0:00:04 > 0:00:07On Deadly 60, I've had loads of incredible animal encounters.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11Here's just one of my many favourites.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16This is Deadly 60 Bites.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21This time on Deadly 60, we're in the Bahamas -
0:00:21 > 0:00:25here - and we're looking for one very special kind of animal.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28Sharks!
0:00:31 > 0:00:34So without further ado, my crew and I start our mission.
0:00:34 > 0:00:39We're trying to find one of the most famous marine predators of all -
0:00:39 > 0:00:41tiger sharks.
0:00:41 > 0:00:46These huge predators prefer to live off-shore and in deep water.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49One way Doc can study them in this area is to bait long lines
0:00:49 > 0:00:53right down to the sea bed, hundreds of metres below and
0:00:53 > 0:00:55check them every few hours.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01We got something!
0:01:01 > 0:01:03We got a small tiger shark.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10OK, so the first thing we need to do is to bring the tiger alongside
0:01:10 > 0:01:15and then the Doc, here, has certain tests he needs to do on it.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Take some blood, get the length and the approximate weight of it.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Wow.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24This information is crucial to help Doc's team find out
0:01:24 > 0:01:27as much as possible about these secretive animals.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30I know this looks really stressful for the shark,
0:01:30 > 0:01:33but they are such tough creatures.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36It's really important that we minimise the amount of time that
0:01:36 > 0:01:38we have this shark kept like this.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Now, all we really need to do is just to tag it,
0:01:40 > 0:01:44so we can identify the individual, and then let it go.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46OK, there you go.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Now we need to let this wonderful creature go.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53But in order to get it to get moving again,
0:01:53 > 0:01:55I'm gonna need to get in the water with it
0:01:55 > 0:01:56and help it start swimming.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00The shark's groggy form lack of oxygen,
0:02:00 > 0:02:02so it's important that someone swims alongside,
0:02:02 > 0:02:05keeping its head into the current,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08forcing water into its gills until it's moving strongly.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Today, that's gonna be my job.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49It's gonna be OK. It's gonna be fine.
0:02:49 > 0:02:50That was amazing.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58We were just pulling up the rest of the line,
0:02:58 > 0:03:02fully expecting there not to be anything else on it,
0:03:02 > 0:03:04and we've had a real surprise.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07This big animal is a tiger shark.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11And the most amazing thing about it is, despite the fact that
0:03:11 > 0:03:13it's absolutely huge, it's a male!
0:03:13 > 0:03:15Usually, the really big animals are the females.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18This monster shark is an old friend
0:03:18 > 0:03:21and has already been tagged by Doc and his team.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24This is great news for their research
0:03:24 > 0:03:26and means we don't need to measure him again.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09That might just be the coolest thing I've ever seen.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14Seeing that incredible prehistoric creature just
0:04:14 > 0:04:16heading off into the big blue.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20Just really... Wow.
0:04:20 > 0:04:21I don't know what to say.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33I got up this morning and there were absolutely no sharks around at all.
0:04:33 > 0:04:38And all of a sudden, one dark shape just appeared close to the boat.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41We're pretty sure it's a tiger shark.
0:04:41 > 0:04:46So we're gonna get in the water and see if we can get it to come close.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50There's just a few tantalising shapes just out here,
0:04:50 > 0:04:52probably 15 metres behind the boat.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54The only way we can really know for sure
0:04:54 > 0:04:57is to get in and get a good look.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Look at the size of it!
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Right, before I jump in, I just want to show you what tigers can do
0:05:03 > 0:05:05when they push the nasty button.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Tigers can vary their hunting strategy to whatever is available.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13Even sea birds aren't safe.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20There's not much that's subtle about their table manners.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Imagine carving a Sunday roast with a chainsaw
0:05:23 > 0:05:24and you get the idea.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Right, chaps.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40As we get into the water,
0:05:40 > 0:05:43the dark shapes move further away from the boat.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56While the dive team get down on to the bottom,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59it's crucial that the surface team keep the bait coming in
0:05:59 > 0:06:04to try and bring the shy tigers back and hopefully keep them interested.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12I reckon that barracuda head could feed me for a week!
0:06:13 > 0:06:19Oh! Oh, look! That's a seriously big tiger coming in.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21A huge female!
0:06:21 > 0:06:24I bet that was the big shape we saw from the deck before.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30It's coming... She's coming right in, right up to Simon!
0:06:30 > 0:06:34I reckon she could swallow him in one go!
0:06:34 > 0:06:36She's like a swimming bus!
0:06:40 > 0:06:43I can't believe it! She's swimming right between us!
0:06:48 > 0:06:49Here we go.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Now we're going to see her in action.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Look at that!
0:07:01 > 0:07:03That is awesome.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Those guys on top better be ready for the pull.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13I reckon she weighs, what, quarter of a tonne?
0:07:19 > 0:07:21I hope I don't get any closer than this.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25To be honest, she's being gentle.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29Those teeth can go straight through a turtle's shell.
0:07:29 > 0:07:35She's kind of more playing with it like a big puppy dog.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49That was unbelievable!
0:07:53 > 0:07:55Whoo-hoo!
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Well...all my years diving with sharks
0:08:05 > 0:08:08and they still have the power to surprise me.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12Even that huge bulldog of a female tiger
0:08:12 > 0:08:16was just nosing cautiously between Simon the cameraman and I.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18It was almost like she was being polite
0:08:18 > 0:08:22and she didn't want to grab the bite, didn't want to jump the queue.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25For all that, though, the tiger shark has to be on the Deadly 60.
0:08:25 > 0:08:30They're big, they're powerful, they have enormous can-opener teeth,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33and they're one of the wonders of the ocean.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35That was incredible.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42You could argue that tiger sharks deserve the "deadly" tag
0:08:42 > 0:08:44more than any other shark,
0:08:44 > 0:08:46because they hunt so many things -
0:08:46 > 0:08:49turtles, fish, seabirds, mammals.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Certainly not me though!
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
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