00:31:21,613 STRONG CURRENTS (INDISCERNIBLE SPEECH) 408 00:31:21,613 --> 00:31:22,814 AND IF YOU'RE NOT USED TO IT, 409 00:31:22,814 --> 00:31:25,083 IT KINDA FREAKS YOU OUT MAYBE A LITTLE BIT. 410 00:31:25,083 --> 00:31:38,764 (♪♪♪) 411 00:31:38,764 --> 00:31:42,467 HUNDREDS OF FISH CAUGHT IN THE RIPPING CURRENTS 412 00:31:42,467 --> 00:31:46,438 FALL HELPLESSLY LIKE LEAVES FROM THE SKY. 413 00:31:49,674 --> 00:31:52,177 FAR REMOVED FROM ANY OTHER LANDFALL, 414 00:31:52,177 --> 00:31:55,981 ROCA PARTIDA TEEMS WITH LIFE. 415 00:31:59,818 --> 00:32:02,087 ITS STEEP VERTICAL WALLS 416 00:32:02,087 --> 00:32:04,756 ARE HOME TO SMALL MARINE CREATURES 417 00:32:04,756 --> 00:32:09,161 AND STUNNING HARD CORAL FORMATIONS, 418 00:32:09,161 --> 00:32:11,596 EARNING ROCA PARTIDA ITS TITLE 419 00:32:11,596 --> 00:32:14,566 AS THE CATHEDRAL OF THE SEA. 420 00:32:14,566 --> 00:32:23,942 (♪♪♪) 421 00:32:23,942 --> 00:32:27,846 A TRUMPET FISH, ITS SNOUT FACING DOWN, 422 00:32:27,846 --> 00:32:30,215 FLOATS VERTICALLY OVER THE CORAL, 423 00:32:30,215 --> 00:32:34,319 STALKING SMALL HERBIVORES. 424 00:32:36,488 --> 00:32:40,625 A LONG-TAILED STINGRAY GLIDES OVER THE SEAMOUNT, 425 00:32:40,625 --> 00:32:44,095 ITS DANGEROUS TAIL SPINE TRAILING BEHIND. 426 00:32:44,095 --> 00:32:57,309 (♪♪♪) 427 00:32:57,309 --> 00:33:01,046 130 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE, 428 00:33:01,046 --> 00:33:04,716 WHITETIP SHARKS NESTLE ON A ROCKY LEDGE. 429 00:33:04,716 --> 00:33:11,857 (♪♪♪) 430 00:33:11,857 --> 00:33:15,861 BUT AS THE UNDERWATER CLIFFS PLUNGE FURTHER INTO THE SEA, 431 00:33:15,861 --> 00:33:18,763 DISAPPEARING INTO THE BLUE DEPTHS, 432 00:33:18,763 --> 00:33:21,733 AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT WORLD AWAITS - 433 00:33:21,733 --> 00:33:24,502 ON SOCORRO'S OCEAN FLOOR. 434 00:33:24,502 --> 00:33:33,845 (♪♪♪) 435 00:33:33,845 --> 00:33:37,015 A TROPICAL FLOUNDER, BARELY VISIBLE, 436 00:33:37,015 --> 00:33:40,685 LIES IN WAIT ON THE SPECKLED CORAL BED. 437 00:33:40,685 --> 00:33:46,858 (♪♪♪) 438 00:33:46,858 --> 00:33:49,694 FLOUNDER ARE MASTERS OF CAMOUFLAGE, 439 00:33:49,694 --> 00:33:52,163 ABLE TO CHANGE COLOURS AND PATTERNS 440 00:33:52,163 --> 00:33:54,966 IN AS LITTLE AS EIGHT SECONDS. 441 00:33:58,436 --> 00:34:00,805 THIS FLOUNDER CRAWLS ON ITS FINS 442 00:34:00,805 --> 00:34:03,842 BEFORE HUDDLING DOWN ON THE SEABED - 443 00:34:03,842 --> 00:34:05,744 A CAMOUFLAGED KILLER 444 00:34:05,744 --> 00:34:10,148 PRIMED TO AMBUSH PASSING FISH AND CRUSTACEANS. 445 00:34:15,553 --> 00:34:17,689 FARTHER ALONG THE SEAMOUNT, 446 00:34:17,689 --> 00:34:22,627 AN EVEN GREATER MASTER OF DISGUISE - 447 00:34:22,627 --> 00:34:26,197 THE OCTOPUS SEARCHES FOR THE PERFECT SPOT 448 00:34:26,197 --> 00:34:28,633 TO SURPRISE UNWARY PREY. 449 00:34:30,068 --> 00:34:32,103 ONE OF THE FEW CREATURES ON EARTH 450 00:34:32,103 --> 00:34:36,207 ABLE TO ALTER ITS APPEARANCE IN A HEARTBEAT, 451 00:34:36,207 --> 00:34:37,475 THE COMMON OCTOPUS 452 00:34:37,475 --> 00:34:40,278 POSSESSES THOUSANDS OF COLOUR CHANGING CELLS 453 00:34:40,278 --> 00:34:43,949 JUST BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE SKIN. 454 00:34:43,949 --> 00:34:52,590 (♪♪♪) 455 00:34:52,590 --> 00:34:56,094 THE OCTOPUS IS ABLE TO CHANGE NOT ONLY ITS COLOURING 456 00:34:56,094 --> 00:34:59,764 BUT THE TEXTURE OF ITS SKIN AS WELL. 457 00:34:59,764 --> 00:35:13,712 (♪♪♪) 458 00:35:13,712 --> 00:35:16,815 A COMPLEX NETWORK OF MUSCLES AND NERVES 459 00:35:16,815 --> 00:35:19,651 CONTROLS PROJECTIONS ON THE SKIN 460 00:35:19,651 --> 00:35:22,787 CREATING SMALL BUMPS OR TALL SPIKES 461 00:35:22,787 --> 00:35:26,157 TO MATCH THE SURROUNDING ROCKS AND CORAL. 462 00:35:26,157 --> 00:35:35,934 (♪♪♪) 463 00:35:35,934 --> 00:35:38,003 A PREDATOR IN DISGUISE, 464 00:35:38,003 --> 00:35:41,039 THE OCTOPUS WILL WAIT FOR CRABS AND MOLLUSCS 465 00:35:41,039 --> 00:35:43,942 THAT WANDER INTO ITS PATH. 466 00:35:48,613 --> 00:35:52,584 PREY IS GRIPPED BY POWERFUL ARMS STUDDED WITH SUCKERS. 467 00:35:53,618 --> 00:35:58,289 THEN PARALYZED BY NERVE POISON SECRETED IN ITS SALIVA. 468 00:36:01,726 --> 00:36:03,795 IF CAUGHT BY A PREDATOR, 469 00:36:03,795 --> 00:36:06,164 THE OCTOPUS IS ABLE TO LOSE AN ARM, 470 00:36:06,164 --> 00:36:10,769 THEN MIRACULOUSLY REGROW IT LATER WITHOUT LASTING DAMAGE. 471 00:36:10,769 --> 00:36:20,912 (♪♪♪) 472 00:36:20,912 --> 00:36:27,285 (♪♪♪) 473 00:36:27,285 --> 00:36:31,823 A GREEN MORAY EEL, MORE THAN SIX FEET LONG, 474 00:36:31,823 --> 00:36:34,626 SLINKS ALONG THE OCEAN FLOOR. 475 00:36:37,729 --> 00:36:40,465 SOLITARY ANIMALS THAT SPEND THEIR DAYS 476 00:36:40,465 --> 00:36:44,636 HIDING BETWEEN ROCKS AND INSIDE CREVICES, 477 00:36:46,371 --> 00:36:50,375 GREEN MORAY EELS HAVE DEVELOPED AN UGLY REPUTATION 478 00:36:50,375 --> 00:36:53,144 FOR BEING VICIOUS - 479 00:36:53,144 --> 00:36:54,946 A BELIEF BASED LARGELY ON THE FACT 480 00:36:54,946 --> 00:36:59,951 THAT MORAYS CONTINUALLY OPEN AND CLOSE THEIR LARGE MOUTHS, 481 00:36:59,951 --> 00:37:03,188 SHOWING OFF A LINE OF RAZOR-SHARP TEETH. 482 00:37:06,558 --> 00:37:09,260 THIS BEHAVIOUR MAY APPEAR THREATENING 483 00:37:09,260 --> 00:37:13,431 BUT IT IS ACTUALLY NECESSARY FOR SURVIVAL. 484 00:37:13,431 --> 00:37:16,901 BY OPENING ITS MOUTH, THE EEL TAKES IN WATER 485 00:37:16,901 --> 00:37:21,239 WHICH IS THEN FORCED OVER ITS GILLS PROVIDING OXYGEN. 486 00:37:23,241 --> 00:37:25,910 MORAYS HAVE POOR EYESIGHT 487 00:37:25,910 --> 00:37:30,181 AND RATHER THAN HUNTING FOR FISH, CRAB AND SHRIMP, 488 00:37:30,181 --> 00:37:32,417 THEY HOLE UP BETWEEN ROCKS 489 00:37:32,417 --> 00:37:35,420 THEN POUNCE ON UNSUSPECTING PREY. 490 00:37:35,420 --> 00:37:45,096 (♪♪♪) 491 00:37:45,096 --> 00:37:46,431 WITH NOTHING HERE 492 00:37:46,431 --> 00:37:49,934 BUT A PRONGHORN SPINY LOBSTER MARCHING ON THE ROCKS, 493 00:37:51,536 --> 00:37:54,973 THE GREEN MORAY SWIMS OFF. 494 00:37:57,575 --> 00:38:00,478 AS WITH ALL CREATURES OF THE OCEAN, 495 00:38:00,478 --> 00:38:03,081 LIFE FOR THE MORAY IS A DELICATE BALANCE 496 00:38:03,081 --> 00:38:08,086 BETWEEN PRESERVING ENERGY AND THE ENDLESS QUEST FOR FOOD. 497 00:38:08,086 --> 00:38:14,526 (♪♪♪) 498 00:38:14,526 --> 00:38:17,462 MEANWHILE, CLOSER TO THE SURFACE, 499 00:38:17,462 --> 00:38:19,797 ONE OF SOCORRO'S MOST SPECTACULAR SCENES 500 00:38:19,797 --> 00:38:22,367 IS UNLEASHED - 501 00:38:24,202 --> 00:38:27,105 JACKS, THOUSANDS OF THEM 502 00:38:27,105 --> 00:38:29,941 EXPLODING INTO THICK, SILVERY CLOUDS. 503 00:38:29,941 --> 00:38:40,852 (♪♪♪) 504 00:38:40,852 --> 00:38:43,788 THE EFFECT IS MESMERIZING. 505 00:38:43,788 --> 00:38:53,932 (♪♪♪) 506 00:38:53,932 --> 00:39:03,875 (♪♪♪) 507 00:39:03,875 --> 00:39:07,178 (♪♪♪) 508 00:39:07,178 --> 00:39:08,379 IT JUST GETS DARK. 509 00:39:08,379 --> 00:39:09,247 WHEN YOU'RE IN THERE, IT JUST GETS DARK 510 00:39:09,247 --> 00:39:11,049 AND WHEREVER YOU LOOK, 511 00:39:11,049 --> 00:39:13,585 IT'S JUST FISH EVERYWHERE, EVERYWHERE. 512 00:39:16,521 --> 00:39:18,957 LIKE MANY FISH, THE JACKS HERE AT SOCORRO 513 00:39:18,957 --> 00:39:20,692 SWIM IN SCHOOLS 514 00:39:20,692 --> 00:39:22,794 TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM PREDATORS. 515 00:39:22,794 --> 00:39:36,474 (♪♪♪) 516 00:39:36,474 --> 00:39:38,743 THERE IS SAFETY IN NUMBERS 517 00:39:40,511 --> 00:39:43,114 AND A TIGHTLY ORGANIZED SCHOOL OF JACKS 518 00:39:43,114 --> 00:39:44,782 SWIMMING IN UNISON 519 00:39:44,782 --> 00:39:47,518 MAY APPEAR AS A SINGLE LARGE CREATURE 520 00:39:47,518 --> 00:39:50,288 TO A POTENTIAL HUNTER. 521 00:39:54,726 --> 00:39:57,629 WHEN THE SCHOOL IS ATTACKED BY A PREDATOR, 522 00:39:57,629 --> 00:40:01,833 THE ODDS ARE LOW THAT ANY ONE FISH WILL BE THE PREY. 523 00:40:06,104 --> 00:40:09,607 THE SAME DILUTION EFFECT ALSO DECREASES THE CHANCE 524 00:40:09,607 --> 00:40:14,345 OF AN INDIVIDUAL FISH FALLING PREY TO PARASITES. 525 00:40:14,345 --> 00:40:27,558 (♪♪♪) 526 00:40:27,558 --> 00:40:29,294 THE LARGER THE SCHOOL, 527 00:40:29,294 --> 00:40:32,864 THE GREATER VIGILANCE AGAINST PREDATORS. 528 00:40:32,864 --> 00:40:35,066 WARNINGS ABOUT ADVANCING HUNTERS 529 00:40:35,066 --> 00:40:39,070 CAN BE SOUNDED BY ANY MEMBER OF A LARGE SCHOOL, 530 00:40:39,070 --> 00:40:41,806 MAKING IT UNNECESSARY FOR INDIVIDUALS 531 00:40:41,806 --> 00:40:44,075 TO SPOT DANGER ON THEIR OWN. 532 00:40:44,075 --> 00:40:54,218 (♪♪♪) 533 00:40:54,218 --> 00:40:59,490 (♪♪♪) 534 00:40:59,490 --> 00:41:02,026 AS THE SIZE OF THE SCHOOL INCREASES, 535 00:41:02,026 --> 00:41:05,630 MORE EYES ARE ABLE TO SCAN GREATER AREAS 536 00:41:05,630 --> 00:41:09,434 OF THE OCEAN FOR PREDATORS, 537 00:41:11,336 --> 00:41:14,238 INCREASING SAFETY AND ALLOWING MORE TIME 538 00:41:14,238 --> 00:41:16,774 TO CONCENTRATE ON FEEDING. 539 00:41:16,774 --> 00:41:26,718 (♪♪♪) 540 00:41:26,718 --> 00:41:30,021 FOOD IN THE OCEAN IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO FIND. 541 00:41:31,723 --> 00:41:33,624 THE MORE EYES ON THE LOOKOUT, 542 00:41:33,624 --> 00:41:37,528 THE GREATER THE CHANCES OF DISCOVERING A MEAL. 543 00:41:43,234 --> 00:41:45,636 PRECISELY SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER, 544 00:41:45,636 --> 00:41:50,007 MOVING AT THE SAME SPEED IN THE SAME DIRECTION, 545 00:41:50,007 --> 00:41:54,879 THESE JACKS ARE ABLE TO TURN QUICKLY AND IN HARMONY. 546 00:41:54,879 --> 00:41:58,916 AS IF THE SCHOOL HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. 547 00:41:58,916 --> 00:42:09,127 (♪♪♪) 548 00:42:09,127 --> 00:42:15,066 (♪♪♪) 549 00:42:23,674 --> 00:42:27,478 FROM SPECTACULAR SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMERS 550 00:42:27,478 --> 00:42:30,515 TO GRACEFUL, GLIDING GIANTS, 551 00:42:30,515 --> 00:42:34,986 THE SOCORRO ISLANDS ARE A WORLD UNTO THEIR OWN... 552 00:42:39,190 --> 00:42:44,262 ONE OF THE MANY WONDERS OF THE GREAT BLUE WILD. 553 00:42:47,565 --> 00:42:49,567 IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO SOCORRO, 554 00:42:49,567 --> 00:42:51,803 THEN IT WILL BE A VERY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR YOU 555 00:42:51,803 --> 00:42:55,373 IN THAT WAY THAT YOU WILL GET SO CLOSE TO ANIMALS 556 00:42:55,373 --> 00:42:58,543 LIKE NEVER BEFORE IN YOUR LIFE. 557 00:42:58,543 --> 00:43:05,349 (♪♪♪) 558 00:43:05,349 --> 00:43:08,753 THERE'S SUCH A BIG VARIETY OF BIG ANIMALS 559 00:43:08,753 --> 00:43:11,389 AND THE QUALITY OF THE INTERACTION 560 00:43:11,389 --> 00:43:15,660 IS UNPARALLELED TO ANY PLACE I'VE EVER SEEN BY FAR. 561 00:43:24,602 --> 00:43:27,371 IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE UNEXPECTED, 562 00:43:27,371 --> 00:43:30,308 IF YOU WANT TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES TO SEE BIG ANIMALS, 563 00:43:30,308 --> 00:43:32,677 SOCORRO IS DEFINITELY THE BEST PLACE TO GO. 564 00:43:32,677 --> 00:43:41,853 (♪♪♪) 565 00:43:41,853 --> 00:43:43,855 MANTAS ARE THE HIGHLIGHT OF SOCORRO. 566 00:43:43,855 --> 00:43:46,357 THEY LET YOU INTO THEIR WORLD LIKE CRAZY. 567 00:43:46,357 --> 00:43:49,060 THE BOND WITH THE ANIMALS THERE IS JUST AMAZING - 568 00:43:49,060 --> 00:43:51,262 THE MANTAS, THE DOLPHINS. 569 00:43:51,262 --> 00:43:55,166 WHEN YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO SWIM WITH A HUGE WHALE SHARK, 570 00:43:55,166 --> 00:43:56,634 OR A HUGE HUMPBACK WHALE, 571 00:43:56,634 --> 00:43:58,970 IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T DESCRIBE. 572 00:43:58,970 --> 00:44:00,671 YOU HAVE TO BE THERE. 573 00:44:00,671 --> 00:44:02,540 YOU DEFINITELY HAVE TO GO THERE. 574 00:44:02,540 --> 00:44:12,750 (♪♪♪) 575 00:44:12,750 --> 00:44:22,627 (♪♪♪) 576 00:44:22,627 --> 00:44:32,770 (♪♪♪) 577 00:44:32,770 --> 00:44:42,647 (♪♪♪) 578 00:44:42,647 --> 00:44:52,790 (♪♪♪) 579 00:44:52,790 --> 00:45:02,667 (♪♪♪) 580 00:45:02,667 --> 00:45:12,877 (♪♪♪) 581 00:45:12,877 --> 00:45:22,753 (♪♪♪) 582 00:45:22,753 --> 00:45:32,897 (♪♪♪) 583 00:45:32,897 --> 00:45:42,773 (♪♪♪) 584 00:45:42,773 --> 00:45:52,917 (♪♪♪) 585 00:45:52,917 --> 00:46:02,793 (♪♪♪) 586 00:46:02,793 --> 00:46:14,939 (♪♪♪)