0:00:02 > 0:00:03Welcome to my Nightmares of Nature.
0:00:07 > 0:00:08I'm Naomi Wilkinson.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Argh!
0:00:10 > 0:00:13And I'm coming face to face with the nightmares of the animal world.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21The ones that make your spine tingle...
0:00:21 > 0:00:23your heart beat faster...
0:00:23 > 0:00:25Whaa!
0:00:25 > 0:00:26..and your blood run cold.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33Are they truly terrifying, or is there a twist in the tail?
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Whee-hee!
0:00:35 > 0:00:40Come with me as I shine a light on wildlife's deepest, darkest secrets.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45And see if you can guess which will be my worst nightmare.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Welcome to Central America.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52I'm back on the hunt for more nightmares of nature.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56And this stunning sun-drenched shoreline has plenty to choose from.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03'Wedged between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea,
0:01:03 > 0:01:07'Central America has over 4,000 miles of tropical coastline
0:01:07 > 0:01:08'for me to explore.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15'I'll share a petrifying picnic with a creepy crustacean...'
0:01:17 > 0:01:18Whoo-hoo-hoo!
0:01:18 > 0:01:20'..meet the little, but lethal residents
0:01:20 > 0:01:21'of a nightmare rock pool...'
0:01:21 > 0:01:23- That could kill me? - Absolutely, yeah.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27'..and dive into the deep blue for a serious scary snorkel.'
0:01:27 > 0:01:29Oh, there's a shark, there's a shark!
0:01:29 > 0:01:31Oh, come on, Naomi.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35'But first, I'm on the trail of a slithering seafarer.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42'Snakes. Love them or loathe them,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45'you have to admire their adaptability.
0:01:45 > 0:01:46'These resourceful reptiles
0:01:46 > 0:01:50'have conquered almost every corner of our planet.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55'They're not about to let a little bit of water get in their way.'
0:01:58 > 0:02:00The snake I'm hoping to show you today
0:02:00 > 0:02:04is among the most successful and widespread of all snakes.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08They're found on the coast of Africa, India, China, Australia,
0:02:08 > 0:02:11as well as here in Central America.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14But it's no good looking for them on dry land.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16No, we need to head out there.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26All snakes can swim, but some have taken the plunge full-time.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30The yellow-bellied or pelagic sea snake is a highly-venomous hunter
0:02:30 > 0:02:34that spends its entire life in water
0:02:34 > 0:02:37and is one of the most common of all sea snakes.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41But that doesn't mean it will be easy to find.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44To give us a better chance, we've enlisted the help
0:02:44 > 0:02:46of local snake specialist, Pompilio.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52But we're searching off the west coast of Central America
0:02:52 > 0:02:54on the fringe of the mighty Pacific,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57an ocean that covers roughly a third
0:02:57 > 0:03:00of the entire surface of planet Earth.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03And our sea snake is less than a metre long.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06- Anything, Pompilio?- Nothing. - Nothing?
0:03:09 > 0:03:12All that's in my mind is needles and haystacks.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20How do you call a snake? Snake charming?
0:03:20 > 0:03:23# Da, da, da, da, da, da, da. #
0:03:25 > 0:03:27There are some slightly bigger animals in these waters, though,
0:03:27 > 0:03:29that are much easier to spot.
0:03:31 > 0:03:32Oh! Oh, my...!
0:03:32 > 0:03:35- Ah! - LAUGHTER
0:03:38 > 0:03:41- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. - Oh, my...!
0:03:44 > 0:03:45Wow!
0:03:45 > 0:03:47Look how close we are!
0:03:49 > 0:03:52Wow, it's enormous! Look, look, look!
0:03:55 > 0:03:58We're looking for a venomous snake and we just happen to stumble across
0:03:58 > 0:04:02a couple of humpback whales giving us a magnificent display.
0:04:02 > 0:04:03Look!
0:04:05 > 0:04:07Makes your heart sing, that does.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13Can we just stay and watch whales all day
0:04:13 > 0:04:15instead of going to look for scary snakes, please?
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Maybe the humpbacks have brought us good luck
0:04:19 > 0:04:24because it's not long before a familiar shape swims into view.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27- It's one snake.- You see one?
0:04:27 > 0:04:29- Is looking from there. - Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
0:04:29 > 0:04:31- There it is.- This is a sea snake.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34- That's the one we're after. - The yellow-bellied, yeah.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36- OK.- OK. The plan is...
0:04:36 > 0:04:39- Are you going to bring it on board? - Collect one now with my net.
0:04:39 > 0:04:40Right, I'm going to get out of the way.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44'Pompilio is going to bring the snake onto the boat
0:04:44 > 0:04:46'so we can get a closer look.'
0:04:46 > 0:04:49- You can instantly see why it's called yellow-bellied.- Yep.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52'These brightly-coloured markings are a warning.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55'A bite from one of these snakes could kill,
0:04:55 > 0:04:57'so we need to be careful.'
0:04:57 > 0:05:00Ooo! It's coming straight towards you.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04- You've got it! Well done! - I have one.- Well done!
0:05:04 > 0:05:09'Although this doesn't hurt the snake, it will make it angry!'
0:05:09 > 0:05:11- OK, it's biting the net.- Yeah, that's trying to bite, isn't it?
0:05:11 > 0:05:13- That's not a very happy snake. - It's not happy.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Let's put it in the water. OK.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24It won't let go!
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Wow! That snake's cross.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35'With a lethal snake on the loose, suddenly the boat feels very small.'
0:05:43 > 0:05:44OK.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48NAOMI LAUGHS It's better with the top.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50- Well done, Pompilio.- Yeah.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53- Goodness me, I'm glad you're here. - Now it's safe for you.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55- Now it's safe.- Yeah.- Well done!
0:05:55 > 0:05:58'Thankfully, as soon as it's back in water,
0:05:58 > 0:06:02'the snake begins to relax and so can we.'
0:06:02 > 0:06:05People generally think of snakes as animals that live on the land,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08but this one has adapted to life at sea, has it?
0:06:08 > 0:06:11Yeah. They sleep in the water, eat in the water.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15How long can the snake stay underwater on one breath of air?
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Yeah, it's around two hours.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20- Two hours? - Yeah, it's possible two hours.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23I've met a few snakes with dangerous venom.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27Where on the scale of venom does this snake rank?
0:06:27 > 0:06:29- This is in the top.- Is it?
0:06:29 > 0:06:34Yeah. It's more dangerous and more toxic, for example, the cobra...
0:06:34 > 0:06:35This is more dangerous than a cobra?
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Yes. It's more toxic.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40'The reason this snake has such powerful venom
0:06:40 > 0:06:43'is its favourite food, fish.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47'It needs to be able to kill its prey before it can swim away.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50'And that requires a bite delivering a very strong,
0:06:50 > 0:06:52'very fast-acting toxin.'
0:06:56 > 0:07:01If this snake has such potent venom, is it dangerous to us?
0:07:01 > 0:07:02Yeah, it's very dangerous.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04This is really, really, toxic.
0:07:04 > 0:07:10In around six hours or eight hours, then the people is dead. Yeah.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14- Six to eight hours, you'd be dead? - Yeah.- Wow!
0:07:14 > 0:07:17'So you may be thinking that the yellow-bellied sea snake
0:07:17 > 0:07:20'definitely qualifies for nightmare status,
0:07:20 > 0:07:22'but there's a little twist in the tale.'
0:07:22 > 0:07:25Would you consider this snake a nightmare of nature?
0:07:25 > 0:07:26- No.- No?- No.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30But the reason is this snake is very relaxed.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32And remember, the snake living only in the sea.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35- So it just leaves people alone. - Yeah.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40'Despite its lethal venom, Pompilio believes this snake's placid nature
0:07:40 > 0:07:44'and the fact they live out here in the ocean where people rarely go,
0:07:44 > 0:07:47'means they should pose very little threat to us humans.'
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Well, Pompilio is so convinced
0:07:52 > 0:07:54that we're not at risk from this sea snake
0:07:54 > 0:07:57that we're going to go and swim right next to it.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01'I'm not sure I'm quite as convinced.'
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Argh! Ha-ha-ha!
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Whoo! Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
0:08:19 > 0:08:21'Now that we've entered the snake's world,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24'I can see how well adapted its serpentine shape is
0:08:24 > 0:08:26'for moving through the water.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31'And how clumsy and exposed I am in comparison.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35'But there's nothing to worry about.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38'As Pompilio predicted, the snake pays us no attention
0:08:38 > 0:08:41'and simply swims off to look for its next meal.'
0:08:44 > 0:08:46Thank you.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50Well, I'll tell you what, being in the water alongside an animal
0:08:50 > 0:08:52that you know has enough venom to kill you
0:08:52 > 0:08:55is a pretty nerve-racking experience.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57But as you can see, it wasn't interested in us at all.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00It would much prefer a fish supper.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Can I really call the yellow-bellied sea snake my worst nightmare?
0:09:06 > 0:09:09'The next stop on my coastal adventure is Cano Island.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13'A stunning tropical paradise around ten miles offshore.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18'And it looks like the perfect place to kick back and take it easy.'
0:09:18 > 0:09:21Tracking down nature's nightmares can be hard work.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24I think I deserve a little rest and relaxation.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26So the ever-considerate crew
0:09:26 > 0:09:30have arranged this wonderful picnic for me.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Let's see what culinary delights they've lined up, shall we?
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Ooo, what's this? Honey! Mm! Nice!
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Coconut, my favourite. Tropical.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42Um... Hm! Rotting fish?
0:09:46 > 0:09:49'You may have already guessed, but this picnic isn't for me.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51'It's here to try and lure out the locals.'
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Yum!
0:09:54 > 0:09:56'Because I'm going to be sharing my meal
0:09:56 > 0:09:59'with a hoard of hungry, multi-legged,
0:09:59 > 0:10:03'armour-plated, claw-wielding crustaceans.'
0:10:05 > 0:10:07Whoo-hoo-hoo!
0:10:09 > 0:10:12'Crabs are a common sight on coasts around the world
0:10:12 > 0:10:16'due to their handy ability to live both above and below the waterline.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21'Most species are opportunistic omnivores,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24'roaming the shoreline in search of any tasty morsels
0:10:24 > 0:10:28'to dissect and devour. Hence our picnic.'
0:10:30 > 0:10:33We've been told the crabs here are very keen on all this grub,
0:10:33 > 0:10:35so we're going leave it and return in a few hours
0:10:35 > 0:10:37to see who has come to dinner.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46'The crabs I want to see have been so successful here on Cano Island
0:10:46 > 0:10:50'that their numbers have swollen to truly epic proportions.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54'But have they accepted my invitation to a nightmare picnic?'
0:10:56 > 0:10:59OK, it's been a while, let's see what we've got.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01Oh! Wow!
0:11:01 > 0:11:04It is absolutely crawling!
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Ooo-hoo-hoo!
0:11:11 > 0:11:13These are all hermit crabs.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17They're not particularly big, but there are a lot of them.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19So, do they have what it takes to be a nightmare of nature?
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Well, let's take a closer look. Let's try you.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26They do have classic crab pincers,
0:11:26 > 0:11:28but they're so small, I'm going to gamble
0:11:28 > 0:11:30that they won't do me any damage. Fingers crossed.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37These crabs are scavengers.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40They'll eat just about anything they can find.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44Meat, fruit, leaves, rotting wood. They'll even eat poo.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Sounds like a nightmarish quality, if you ask me.
0:11:49 > 0:11:50Hermit crabs are also cannibals.
0:11:50 > 0:11:55That means if food is scarce, they'll eat another hermit crab.
0:11:55 > 0:11:56Er...grim!
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Thankfully, there's enough food to go round here.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03'Hermit crabs are such supreme scavengers,
0:12:03 > 0:12:05'they don't even grow their own shells.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08'They just find one they like left over by another animal,
0:12:08 > 0:12:10'move in and make themselves comfy.'
0:12:13 > 0:12:15Good shells are highly prized.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18And the crabs will fight over who gets to use them.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21And those scraps can get pretty ugly. Just like these two down here.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28'When a crab outgrows its shell, it needs to replace it quickly.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32'And the easiest way is just to take one from someone else.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34'But with a good shell potentially the difference
0:12:34 > 0:12:36'between life and death,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39'no-one's going to give it up without some serious scrapping.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41- Argh!- 'Which means in the world of the hermit crab,
0:12:41 > 0:12:45'brute force is always best.'
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Right, time to pop you back with your friends.
0:12:50 > 0:12:51Bon appetit.
0:12:54 > 0:12:55It's time to pack up and go,
0:12:55 > 0:12:58which isn't going to be very popular with the locals.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01But are hermit crabs a nightmare of nature?
0:13:01 > 0:13:04They're pretty small and they're completely harmless to us,
0:13:04 > 0:13:06so on their own, I'd probably say no.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09But when there are so many of them crawling around
0:13:09 > 0:13:11like a crustacean zombie army,
0:13:11 > 0:13:13fighting and eating anything in sight,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16including poo and each other,
0:13:16 > 0:13:18maybe they could be my worst nightmare.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23'We're heading back to the mainland
0:13:23 > 0:13:26'to see what other coastal nightmares
0:13:26 > 0:13:28'Central America has to offer.'
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Wherever you are in the world, a trip to the seaside
0:13:32 > 0:13:35is a great opportunity to go looking for wildlife.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37And one of the best ways of finding
0:13:37 > 0:13:39weird and wonderful coastal creatures
0:13:39 > 0:13:41is to try a spot of rock pooling.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46'These Pacific beaches may be paradise to you and me,
0:13:46 > 0:13:51'but life can be hard for the animals living in rocky outcrops.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53'Half the time, they're battered by waves,
0:13:53 > 0:13:55'the other half, dried out by retreating tides
0:13:55 > 0:13:57'and the scorching sun.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00'And with limited space, competition is fierce,
0:14:00 > 0:14:04'so the strange creatures concealed in these nightmarish pools
0:14:04 > 0:14:07'have come up with some very extreme ways of surviving.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18'To help me guide me through this alien world,
0:14:18 > 0:14:22'I've invited wildlife expert, Gianfranco, to join me.'
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Pretty much every rock pool has something going on in it.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34It does really. And, er...this is a really beautiful one.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37It's covered with these zoanthids.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39That's the green on the side, is it?
0:14:39 > 0:14:41It looks like a...you know, kind of like part of the rock,
0:14:41 > 0:14:43but it's actually a living animal.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46- Can I touch it?- Er...no, it might not be a good idea.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49- Some of these are incredibly toxic. - Are you serious?
0:14:49 > 0:14:51It's hard to believe, but, yes.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Some species have some of the most potent toxins known to man.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57It's called a palytoxin. Yeah.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59- In a rock pool?- In a rock pool.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01So, if I was to touch that, what would happen to me?
0:15:01 > 0:15:02It could be potentially deadly.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04- It could kill me?!- Absolutely, yeah.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07So it's something you have to be very, very cautious of.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10No kidding! I'm glad I'm wearing my shoes.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Yeah, absolutely.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14And we have a sea urchin there. We have those back at home,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17but I'm guessing yours are a little bit more scary?
0:15:17 > 0:15:19Some of them can contain venom.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21They protect themselves with these spikes.
0:15:21 > 0:15:22They're very territorial,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25so if another sea urchin wants to take their home,
0:15:25 > 0:15:28- they will actually fence with their spines.- Do they?
0:15:28 > 0:15:32Yeah. And if one gets too close, they may actually bite.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34- They have teeth?- Yeah.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36LAUGHTER
0:15:37 > 0:15:39'Sea urchins are full of surprises.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42'They can propel themselves over the rock
0:15:42 > 0:15:44'using hundreds of tiny tube feet
0:15:44 > 0:15:47'and they'll fight to protect their patch with venom,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49'spines and a hidden horror.
0:15:49 > 0:15:54'A mouth on their underside with five human-like teeth
0:15:54 > 0:15:57'strong enough to crunch through solid rock.'
0:15:57 > 0:15:59So everything in this rock pool is defending itself
0:15:59 > 0:16:01and fighting for its space
0:16:01 > 0:16:04and having to release toxins and poison and venom
0:16:04 > 0:16:07and all sorts just to stay safe in this pool.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11Yeah. They all need a strategy to make it in this environment.
0:16:11 > 0:16:16'These pools certainly deliver their fair share of bizarre wildlife,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19'but as we continue our search, we're about to stumble onto
0:16:19 > 0:16:23'one of the weirdest of all rock pool residents.'
0:16:24 > 0:16:26Oh, wait a minute!
0:16:27 > 0:16:29What is it? What?
0:16:29 > 0:16:32We've got an amazing creature down here. We've got a puffer fish.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34I've always wanted to see one of those!
0:16:34 > 0:16:35It's a beautiful golden one.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39- Check him out.- Oh, look, look, look!
0:16:39 > 0:16:40- What a beauty!- What a lovely fish!
0:16:40 > 0:16:43So brightly coloured yellow!
0:16:43 > 0:16:46- Gone to hide again. - Oh, yeah. They're really shy.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48They don't like to be out in the open.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50- As soon as it knows we're looking at him, it wants to hide.- Yeah.
0:16:54 > 0:16:55Lovely fish!
0:16:55 > 0:16:58Is it lovely, or is it another one to be afraid of?
0:16:58 > 0:17:01Well, it is lovely, but, er...
0:17:01 > 0:17:04you know, like every other animal here, they've got their protections.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07If they feel very stressed out, they will blow up like a balloon.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11'You heard that right.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14'The puffer fish has the strangest defence strategy of all.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19'If a hungry hunter, like this eel, tries to take a bite,
0:17:19 > 0:17:22'it starts to suck in water, swelling up
0:17:22 > 0:17:26'and revealing rows of pin-sharp spines all over its body.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29'So unless a predator has a really, really big gob,
0:17:29 > 0:17:32'it has little choice but to let go
0:17:32 > 0:17:34'and watch its would-be meal swim away.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39'But that's not all.'
0:17:39 > 0:17:41If something does manage to swallow it,
0:17:41 > 0:17:43it's the worst part to come
0:17:43 > 0:17:47because they've got a potentially-lethal toxin.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49And it is a neurotoxin,
0:17:49 > 0:17:54which basically paralyses the muscles in the body
0:17:54 > 0:17:56and can cause death, even in humans.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58So if you want fish and chips for your tea,
0:17:58 > 0:18:00probably best to avoid the puffer fish.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02Probably, yeah. Probably.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04It's a beauty, though.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07It's weird, because if I had that defence strategy inbuilt in me,
0:18:07 > 0:18:09I wouldn't be hiding under a rock,
0:18:09 > 0:18:12I'd be saying, "Come and eat me if you think you're hard enough."
0:18:18 > 0:18:20Oh! Oh-oh-oh!
0:18:20 > 0:18:22There it goes, there it goes.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24Back to the ocean. We've lost it.
0:18:24 > 0:18:25- It's gone.- Aw!
0:18:25 > 0:18:28- But it was amazing to see it. - That was so cool.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30I have always wanted to see one of those.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Tide's coming in, so shall we get out before we get stuck?
0:18:33 > 0:18:34We probably should, yeah.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36'So this corner of the coast
0:18:36 > 0:18:39'has given me a window into a truly weird, watery world.'
0:18:41 > 0:18:46If you like your wildlife strange, spectacular, even sinister,
0:18:46 > 0:18:48then rock pooling is clearly a great place to start.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52Because the animals living here in these tough, tiny spaces
0:18:52 > 0:18:54have had to develop all manner of surprising ways
0:18:54 > 0:18:56to survive and thrive.
0:18:56 > 0:19:01But if I had to put just one forward as a potential worst nightmare,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04it's the puffer fish. With its super-inflating, spiky,
0:19:04 > 0:19:07toxic defence, that would definitely be my pick.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13'It's time to leave the shores of the mighty Pacific Ocean behind
0:19:13 > 0:19:16'and take a short flight across Central America
0:19:16 > 0:19:20'to the crystal-clear waters of its Caribbean coastline.'
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Now, you might think that getting a good look at the creatures
0:19:23 > 0:19:25that live down beneath the waves
0:19:25 > 0:19:27would involve loads and loads of complex diving apparatus
0:19:27 > 0:19:30and months and months of scuba training.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32But actually, you can see an incredible range of animals
0:19:32 > 0:19:34by simply using...these.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37And that's why I'm heading out into the Caribbean Sea
0:19:37 > 0:19:40for a tranquil tropical snorkel.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42What's this?
0:19:42 > 0:19:44"Snorkelling is definitely a great way
0:19:44 > 0:19:47"to get really close to some stunning sea life,
0:19:47 > 0:19:49"so we hope you enjoy this little nightmare outing
0:19:49 > 0:19:53"to the serene marine paradise of Shark Ray Alley."
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Shark...Ray...Alley?
0:19:59 > 0:20:01'Yep, on my final outing here in Central America,
0:20:01 > 0:20:04'I'll have to contend with not one,
0:20:04 > 0:20:06'but two potential nightmares of nature.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11'Say the word shark and most people think of
0:20:11 > 0:20:13'a supreme sea-going predator.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16'Strong, swift and stealthy.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18'Rising from the deep to ambush prey
0:20:18 > 0:20:21'with a set of dagger-like teeth.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25'And not to be outdone, their mysterious cousins, the rays,
0:20:25 > 0:20:29'have also devised some seriously scary ways of despatching prey.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33'From electric shocks to a venomous barbed stinger in their tail.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36'All this means that these two species
0:20:36 > 0:20:40'are among the most-feared animals in our oceans.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44'But do they really deserve such a notorious reputation?
0:20:48 > 0:20:52'And as you might expect, a place called Shark Ray Alley
0:20:52 > 0:20:56'isn't short of either of these two species.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00'It's teeming with nurse sharks and southern stingrays.'
0:21:01 > 0:21:04As nightmares of nature go, this is as frightening as it gets for me.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08The thought of being anywhere near a shark petrifies me.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11I don't know how I feel about getting in with stingrays either.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14But on the other hand, I suspect that my dread of swimming in the sea
0:21:14 > 0:21:16means that I might be missing out on
0:21:16 > 0:21:18a whole load of wonderful wildlife experiences.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20And that is why I am so determined
0:21:20 > 0:21:23to try and confront this shark fear face to face.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28'As soon as we drop anchor, ominous shadows
0:21:28 > 0:21:32'begin to gather in the water below, sending my pulse racing.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36'Luckily, I won't have to do this alone.
0:21:36 > 0:21:41'Marine biologist Dr Rachel Graham will be right alongside me.
0:21:41 > 0:21:46'She's been bringing people to swim here for over ten years.'
0:21:48 > 0:21:52So, Rachel, why are there so many sharks and rays around here?
0:21:52 > 0:21:53Primarily because many years ago,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56fishermen would come here and clean their catches
0:21:56 > 0:21:59and it would attract a lot of different sharks and rays.
0:21:59 > 0:22:04Notably nurse sharks and southern stingrays.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08And it just kind of evolved into a tourism attraction from that.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11'Both these species are bottom feeders
0:22:11 > 0:22:14'who patrol the seabed in search of food.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16'They're equipped with specially-adapted
0:22:16 > 0:22:19'downward-facing mouths which they use
0:22:19 > 0:22:22'to vacuum up fish and crustaceans hiding in the sand below.'
0:22:24 > 0:22:27There's a lot of people like me who are frightened of these two species,
0:22:27 > 0:22:31- but you say they are not to be afraid of?- Absolutely not.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34You know, you see some apprehension to begin with, but then...
0:22:34 > 0:22:36- Yeah.- Yes, yes! Exactly.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39But then it melts away within seconds
0:22:39 > 0:22:43- and you just hear squeals of pure delight.- Really?- It's fantastic.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Is there any top tips of when I'm in the water of what I should do?
0:22:46 > 0:22:51I think really the most important thing is to just relax,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54observe, enjoy.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57And they'll probably swim up quite kind of close to you.
0:22:57 > 0:22:58- Really?- They'll check you out.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00But they'll swim away again.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03But what I always ask people, please do not touch the sharks,
0:23:03 > 0:23:06don't touch the rays, don't grab them, don't hold them,
0:23:06 > 0:23:08don't hug them, don't kiss them.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11No worries about me trying to do that.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Fabulous! Then we're on the same page. Brilliant!
0:23:14 > 0:23:17'I can't put it off any longer.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19'It's time to take the plunge.'
0:23:20 > 0:23:24They're not going to hurt me. They're not going to hurt me.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Oh!
0:23:36 > 0:23:38- Oh!- There you go.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Oh, there's a shark, there's a shark!
0:23:52 > 0:23:53Oh! Come on, Naomi!
0:24:00 > 0:24:04'This is taking every last scrap of courage I have.'
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Do you want to grab hold of my hand? OK.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21'For someone with a serious phobia like me,
0:24:21 > 0:24:24'the first few minutes are truly terrifying.'
0:24:36 > 0:24:38It's just swam right underneath me!
0:24:42 > 0:24:46'But slowly, Rachel's predictions are starting to come true.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58'Neither the sharks or the stingrays are remotely interested in us.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02'They just cruise the seabed below, minding their own business.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11'As the minutes tick by, my fear starts to fade
0:25:11 > 0:25:13'and I find myself more and more engrossed
0:25:13 > 0:25:17'by these much-misunderstood marine marvels.'
0:25:18 > 0:25:19I can't believe it!
0:25:21 > 0:25:23I actively swam towards one just then.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31'The truth is that many species of sharks and rays are under threat
0:25:31 > 0:25:36'from overfishing and habitat-destruction by us humans.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38'So sadly, it's really them
0:25:38 > 0:25:41'that should be scared of us, not the other way round.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47'After almost half an hour in the water,
0:25:47 > 0:25:51'it's clear that I've taken a huge step towards conquering my fear
0:25:51 > 0:25:53'of both these beautiful species.'
0:25:58 > 0:25:59Good grief!
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Yeah! You did it!
0:26:01 > 0:26:04- Yes! Yes!- I did it! Ha-ha!
0:26:04 > 0:26:07- Thank goodness for Rachel! - Ah-ha-ha! You did great!
0:26:07 > 0:26:10Is your hand...is your hand blue?
0:26:12 > 0:26:16I have been in the water with sharks and rays.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18Can you believe it? It's blown my mind.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21It shows they aren't the mindless monsters they're made out to be.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24They are not out to get us. They don't want to eat us.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26We're not their preferred choice on the menu at all.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29They're playing a very, very important role in that ocean,
0:26:29 > 0:26:32so we need to learn to love them and actually protect them.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36Whilst I may never be comfortable around a nurse shark or a ray,
0:26:36 > 0:26:38we need to give them a break.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Once upon a time, long ago,
0:26:40 > 0:26:42I would have called them my worst nightmare.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44I do not want to call them that any more.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50Sadly, my Central American adventure is at an end.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52But which coastal contender
0:26:52 > 0:26:55is going to take my coveted Worst Nightmare award?
0:26:55 > 0:26:59Is it the surprising sea snake with its super-swift venom?
0:27:01 > 0:27:05Is it a picnic with a hoard of crawling cannibal crabs?
0:27:05 > 0:27:07Er...grim!
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Or is it my daring dip with sharks and rays?
0:27:13 > 0:27:15No, it is none of those.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18My Worst Nightmare coastal crown goes to the super-swelling,
0:27:18 > 0:27:21seriously spiky, terribly-toxic puffer fish.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25That's three nightmares for the price of one!
0:27:34 > 0:27:36NAOMI GIGGLES
0:27:38 > 0:27:40LAUGHTER
0:27:41 > 0:27:43Let's try that again!