0:00:02 > 0:00:09My name's Steve Backshall, and this is my search for the Deadly 60.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Amazing!
0:00:12 > 0:00:14That's not just animals that are deadly to me...
0:00:14 > 0:00:16but that are deadly in their own world.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20My crew and I are travelling the planet, and you're coming with me
0:00:20 > 0:00:22every step of the way!
0:00:29 > 0:00:33This time, we're in Costa Rica in Central America, Mozambique,
0:00:33 > 0:00:35South Africa, Namibia, Uganda, Madagascar,
0:00:35 > 0:00:40Thailand, Mexico, Philippines, Norway, Transylvania in Romania.
0:00:40 > 0:00:41This time on Deadly 60,
0:00:41 > 0:00:43we're in the Ibera Wetlands in Northern Argentina.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48In making Deadly 60,
0:00:48 > 0:00:50our aim has been to bring you animals
0:00:50 > 0:00:52from every single environment on Earth.
0:00:54 > 0:00:59And sometimes, deadly animals live in truly deadly places.
0:01:00 > 0:01:05Ow! This actually bit me right through the suit!
0:01:05 > 0:01:09If she gets any closer, don't move a muscle.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Sometimes, it's a challenge just keeping the cameras working,
0:01:13 > 0:01:17let alone managing to film rare and secretive animals.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23So if you think it's all fun, and we're basically on big holidays
0:01:23 > 0:01:27round the world, think again.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31I give you Deadly 60, The Making Of.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38But the story doesn't start in the jungles or deserts.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41It all begins back at Deadly 60 HQ,
0:01:41 > 0:01:45at the Natural History Unit in Bristol.
0:01:45 > 0:01:51Through the reception, across the car park and up some stairs,
0:01:51 > 0:01:53this is where the production team research,
0:01:53 > 0:01:58plan and organise everything we need to film the programme.
0:01:58 > 0:02:03From fixers, Visas, plane tickets, camera equipment to accommodation
0:02:03 > 0:02:06and even our clothing, because after all, you don't want to be stuck
0:02:06 > 0:02:10in a freezing Norway in your underpants! Argh!
0:02:11 > 0:02:16These behind the scenes guys are vital to the making of Deadly 60.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30One thing that needs very careful planning by the team
0:02:30 > 0:02:33is how we get about, because we pretty much need to use
0:02:33 > 0:02:36every mode of transport going.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Yee-ha! Trucks...
0:02:39 > 0:02:44boats...stubborn horses, even bright pink buses.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47It's the beautiful Backshall mystery tour bus!
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Where it goes, nobody knows!
0:02:49 > 0:02:55Even face-freezing skidoos and a plane or two.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58One of my old haunts I was keen to return to
0:02:58 > 0:03:01was south western Costa Rica.
0:03:01 > 0:03:06There are few places in the world with such exciting wild animals.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19- HE LAUGHS - That was amazing!
0:03:21 > 0:03:23Can I have another go? It is all right?
0:03:23 > 0:03:24You want another go?!
0:03:26 > 0:03:27But wild places are,
0:03:27 > 0:03:31by their very nature, a long, long way away from civilisation.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35It took us three days of hard travelling just to get
0:03:35 > 0:03:40to the coast, and from there, the only way on was by small boats.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Everyone was exhausted, and wondering
0:03:47 > 0:03:49if it was going to be worth it.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51We needn't have worried.
0:03:54 > 0:04:00Look at this! Whoo-hoo! These are spotted dolphins.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03It's a massive group,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06stretching out for hundreds of metres in every direction.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12Any day when you see dolphins is a good day as far as I'm concerned.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16It was almost as if the dolphins had swam out to welcome us.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18The best start we could ever hope for!
0:04:18 > 0:04:22Shame they couldn't help us ashore with all the kit!
0:04:22 > 0:04:26Half a ton of expedition and filming stuff, and the only transport
0:04:26 > 0:04:31- was people power.- Just managed to come in through the waves.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35We're slowly going to unload everything very carefully.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37There's a lot of gear here that
0:04:37 > 0:04:39we don't want to get too wet.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42So that's basically what we're doing at the moment.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46And this is going to be our home for the next five days.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50These cases contain a host of different cameras. Long lenses for
0:04:50 > 0:04:54filming far away animals, tiny ones for getting into insy-winsy holes.
0:04:54 > 0:04:59Honestly, what kind of fool would bring a suitcase to the rainforest?
0:05:02 > 0:05:03Not guilty.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09But all this technology will be pointless
0:05:09 > 0:05:11if I can't find us some animals!
0:05:16 > 0:05:21Just down in front of me is one the most feared animals
0:05:21 > 0:05:23found in the Americas.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26With venomous snakes like the fer-de-lance lurking
0:05:26 > 0:05:29in the leaf litter, we have to keep our wits about us.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Look at that!
0:05:31 > 0:05:36This is truly what you call a croc-infested river.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41In the rainforest, the absolute prime time for wildlife is after
0:05:41 > 0:05:44the sun has set, when everything comes out to play.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50At night, the rainforest comes alive with a whole new cast of characters,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53and a lot of them like to shout about it.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57- SQUEAKING - This bullfrog has a warning squeal
0:05:57 > 0:06:00that's said to attract crocodiles.
0:06:00 > 0:06:05We've already seen there's a croc round here somewhere.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08Oh, that's some strength.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11Look at that!
0:06:11 > 0:06:13HE LAUGHS
0:06:19 > 0:06:21And there he is!
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Heading off with his dinner.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30And what a finale.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Lightening strike, crocodile,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36American crocs are going on the Deadly 60!
0:06:39 > 0:06:42You may have noticed that it rains a lot here,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45but when we're filming Deadly 60, that doesn't stop us.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49This is the rainforest, after all, and if you waited for blue skies,
0:06:49 > 0:06:51you'd never get out of your hammock.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57But all of this rain mixed with the heat takes its toll on our cameras,
0:06:57 > 0:07:00and sometimes they just refuse to work anymore.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02Anyone got a hairdryer handy?
0:07:04 > 0:07:07So we all got up at four o'clock this morning
0:07:07 > 0:07:10to get out and film the sun rising.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15Overnight, the camera seems to have died and we think it's the humidity.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17It feels really hot and steamy,
0:07:17 > 0:07:19like after you've had a hot shower in the bathroom.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21It's kind of like what humidity is.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24It's not very good for electronics. So, unfortunately,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26we're resorting to a hairdryer
0:07:26 > 0:07:29to warm up the camera and get rid of any moisture
0:07:29 > 0:07:31that might be inside the camera.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34So, fingers crossed this'll work.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38It's lucky the boys brought their hairdryer, I tell you.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44But just as important as taking care of the equipment
0:07:44 > 0:07:45is taking care of ourselves.
0:07:45 > 0:07:51When feet are wet all day long, they literally start to rot,
0:07:51 > 0:07:54and if you can't walk, you can't film.
0:07:54 > 0:07:59In my opinion, this is the worst moment of working in the jungle.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03Taking off soaking wet socks.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05In the evenings, you're nice and dry,
0:08:05 > 0:08:07then the next morning you have to put on your wet socks.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09It's absolutely grim.
0:08:09 > 0:08:15Soaking wet! Miserable, smelly socks that you've got to keep on all day.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23Careful, guys, there's a bit of mud here.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26From the sticky gooey forests
0:08:26 > 0:08:29to the shifting sands of the deserts,
0:08:29 > 0:08:32to the African savannah,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35every environment has a whole different set of challenges.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40Even the cold places are just as bad,
0:08:40 > 0:08:41but let's go back to places
0:08:41 > 0:08:44that are truly scorching, like here in Namibia.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48In order to get around that, you'll notice all the guys
0:08:48 > 0:08:52have hats on and sunglasses, looking rather natty here.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56Alternatively, you can cover yourself in sunblock.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59That might be a little bit excessive!
0:08:59 > 0:09:03- I can't get it off now!- That's going to take some rubbing in!
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Making sure you hydrate yourself with lots of water,
0:09:06 > 0:09:10and taking care to keep in during the hottest parts of the day.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Something that we haven't managed yet!
0:09:13 > 0:09:15THEY LAUGH
0:09:15 > 0:09:17It's a tough job!
0:09:19 > 0:09:24With deserts, it's not just the heat that scuppers us. It's sand.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28Imagine having a picnic on the beach with the wind blowing hard.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32Sand gets into everything, as we found while filming sidewinders
0:09:32 > 0:09:33in the Namibian desert.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39The sidewinder makes getting about on the hot,
0:09:39 > 0:09:43ever-shifting surface of these dunes look easy.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47I wanted to give it a try myself, but wasn't quite as graceful
0:09:47 > 0:09:49on my sand board.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Filming on the dunes gives the crew
0:09:53 > 0:09:57a whole new set of problems, as the sand gets everywhere.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01Filming in the desert, there's lots of physical challenges
0:10:01 > 0:10:04that you have to endure, from the sun and everything,
0:10:04 > 0:10:08but the worst thing for us is sand getting into the kit.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11I mean, just from this morning,
0:10:11 > 0:10:15I've kind of got pockets full of sand.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17It's all through all the cameras.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20That's just out my pocket.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23All through the sound gear, and every tiny grain can get
0:10:23 > 0:10:26into the working parts and stop the camera working, so the guys
0:10:26 > 0:10:29have got to clean it all off now.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33Sand everywhere. Sand in the tiniest little switches here,
0:10:33 > 0:10:35which I can't get into.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39You can do a certain amount with a brush, but where the brush can't go,
0:10:39 > 0:10:41this is a can of air,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44just very high-pressured air, which we squirt into the holes,
0:10:44 > 0:10:46and hopefully gets rid of the sand.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48That's the theory.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55If I had hair, you'd see my hair quaffing away.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Although it looks like a dry and lifeless place,
0:11:00 > 0:11:04Namibia is surprisingly full of all kinds of wildlife.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Lizards, spiders, scorpions,
0:11:07 > 0:11:12and cleaning up after all the predators is the magnificent,
0:11:12 > 0:11:16if slightly creepy, animal undertaker - the vulture.
0:11:16 > 0:11:21These birds work in huge networks, patrolling high above the landscape,
0:11:21 > 0:11:26spotting potential meals from miles up high in the sky.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30When a dead animal carcass is spotted, the vultures descend
0:11:30 > 0:11:31in huge numbers,
0:11:31 > 0:11:35and can reduce the largest animals on Earth
0:11:35 > 0:11:40to bare bones in a matter of minutes. Grim!
0:11:40 > 0:11:42Vultures are, strictly speaking,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45birds of prey, with bolt-cutter beaks
0:11:45 > 0:11:48and vast wing spans, but to see them at work,
0:11:48 > 0:11:51we needed to create a bird buffet.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54So the first stage in our search starts here.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58We've chosen a nice, open expanse of land here, we're going to put some
0:11:58 > 0:12:01food down over there, so that, hopefully, watchful eyes
0:12:01 > 0:12:03will start to take interest pretty soon.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06The next thing we're going to do is set up some cameras around it,
0:12:06 > 0:12:09put one of our cars as a shooting platform, I'm guessing,
0:12:09 > 0:12:13under the shade of this tree here.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17Vultures are surprisingly cautious, so we needed to be very careful
0:12:17 > 0:12:21to hide our presence. Mark and I will hide in the van nearby
0:12:21 > 0:12:23with the long lens at the ready.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27This is a camera that's going to look back at Mark and I
0:12:27 > 0:12:30while we're filming, so I can talk to it,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33but I can still see out and see the vultures.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37But to get right in amongst the action,
0:12:37 > 0:12:40we needed a super sneaky skull cam.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46So this mini camera's going off to the carcass.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58This is definitely work in progress.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01Meet skull cam.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10We even had to hide the 30 metres of cable
0:13:10 > 0:13:12that carry the pictures back to our vehicle,
0:13:12 > 0:13:14otherwise the inquisitive vultures
0:13:14 > 0:13:18would have torn up the wires and probably eaten them.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Vultures are...
0:13:20 > 0:13:22really smart birds,
0:13:22 > 0:13:25and they've got amazing eyesight, so we've got to dig this cable in
0:13:25 > 0:13:27all the way back to the car.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29It's going to be a long morning!
0:13:31 > 0:13:33So, the stopwatch is running.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35Let's see how long it takes for things to turn up.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42Vultures make a living feeding on the leftovers from lions and hyenas,
0:13:42 > 0:13:45and are always watching out to see if the predator is still around.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50They're careful, skittish, and will fly
0:13:50 > 0:13:52at the slightest sound or movement.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58- Good luck, everyone. - Thank you very much.
0:14:01 > 0:14:02Vultures have sensational eyesight.
0:14:02 > 0:14:07They can easily spot a dead animal from a mile up.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11Oh, ah, we've got our first circling vultures already.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15There's two, three. Three vultures.
0:14:15 > 0:14:21We been in here for three minutes, three minutes.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23I can't even begin to estimate
0:14:23 > 0:14:26how many birds we've got coming in at the moment.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31There's a vulture coming in, Marky.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37When this actually kicks off, it's going to be mayhem.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Oh, ho-ho! Wow!
0:14:50 > 0:14:53That is incredible.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56It's like suddenly someone rang the dinner bell.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02Our skull cam has got an awesome shot.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07Oh, my goodness! That carcass isn't going to be there for long.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13I reckon vultures have got to go on the Deadly 60.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22One thing I get asked all the time is, do you and the team
0:15:22 > 0:15:25really sleep out in the wild or do you pop back
0:15:25 > 0:15:28to the five-star hotel just round the corner?
0:15:28 > 0:15:31That's my bed down there, under the stars.
0:15:35 > 0:15:40The first thunder and lightning was only about five or ten minutes ago,
0:15:40 > 0:15:43and already, it's a struggle just to keep the camp up.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Believe it or not, staying wild is the highlight of the job.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55From tents in Norway, where the outside temperature was
0:15:55 > 0:15:57a bone-chilling minus 30...
0:15:57 > 0:16:00What have we got, Steve? What's on the menu?
0:16:00 > 0:16:04Wolf fish and dill, beef and potato casserole.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06Mm-mm!
0:16:06 > 0:16:10'..to remote villages hidden deep in the rainforest.'
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Home! Sweet home.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16COCKEREL CROWS
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Often, we share our accommodation with the local wildlife.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25It's climbing down your neck, Charlie.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27- Turn around.- There he is.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32It's a longhorn beetle.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34And some of that wildlife is deadly.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36Look at that tail going.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41And there it is.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48In Madagascar, we had some rather rowdy, mischievous neighbours.
0:16:48 > 0:16:49Look at this.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51They're just totally fearless.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58Look! He's in Charlie's room. Argh!
0:16:58 > 0:17:00He just ran out this way.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02You cheeky monkey!
0:17:02 > 0:17:03What are you after, hey?
0:17:03 > 0:17:05Ah, ah, ah, ah. You don't...
0:17:11 > 0:17:12Lesson number one, never
0:17:12 > 0:17:16leave bananas in your room. That's what they were after.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21Brown lemurs are known for being bold, and Charlie never did see his
0:17:21 > 0:17:24bananas again. From then on in, we took care not to leave out anything
0:17:24 > 0:17:26important for them to pinch.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30But even simple wooden shacks like these are a luxury for my hardy
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Deadly 60 posse.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34A sleeping bag under the stars
0:17:34 > 0:17:36is all you need if you're sure it won't rain.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40Well, unless you're in a place where lions and leopards roam.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Here in Namibia, we had to build a protective wall of
0:17:43 > 0:17:46thorns called a "boma" to make sure we didn't get munched.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51It's a thrilling way to spend the night.
0:17:51 > 0:17:52HOWLING
0:17:52 > 0:17:55There's a lion. There's a lion calling
0:17:55 > 0:17:57off in the distance off that way.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59'Good job we built that protective wall of thorns.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03'And it means we're in the right place.'
0:18:03 > 0:18:06The following evening, as the sun dropped towards the horizon, we
0:18:06 > 0:18:10found the pride of lions and trailed them as they headed out to hunt.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15It's going to happen. Right now.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18One down, over the back there. No, it's got away. He got away.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28All the water hog just scattered in completely different directions.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30And one over there,
0:18:30 > 0:18:34unfortunately, has just met its end in a thicket just over there.
0:18:34 > 0:18:40That would have to be one of the quickest, most completely perfect
0:18:40 > 0:18:42hunts I think I've ever seen.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56A good portion of my Deadly 60 stars are true monsters of the deep.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58Whoa!
0:18:59 > 0:19:04'Finding them takes a whole bunch of skills, techniques and kit.'
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Look at that!
0:19:06 > 0:19:10'My team's done tens of thousands of hours underwater.
0:19:10 > 0:19:16'And we'd need every minute of that experience filming the Red Devil.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20'A demon of the deep found off the coast of Mexico.'
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Over the last few years, travelling the world looking
0:19:23 > 0:19:26for deadly animals, there's one that I've heard more
0:19:26 > 0:19:28crazy stories about, and has captured my imagination
0:19:28 > 0:19:32more than any other, which is why we're here in the Sea of Cortez in
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Mexico looking for them. This is one of the most dangerous animals
0:19:35 > 0:19:38we'll ever see on the Deadly 60, and it's called the Humboldt squid.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44- Are you OK, Steve? - Yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49Look at that! Wow!
0:19:49 > 0:19:53The Humboldt squid's one of the few animals on the Deadly 60
0:19:53 > 0:19:57that's likely to see me as a potential meal.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01OK, I'm going to very gently just try and take control of the head.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06Oh, I've got it! Got my first Humboldt squid underwater.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Look at the size of it!
0:20:11 > 0:20:13It's absolutely magnificent.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19'This was the realisation of a life's ambition, but for those few
0:20:19 > 0:20:23'minutes of frenzied fear, we'd had weeks of planning and preparation.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28'And all done long before we got wet.'
0:20:29 > 0:20:31Right.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39Filming underwater's one of the most exciting but also one of the most
0:20:39 > 0:20:41complicated things that we do.
0:20:41 > 0:20:46The simple stuff is that we've got inside here, this tank, compressed
0:20:46 > 0:20:50air, which can allow me to breathe for perhaps an hour under water.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54The more complicated thing is this special mask here,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57which has a microphone inside it
0:20:57 > 0:21:00that allows me
0:21:00 > 0:21:03to talk underwater.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05And also...
0:21:07 > 0:21:10You should hopefully be able to see my whole face underwater.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13Now, if you come over here...
0:21:15 > 0:21:19- This burly fellow is Simon, our underwater cameraman.- All right?
0:21:19 > 0:21:24And this kind of spaceship-looking thing is our underwater camera.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- Simon, can you just give us a little squiz at what this is all about?
0:21:27 > 0:21:28Yup. All righty.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30So this is the housing, the camera.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Big car
0:21:32 > 0:21:36headlights here, to see you and to see the squid.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40The battery's down here. Monitor at the top so I can
0:21:40 > 0:21:41see what the camera is seeing.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43And then inside here,
0:21:43 > 0:21:45inside the mother ship...
0:21:48 > 0:21:50- Is the camera itself.- Right.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52- So that's what it's all about.- OK.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56And then all the levers, all the controls, everything
0:21:56 > 0:21:58to play around with the camera.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02And hopefully one of them leads to a big red button that says "record".
0:22:02 > 0:22:05Yeah. Now, something to think about with this is this huge, great
0:22:05 > 0:22:09big machine here probably weighs about as much as a fridge, and Simon
0:22:09 > 0:22:12is going to be underwater, swimming, trying to make sure that he keeps
0:22:12 > 0:22:16this whole thing co-ordinated and in check and in focus.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18So actually, he's got a pretty hard job.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22But don't tell him that too much because he'll get a big head!
0:22:24 > 0:22:28Simon's one of the world's finest underwater camera men, and he needs
0:22:28 > 0:22:32to be to get images like these while swimming with a massive camera.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36He also has to avoid the business end of the Humboldt squid, because
0:22:36 > 0:22:42inside those arms and tentacles is a fearsome, parrot-like beak.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45To make sure we didn't end up as squid food, everyone who dived
0:22:45 > 0:22:48had to wear chain-mail armour over the top of their wetsuits.
0:22:48 > 0:22:53Even with the chain mail, we still risk losing fingers and having bones
0:22:53 > 0:22:56broken by that fearsome beak.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01That's where that snapping beak is.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Just there.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06I'm going to take great care
0:23:06 > 0:23:10not to get my fingers close to it because I think I'd lose them.
0:23:10 > 0:23:11Well, I know I'd lose them.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18The squid has eight arms and two tentacles, with suction cups lined
0:23:18 > 0:23:22with teeth that wouldn't look out of place inside a piranha's mouth.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24Scary stuff!
0:23:27 > 0:23:28The last time he dived with Humboldts,
0:23:28 > 0:23:32a squid grabbed Simon by the leg and dragged him off into the deep.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35His safety line saved his life.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38One of the first things you'll see as we're kitting up is, Simon, the
0:23:38 > 0:23:42cameraman here is putting on, is actually chain-mail.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46This is the same kind of thing as knights used to wear into battle
0:23:46 > 0:23:49and this is really for protection against the squid.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51And, Scott,
0:23:51 > 0:23:54it kind of seems like it might be a little bit of overkill, but, you
0:23:54 > 0:23:58know, you're living evidence that that's not true, aren't you, really?
0:23:58 > 0:24:02Yeah, the odds of a squid actually attacking you are 40, 50%.
0:24:02 > 0:24:03Yeah.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06But when they attack you, sometimes they can be really all-out.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08And you saw the teeth on it, right?
0:24:08 > 0:24:11- Those teeth are awesome. - Inside the tentacles, yeah.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14Absolutely, absolutely. So if it grabs onto you without armour,
0:24:14 > 0:24:19- it can open up a wet suit and open your skin up in seconds.- Yeah.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21- But you saw the size of that beak. - Yeah.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25My wrist has been broken five times by the Humboldt squid as I
0:24:25 > 0:24:27put my hand up to protect me and
0:24:27 > 0:24:30they broke the bones inside there. Even five-foot squid can do that.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32That's going through the chain mail?
0:24:32 > 0:24:35That's the pressure of the bite through the chain-mail suit.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39But I don't have any wounds from it other than broken bones.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Without the suit, I would probably
0:24:41 > 0:24:45have either lost my hand or had a big portion of it gouged out.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47So, you know, the suits work.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50Even though, you know, they look like they're a bit much,
0:24:50 > 0:24:51they're really not.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54Do you know what? I'm going to take your advice and wear the suit!
0:25:00 > 0:25:03'Within minutes of encountering my first Humboldt,
0:25:03 > 0:25:07'my elation turned to agony, as it chomped down on my arm, biting me
0:25:07 > 0:25:10'clean through the chain-mail suit.'
0:25:14 > 0:25:17Ooh! Oh, crikey, it's got a hold of my hand!
0:25:17 > 0:25:20It's actually... Argh!
0:25:20 > 0:25:22God, dear me! This... Argh!
0:25:25 > 0:25:28The strength of the beak, it has actually bit me right through the
0:25:28 > 0:25:31chain-mail suit.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34That's amazing!
0:25:34 > 0:25:37'The only result, heavy bruising.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40'Without the chain mail, I might have lost my arm.'
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Simon. Simon, surfacing.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46I don't think anyone's going to doubt that the Humboldt squid
0:25:46 > 0:25:48has got to go on the Deadly 60.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53It's worth reminding you, never try and repeat any of
0:25:53 > 0:25:55the stunts you see on Deadly 60.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57It may look like we're throw caution to the wind.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01We're sharing the air with Rod, the black eagle.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05'But honestly, there's weeks of planning behind
0:26:05 > 0:26:07'every bit of craziness.'
0:26:10 > 0:26:11Ah!
0:26:15 > 0:26:19But however much we plan things, wild animals are always on hand to
0:26:19 > 0:26:22add an element of the unpredictable.
0:26:22 > 0:26:23Whoa!
0:26:29 > 0:26:34'Like when this young male gorilla decided to give me a left hook.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38'Or when this coachwhip snake clearly hadn't read the script.'
0:26:38 > 0:26:39Ooh, it's very...ow!
0:26:39 > 0:26:44'I was given a full-on fly-by by a bull Steller sea lion.'
0:26:44 > 0:26:48Oh! He is gigantic!
0:26:48 > 0:26:52'And whacked with a rather attractive sting on the chin by killer bees.'
0:26:55 > 0:27:00'Nice! And my worst nip so far...
0:27:00 > 0:27:02'From a croc in an Argentinean swamp.
0:27:02 > 0:27:07'Not to mention being covered with figgy poo by cheerful chimps.'
0:27:07 > 0:27:09One coming down.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13We should be wearing hard hats.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16'Half the critters I catch have a munch on me.'
0:27:16 > 0:27:18Ow!
0:27:18 > 0:27:20'But the odd scrape or scratch
0:27:20 > 0:27:22'is a small price to pay...'
0:27:22 > 0:27:25I think I might be spoiling his camouflage a little bit.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28'..to spend our lives with the coolest animals on earth.'
0:27:28 > 0:27:30He's tasting my face.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32He just stuck his tongue in my eye!
0:27:34 > 0:27:37Join me next time, as I continue my search for the Deadly 60.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39Look at that.
0:27:42 > 0:27:43Boing! Wow!
0:28:01 > 0:28:03Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd