0:00:02 > 0:00:04Welcome to my Nightmares of Nature.
0:00:07 > 0:00:12I'm Naomi Wilkinson and I'm coming face to face with the
0:00:12 > 0:00:14nightmares of the animal world.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18The ones that make your spine tingle...
0:00:20 > 0:00:23..your heart beat faster...
0:00:23 > 0:00:25There it is! There it is!
0:00:25 > 0:00:27..and your blood run cold.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30Are they truly terrifying?
0:00:32 > 0:00:34Or is there a twist in the tale?
0:00:36 > 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.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Land!
0:00:52 > 0:00:55I've made it!
0:00:55 > 0:00:57I've escaped.
0:00:57 > 0:00:58No more nightmares!
0:01:00 > 0:01:02I've reached...
0:01:02 > 0:01:04paradise.
0:01:04 > 0:01:09Oh, the Cayman Islands. White sand, crystal waters,
0:01:09 > 0:01:11palm trees.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16What could possibly be a nightmare about this... Ow!
0:01:19 > 0:01:20Spoke too soon.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26Yes, there is trouble to be found in paradise.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Nightmares of the night...
0:01:30 > 0:01:31What?
0:01:32 > 0:01:34..dragons of the day...
0:01:34 > 0:01:36SHE SQUEALS
0:01:36 > 0:01:38..and ferocious fish in the shallows.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40SHE SHRIEKS
0:01:40 > 0:01:43It seems the Cayman Islands aren't the Caribbean wonderland
0:01:43 > 0:01:45I'd hoped for after all.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52My first contender means I'm straight back out to sea.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57This nightmare of nature is a relative of the shark.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00300 million years ago, they split,
0:02:00 > 0:02:03and these creatures formed a group all of their own.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07Their bodies changed, they evolved weaponry, venom, and...
0:02:09 > 0:02:11..the ability to disappear.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16It's time to venture into the domain of the stingray.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21The clue to their nightmare credentials is in their name.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25A long, venomous sting on the end of their tail makes
0:02:25 > 0:02:28a painful wound in any would-be attacker.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Their flattened body shape and camouflage colour means they
0:02:32 > 0:02:35can hide on the sea bed.
0:02:35 > 0:02:40Disappearing beneath the sand, as they lie in wait for their prey.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46These islands are one of the world's best places to take
0:02:46 > 0:02:48a dip with these stealthy stingers.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Which is exactly what I'm about to do with marine conservationist
0:02:53 > 0:02:56Guy as my Guy-d.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00We're heading about two miles out to sea to a submerged sand bar,
0:03:00 > 0:03:07where apparently these rays like to hang out.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14'Uh-oh. Here they are.'
0:03:14 > 0:03:16Guy, we're going to get into the water with
0:03:16 > 0:03:18a venomous relative of the shark.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Have they got shark-like mouths?
0:03:20 > 0:03:23They do have teeth. They do bite.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26And in fact, the bite actually hurts more than the sting.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28'Oh, great news.'
0:03:28 > 0:03:30So one of the key things is not to
0:03:30 > 0:03:32leave your fingers dangling in the water.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33OK.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36'But it's still their stinger I'm most afraid of.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38'With good reason.'
0:03:38 > 0:03:41Most of the accidents that happen here are people accidentally
0:03:41 > 0:03:44bumping into the sting. Now, when we're on the rays, of course...
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Hang on. We may get stung?
0:03:46 > 0:03:49- Well, no. Absolutely not. We're not going to get stung at all.- OK.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52The thing is, sudden movements will cause that to happen.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55The key thing is to keep your feet on the sand,
0:03:55 > 0:03:56shuffle your feet along...
0:03:56 > 0:03:57Keep my fingers in.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00- ..no sudden movements.- OK. No sudden movements.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04'Pep talk over, it's time to dive in.'
0:04:05 > 0:04:07SHE SQUEALS
0:04:07 > 0:04:09It's touching my leg!
0:04:09 > 0:04:10Oh, no!
0:04:10 > 0:04:12SHE SQUEALS
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Oh! Oh, hello! Hi, hi...
0:04:16 > 0:04:18SHE LAUGHS
0:04:18 > 0:04:19Sorry, I'm not nervous at all, Guy.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Look! Look at Guy.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24This is the one I call Pepper.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26Hi, Pepper.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29Well, Guy might be fine with them and they might be fine with me,
0:04:29 > 0:04:33but I can't get that stinger out of my mind.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36So what would it feel like if one of these stung you?
0:04:36 > 0:04:37Well, it hurts a lot.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41It's a puncture wound, and of course there is venom on the barb itself.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Could it kill a human?
0:04:43 > 0:04:47Theoretically. It would depend on where you're speared, so to speak.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52'But injuries here are extremely rare because their sting is not
0:04:52 > 0:04:54'meant for us.'
0:04:54 > 0:04:57The spine is for protection against their predators such as
0:04:57 > 0:05:02sharks and of course it's got to be a fairly effective form of defence.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04Yeah.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07'Even so, they are still dauntingly big.'
0:05:07 > 0:05:10All the big ones are females and they become mature at
0:05:10 > 0:05:13about 80cm across, so nearly a metre and they're very slow-growing,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16long-lived animals like all sharks.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20- This animal here is at least 50 years old, we reckon.- 50 years old!
0:05:20 > 0:05:21Yeah.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Stingrays are hunters.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31They use sensors on their bellies to seek out buried shellfish.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Sharp teeth crunch the shells to get at the meat inside.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45These ones, though, get fed daily by humans.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49Which explains why they're quite so friendly.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Especially when Guy brandishes his tasty tuna bites.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07Don't they look fabulous, like they're flying?
0:06:07 > 0:06:09They're just like magic carpets.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11They're got this beautiful ripple of their wings.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13It's absolutely gorgeous.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17'I think I'm starting to like them.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19'Good job, cos it's my turn with the tuna.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24'Except they don't seem to want mine.'
0:06:28 > 0:06:30LAUGHTER
0:06:30 > 0:06:32No-one wanted it!
0:06:32 > 0:06:34Do you want it? I'll try again.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41Success!
0:06:41 > 0:06:43And the stingrays seem to be having fun too.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Argh!
0:06:48 > 0:06:50Argh! I felt its mouth!
0:06:50 > 0:06:53These stingrays really do like hanging out with people and
0:06:53 > 0:06:56here it does seem they don't pose us any threat,
0:06:56 > 0:07:00but with their venomous stingers and whip-like tails...
0:07:03 > 0:07:06..they certainly have the credentials to rate as my
0:07:06 > 0:07:08worst nightmare.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20After a long day of nightmare hunting,
0:07:20 > 0:07:23the crew have very kindly offered to treat me to dinner.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26Aw, you're not so bad after all!
0:07:26 > 0:07:32Look at this, a lovely restaurant, sea view... Ho-ho-ho!
0:07:32 > 0:07:36I cannot wait to see what's on the menu. Thanks.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Eugh! Fish bits?
0:07:39 > 0:07:40What?
0:07:41 > 0:07:43Well, this is hardly the time, is it?
0:07:43 > 0:07:45No, I'm not going to read that.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47I am out for a...
0:07:47 > 0:07:52No, do you know what? I'm still not reading it. Hm!
0:07:52 > 0:07:54Thank you very...
0:07:55 > 0:07:56I give up.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01You are having dinner with a very special nightmare guest.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Go onto the jetty and let the feast commence.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09Well, I'm guessing I'm going to need this.
0:08:09 > 0:08:10No...
0:08:11 > 0:08:15I wonder what dark demons are lurking in that water.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21I'm presuming my mystery dinner guest is going to be in the
0:08:21 > 0:08:27sea, so let's see if I can tempt it out with a little bit of fish head.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30At least I don't have to eat what's in this bucket.
0:08:30 > 0:08:31Dinner time.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34'The guests are circling.'
0:08:34 > 0:08:36Look how hungry they all are.
0:08:36 > 0:08:37Good luck.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Come on, little fishy.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43SHE SHRIEKS
0:08:43 > 0:08:44'These are tarpon.'
0:08:44 > 0:08:46One, two, three, great.
0:08:46 > 0:08:51'They're been swimming in our oceans since the time of the dinosaurs.'
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Don't half make you jump.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58Tarpon are some of the speediest fish in the sea.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00Famous for their lightning-fast strike...
0:09:02 > 0:09:05..and their enormous mouths
0:09:05 > 0:09:08that suck in water and everything in it,
0:09:08 > 0:09:12including their unsuspecting victim,
0:09:12 > 0:09:14who they swallow whole.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Hopefully, that won't happen to me.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18You can go as low as you like.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20You can go as low as you like! Yeah, right.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23Wargh!
0:09:24 > 0:09:27You jumped out of your skin then, Rich.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29This is funny.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31And really scary all at once.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36Tarpon can grow to be two and a half metres, so believe it or not,
0:09:36 > 0:09:39these monsters are just little tiddlers.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42They're just swimming around,
0:09:42 > 0:09:46looking all cool and chilled out and all of a sudden, it's like, "Rargh!"
0:09:46 > 0:09:50Argh! It touched my finger! It touched my finger!
0:09:50 > 0:09:53At least I'm keeping the diners entertained.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55They're having a whale of a time.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57You've got to do that again.
0:09:57 > 0:09:58At my expense.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00That was hysterical.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05I need a... A cold shower is what I need.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08You lot don't know me very well if you think this is my idea of
0:10:08 > 0:10:10a good night out.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13In fact, I think it's time that the crew got
0:10:13 > 0:10:15a taste of their own medicine.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Rich, you look like you want to have a go, don't you?
0:10:18 > 0:10:20I've got my best outfit for dinner, Naoms.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Ooh, are you a bit scared, Rich? Are you a bit scared?
0:10:23 > 0:10:25- Give me the gloves, then.- All right. OK. Give me the boom.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27- Not scared of a fish.- Job swap.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32- OK, good luck. You all right with this?- Ready to hear you scream.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35- OK, stand by.- What do I do with this?- What do I do with this?
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Just dangle it over and mind your fingers.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Ooh, that's bad.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45Little bit lower, Rich. Just a little bit lower.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Oh! Oh!
0:10:47 > 0:10:48Ooh!
0:10:48 > 0:10:50LAUGHTER
0:10:50 > 0:10:52You might have broken the microphone levels there,
0:10:52 > 0:10:56because you squealed like a little baby.
0:10:56 > 0:10:57They were quite scary actually.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Yeah. Not so easy being the presenter, is it?
0:11:02 > 0:11:03Please don't eat my hand.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Argh!
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Well, I have to say,
0:11:07 > 0:11:11after this slightly unusual dinner date with their mahoosive
0:11:11 > 0:11:16mouths, lightning-fast strike and ferocious attitude, this prehistoric
0:11:16 > 0:11:20monster of the deep, the tarpon, could well be my worst nightmare.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23I'm going to bed.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29Now I know what's lurking offshore, I'm relieved to say my next
0:11:29 > 0:11:33contender keeps its clawed toes firmly on the ground.
0:11:33 > 0:11:38In the centre of this tropical island, there live dragons.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42Their skin is blue, their eyes are red, they live nowhere else
0:11:42 > 0:11:46on the planet, and I'm off to meet a hundred of them.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49This fearsome beast is the blue iguana.
0:11:50 > 0:11:55But is this cobalt critter really a ferocious, fire-breathing fiend?
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Or more of a scaly pussy cat?
0:11:59 > 0:12:02I've come to the National Trust breeding facility to help
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Alberto feed some of his dragons.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13Hi. I've brought you some lovely greens.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15Salad. A little bit more.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17A little bit more.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19It is Tuesday.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24- It looks like they like the vegetables.- They like veg.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Sometimes if they need a protein or something, they would eat some
0:12:27 > 0:12:32slugs or caterpillars or a bug or something, just for the taste of it.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36- Fruit as well?- And they love mangos. They go crazy for mangos.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38- Do they?- Yeah.
0:12:40 > 0:12:41Vegetarians?
0:12:41 > 0:12:45Hardly the fire-breathing monster I was expecting.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47This guy here, believe me,
0:12:47 > 0:12:48be careful.
0:12:48 > 0:12:53My brother came here and he put his hand inside here and this guy
0:12:53 > 0:12:57jumped and took... All this finger hanging like this off.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02- Is your brother OK? - Now he's OK, yeah.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06- So they can jump really high?- They jump high. They can run very fast.
0:13:06 > 0:13:11- They can climb trees. They can swim.- Whoa!
0:13:11 > 0:13:14These turquoise terrors have super-strong bites
0:13:14 > 0:13:18so they can defend their patch against other iguanas.
0:13:21 > 0:13:27As far as I'm concerned, that is a nightmare of nature right there.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Alberto thinks he can change my mind, though,
0:13:32 > 0:13:34by introducing me to his favourite iguana.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36OK, I tell you something.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40- I'm going to give you this little piece of banana, OK?- OK.- Here.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43- Will they bite? - Yeah, they will bite...
0:13:43 > 0:13:46- They will bite but they're not going to bite us.- This is his place.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48I love Alberto. He's brilliant.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52'Meet Stanley.'
0:13:52 > 0:13:54Stanley, there's your banana.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00- Skin and all? Eugh!- Yeah, skin, everything, yeah. It's like candy.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02They love that.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05- Is his head changing colour?- Yeah. - It's gone more blue.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07Yeah, they feel good, they feel nice, you know?
0:14:07 > 0:14:11So he becomes more blue if he's excited and happy?
0:14:11 > 0:14:13Yeah, they are in a better mood, you know?
0:14:13 > 0:14:17When they eat something sweet or something, like children.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Sunbathing also helps their mood.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23They need a body temperature like a human.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25And they get the heat from out in.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27- Because they're cold-blooded?- Yeah.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30So they need the sun to warm them up.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33And then that way they can eat and digest the food properly, OK?
0:14:33 > 0:14:35Ah...
0:14:35 > 0:14:38'Banana plus sun equals good mood.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41'Which means we're now safe to approach.'
0:14:41 > 0:14:42Let's get close to it.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:14:46 > 0:14:47Hello.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49- Hi, Stanley.- You happy now?
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- Aw, he likes that. - He likes it. See how nice it is.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58'Mm. All I can see are his weapons.'
0:14:58 > 0:15:01Those claws! What do they use those for?
0:15:01 > 0:15:04When they go on a tree or something that they can hold,
0:15:04 > 0:15:07they lock the claws and they can stay there for hours.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10All right, puppy? I call him puppy.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Oh, look. You're taking the skin off!
0:15:12 > 0:15:15- So it's like a snake. Sheds its skin?- They shed the skin.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18- Oh, look how blue that is underneath.- Nice, huh?
0:15:18 > 0:15:20Gorgeous.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24The iguana's blue skin helps it to blend with the island's blue
0:15:24 > 0:15:26grey rock.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30Oh, how fantastic. You're looking good with your new skin.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Can I feel him or will he bite me?
0:15:32 > 0:15:34- Yeah, go ahead.- Are you sure?
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Oh, wow!
0:15:38 > 0:15:40It's quite dry and bumpy, isn't it?
0:15:40 > 0:15:42They're sharp.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Wow.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46Well, he looks very happy.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Positively smiling.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53But these iguanas haven't always been happy.
0:15:53 > 0:15:58In fact, we're very lucky to have any alive at all.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01It turns out these scaly scarers have been having
0:16:01 > 0:16:04a nightmare of their own.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07I give you the tale of the blue iguana.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10No, not that kind of tail!
0:16:12 > 0:16:14A long, long time ago,
0:16:14 > 0:16:18the Cayman Islands were the domain of the blue iguanas.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Our island! It's all ours!
0:16:21 > 0:16:25Thousands lived here. And a few other animals, of course.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28But in 1670,
0:16:28 > 0:16:31people arrived on the Caymans.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34- By Jove, this is nice!- Hello!
0:16:34 > 0:16:36- Shall we stay?- Yes, let's!
0:16:38 > 0:16:40They set up home -
0:16:40 > 0:16:43and what home is complete without pets?
0:16:46 > 0:16:50Built roads so they could visit their friends.
0:16:50 > 0:16:55The iguanas lost their land and were attacked by the cats and dogs.
0:16:56 > 0:17:01By 2002, only around 12 wild iguanas were left.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04Aw. Sad iguanas.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07Something drastic needed to be done.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Captive iguanas all over the island were recalled to
0:17:13 > 0:17:15a brand new breeding facility...
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Ooh, it's nice here.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19..where they bred.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22- It's a boy!- Aw!
0:17:22 > 0:17:24He's got your eyes! Aw!
0:17:26 > 0:17:30Fences were built around a wild area to keep the dogs and cats out.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36Get out! Scales this side, fur over there.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40Over 800 have now graduated from the breeding facility. Woo-hoo!
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Yeah! Iguana party!
0:17:43 > 0:17:46So the tale of the blue iguana does have a happy ending.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50Hooray!
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Back in the present day, Alberto wants to introduce
0:17:55 > 0:17:58me to one of the new generation bred at the facility.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04- Aw!- Come here, puppy!
0:18:04 > 0:18:05See.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08- Aw!- This one is going to be ready very, very soon.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10There you go. Just like that.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12Oh, wowsers.
0:18:12 > 0:18:17So you need to watch out for dogs and cats when you're out there, OK?
0:18:17 > 0:18:19Just take it easy.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25Underneath this scaly exterior lurks a fascinating vegetarian,
0:18:25 > 0:18:28one with no notion of fire-breathing
0:18:28 > 0:18:32and a nightmare story all of its own, but this blue-skinned,
0:18:32 > 0:18:36red-eyed dragon is still fiercely territorial and I wouldn't
0:18:36 > 0:18:38want to bump into it in a bad mood,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41so I'm not striking it off my nightmare list just yet.
0:18:46 > 0:18:51As the sun sets in the Caymans, I prepare to head out in search
0:18:51 > 0:18:54of my final nightmare of the night.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00I've heard tell that on the darkest of dark nights,
0:19:00 > 0:19:05when the moon is yet to rise, the sea itself gives off a ghostly glow.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09What could this mysterious light be?
0:19:09 > 0:19:12And is it really the stuff of nightmares?
0:19:12 > 0:19:14Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!
0:19:18 > 0:19:20OK, should we go and check it out, then.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27Tonight is a pitch black, moonless night.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29We need it to stay that way.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31Our boat - how cool is that? -
0:19:31 > 0:19:35is black so you can't see it, and it's electric, so you can't hear it.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39- Stealth boat. Brilliant. - Naomi, the boat's the other way.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Oh! Oh, yeah... Cor, that really works, doesn't it?
0:19:44 > 0:19:46That's good.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48But filming with no light is very tricky.
0:19:49 > 0:19:54So we've had to bring a hi-tech camera that can see in the dark.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56So let me just show you how this is working.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59This is what we look like currently on our regular camera.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01Whoo! I'm here, honestly.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05And this is what we're looking like on our awesome special camera.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07Seeing me - check.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09But will it see the glow?
0:20:09 > 0:20:11I asked the crew if they could come up with a little test,
0:20:11 > 0:20:15you know, just to check that this camera is sensitive enough.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17DANCE MUSIC PLAYS
0:20:19 > 0:20:21Yeah, thank you, crew(!)
0:20:26 > 0:20:28It's time to meet someone
0:20:28 > 0:20:30who actually knows what they're talking about.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Like Tom here,
0:20:32 > 0:20:36who bravely takes people out onto these eerie waters
0:20:36 > 0:20:39to catch a glimpse of this mysterious illumination.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43So, Tom, what does this glow look like?
0:20:43 > 0:20:46I like to describe it as holding a galaxy in your hand.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48When I blow on it,
0:20:48 > 0:20:52I get pixie dust rolling out of my hands and dripping off my fingers.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54- It sounds incredible. I want to see it.- Alien blood.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58- Alien blood?- Yeah, yeah, and it rolls out of your arm and down.
0:20:58 > 0:20:59Ooh!
0:20:59 > 0:21:02- It's safe, though?- Not too scary.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04And how are we going to find it?
0:21:04 > 0:21:06The best way to find it
0:21:06 > 0:21:09is actually through the movement of our hands or our feet.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11I'm excited to show you.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14- Shall we get going?- Yeah.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16The easiest way to see it is by kayak,
0:21:16 > 0:21:19except that means boarding one in the pitch-black,
0:21:19 > 0:21:21can I just remind you?
0:21:23 > 0:21:26- So you're telling me there are some handles here?- Yeah.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28Ooh!
0:21:28 > 0:21:30SHE LAUGHS
0:21:30 > 0:21:31I'm in.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33- And dry.- Your weapon is here to the right.- Thank you.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35Weapon!
0:21:35 > 0:21:39- Coming to get you, lights.- Just in case there's any crocodiles...
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- Don't say that! There aren't, are there?- No.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45SHE SIGHS WITH RELIEF Tom!
0:21:45 > 0:21:47I'm following you. Let's see what you've got.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50SHE SQUEALS
0:21:50 > 0:21:51Look at our paddles!
0:21:51 > 0:21:53SHE GASPS
0:21:53 > 0:21:55Wowzers!
0:21:55 > 0:21:57It's incredible!
0:21:57 > 0:21:58Wow!
0:21:58 > 0:22:02Yeah, welcome to my office, Naomi. Welcome to my office.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05So beautiful.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08I can see other things sort of sparkling in the water as well.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11- Yeah, you see the fish.- Yeah.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14- So the fish are glowing when they swim through it?- Yeah.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Wow.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18SHE LAUGHS
0:22:18 > 0:22:20- Ooh!- Look at us!
0:22:20 > 0:22:22It looks like we've got lights, but we haven't got any with us.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Amazing.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30Swing your legs in. That's it.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34I've got magic feet.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38Oh, it's like my toes are casting a magic spell. Peeow!
0:22:38 > 0:22:40Peeow!
0:22:40 > 0:22:42Peeow!
0:22:43 > 0:22:45I am literally a fairy godmother.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47TOM CHUCKLES
0:22:47 > 0:22:50May all your wishes come true.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53Snap out of wonderland, Naomi! Come on, back to reality.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58I want to know what this magic potion is all about.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02So it's when we agitate the water that you really get to see it.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04What is it?
0:23:04 > 0:23:07This is a little tiny creature that floats around.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10- This is a creature?- Yeah. Little tiny ones.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12In fact, every little spark
0:23:12 > 0:23:15is only about the size of a speck of dust.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20A soup of millions of twinkly plankton.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Doesn't sound so ghostly.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27But remember, you can see me with our special camera.
0:23:27 > 0:23:32I can see absolutely nothing other than this ghoulish glow.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36So, how do they create this light?
0:23:36 > 0:23:38They create the light just like a glowstick.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41OK, maybe the crew ARE smarter than they look.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43Just a tiny bit.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46The glowstick has two chemicals inside it,
0:23:46 > 0:23:49and when you break it, you're making a chemical reaction.
0:23:49 > 0:23:50This organism works the same way.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53It's got two chemicals living inside it,
0:23:53 > 0:23:56and when it's disturbed, it makes the light.
0:23:56 > 0:23:57Oh.
0:23:57 > 0:23:58Beautiful as it may be,
0:23:58 > 0:24:03the glow is actually the plankton's way of defending itself.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05It wants to survive, so what it does is,
0:24:05 > 0:24:09it lights up the water 100 times its size, as a burglar alarm,
0:24:09 > 0:24:12to attract a predator for their predator.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17It's thought that by lighting up their surroundings,
0:24:17 > 0:24:18these plucky plankton
0:24:18 > 0:24:22reveal approaching attackers in their glare,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25making the predator visible and vulnerable
0:24:25 > 0:24:28to being attacked themselves.
0:24:28 > 0:24:34This ability to produce light is called bioluminescence.
0:24:34 > 0:24:35Deep, deep down,
0:24:35 > 0:24:39all our oceans are full of light-emitting monsters
0:24:39 > 0:24:42of all shapes and sizes.
0:24:42 > 0:24:47Some use their glowing beacons to lure in their next meal.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51Others eject a light show to confuse their enemies.
0:24:51 > 0:24:56Tonight's plankton display is directed at us.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59- We're bumping into them. They're going, "Ah, I'm scared."- Oh!
0:24:59 > 0:25:02And another one bumps into another, and another bumps into another,
0:25:02 > 0:25:04and the more we stir, the more light we get.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06That's quite sweet.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09It's all right, little plankton, I'm not going to hurt you. Promise.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12Kayaking does them no harm.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Chemicals from powerboats and sun cream, though,
0:25:15 > 0:25:17can kill these delicate delights.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22It's crucial to take care of this very special bay.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25There's only six bays like this in the entire world.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28You come in a kayak, put your hand in, and there it is.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31- So we're spoiled rotten being able to see this.- We really are.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35Now I know this sparkly stuff won't hurt me,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38there's one last thing I just can't resist doing,
0:25:38 > 0:25:43and that's - scrubbed clean of sun cream - taking the plunge.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45I would be lying if I told you I wasn't a bit nervous
0:25:45 > 0:25:48about jumping into pitch-black water,
0:25:48 > 0:25:51but if what my feet look like is anything to go by,
0:25:51 > 0:25:53this should be pretty spectacular.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55I hope this is worth it.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Ready?
0:26:01 > 0:26:03SHE LAUGHS
0:26:03 > 0:26:04Oh! Whee!
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Bioluminescence angel.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Wow!
0:26:11 > 0:26:15This is like swimming on a cloud.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19This bioluminescent beauty
0:26:19 > 0:26:22is not alien, it's not dangerous.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25It's just biology.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29Well, we got to the bottom of the ghostly glow,
0:26:29 > 0:26:33and whilst trying to film this in total darkness
0:26:33 > 0:26:35is a bit of a nightmare,
0:26:35 > 0:26:38I think these microscopic wonders are anything but.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41More like the stuff dreams are made of.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56The Caymans have been packed with nightmare contenders.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00A long way from the relaxing paradise I'd hoped for.
0:27:00 > 0:27:01I am out of here.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06Away from the stingrays.
0:27:06 > 0:27:07SHE LAUGHS
0:27:07 > 0:27:09SHE SQUEALS
0:27:09 > 0:27:10Ahh! I felt its mouth!
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Away from the horrors of the night.
0:27:14 > 0:27:15Ahh!
0:27:17 > 0:27:19And away from the blue iguanas.
0:27:21 > 0:27:22Ohh!
0:27:23 > 0:27:25But this time, I'm absolutely certain
0:27:25 > 0:27:27the creature I'm going to miss the least
0:27:27 > 0:27:29and be most happy to see the back of
0:27:29 > 0:27:32is that horrendous hunter of the deep, the tarpon.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36SHE SQUEALS
0:27:38 > 0:27:40SHE GASPS
0:27:45 > 0:27:48What could possibly be a nightmare about this pl...?
0:27:48 > 0:27:50Ow!
0:27:52 > 0:27:54I spoke too soon.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56INSECTS BUZZ
0:27:56 > 0:27:58Are these sandflies?
0:27:58 > 0:27:59Ahh!
0:28:02 > 0:28:03- MAN:- Are you all right?
0:28:04 > 0:28:07What was that? Was that sandflies?
0:28:09 > 0:28:11Oh, my gosh, that was funny!