1 00:00:02,348 --> 00:00:06,168 (mysterious music) 2 00:00:06,168 --> 00:00:08,447 The tropical waters of Southeast Asia 3 00:00:08,447 --> 00:00:12,417 are home to some of the richest coral reefs on the planet. 4 00:00:17,088 --> 00:00:19,667 But hundreds of meters beneath the surface 5 00:00:19,667 --> 00:00:22,898 lies a world where time had stood still. 6 00:00:22,898 --> 00:00:26,917 (mysterious music) 7 00:00:26,917 --> 00:00:31,123 Here, creatures from the far distant past still survive. 8 00:00:34,588 --> 00:00:37,861 Now a team with scientists and film makers 9 00:00:37,861 --> 00:00:42,256 have joint forces to explore this largely unknown world. 10 00:00:42,256 --> 00:00:45,546 (indistinct radio talking) 11 00:00:49,536 --> 00:00:51,656 With the state-of-the-art submersible, 12 00:00:51,656 --> 00:00:54,366 they descend deep below the surface. 13 00:00:56,634 --> 00:00:58,684 This is truly a living fossil here. 14 00:00:59,814 --> 00:01:02,493 And discover prehistoric creatures 15 00:01:02,493 --> 00:01:05,034 that have survived virtually unchanged 16 00:01:05,034 --> 00:01:07,730 for over 400 million years. 17 00:01:07,730 --> 00:01:12,448 (mysterious music) 18 00:01:12,448 --> 00:01:16,169 It's a lost world hidden in the depths of the sea 19 00:01:16,169 --> 00:01:18,048 where primeval creatures have lived 20 00:01:18,048 --> 00:01:19,920 since the earliest times. 21 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:24,770 (mysterious music) 22 00:01:25,841 --> 00:01:28,168 Following the reports from local fishermen, 23 00:01:28,168 --> 00:01:31,148 the team set off in search of a strange fish 24 00:01:31,148 --> 00:01:34,187 that is said to lurk in these waters. 25 00:01:34,187 --> 00:01:35,638 Have you ever seen that fish before? 26 00:01:35,638 --> 00:01:36,812 I caught one. 27 00:01:36,812 --> 00:01:41,391 (majestic music) 28 00:01:41,391 --> 00:01:43,472 It's a journey full of surprises 29 00:01:43,472 --> 00:01:46,402 and extraordinarily encounters. 30 00:01:46,402 --> 00:01:49,380 And finally, after a year of exploration. 31 00:01:50,970 --> 00:01:53,622 Oh shit, this is what, this could be it. 32 00:01:53,622 --> 00:01:54,700 This is it mate. 33 00:01:54,700 --> 00:01:55,918 Yeah? Yeah. 34 00:01:55,918 --> 00:01:57,318 We got them. 35 00:01:57,318 --> 00:01:58,458 (laughter) 36 00:01:58,458 --> 00:02:00,537 They discover a bizarre fish 37 00:02:00,537 --> 00:02:02,658 that few people had ever seen, 38 00:02:02,658 --> 00:02:04,918 and encounter some of the ocean's 39 00:02:04,918 --> 00:02:06,905 most elusive inhabitants. 40 00:02:06,905 --> 00:02:08,769 (indistinct talking) 41 00:02:08,769 --> 00:02:10,550 This is gonna be awesome. 42 00:02:10,550 --> 00:02:11,915 (exclaiming) 43 00:02:13,506 --> 00:02:15,644 It's the journey of a lifetime. 44 00:02:15,644 --> 00:02:20,644 (dramatic music) 45 00:02:27,302 --> 00:02:31,159 (drums rolling) 46 00:02:31,159 --> 00:02:35,616 (chanting in foreign language) 47 00:02:35,616 --> 00:02:38,946 The island of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean, 48 00:02:40,717 --> 00:02:43,637 it's a wild paradise that still remains 49 00:02:43,637 --> 00:02:46,264 largely untouched by modern civilization. 50 00:02:51,674 --> 00:02:54,214 A scientific research vessel is here 51 00:02:54,214 --> 00:02:57,785 to explore the uncharted depths of these waters. 52 00:02:59,512 --> 00:03:02,527 The Alucia is equipped with the latest technology 53 00:03:02,527 --> 00:03:04,928 including a deep sea submersible 54 00:03:04,928 --> 00:03:08,318 that can dive to depths of 1,000 meters. 55 00:03:13,687 --> 00:03:16,687 The crew are carrying out final safety checks 56 00:03:16,687 --> 00:03:19,908 to the submersible Nadir. 57 00:03:19,908 --> 00:03:22,267 No one before has attempted to dive 58 00:03:22,267 --> 00:03:24,557 in these waters with a sub. 59 00:03:28,108 --> 00:03:32,498 The expedition is led by marine biologist, Mark Ardmann. 60 00:03:32,498 --> 00:03:36,239 Ardmann is an expert in the ecology of coral reefs 61 00:03:36,239 --> 00:03:39,679 and has been studying them for over 20 years. 62 00:03:39,679 --> 00:03:42,279 He's worked in these waters for over a decade 63 00:03:42,279 --> 00:03:43,609 and knows them well. 64 00:03:46,039 --> 00:03:49,359 Their first stop is the Raja Ampat Islands 65 00:03:49,359 --> 00:03:51,517 of the west end of New Guinea. 66 00:03:51,517 --> 00:03:56,447 (calm music) 67 00:03:56,447 --> 00:03:57,895 Okay sir, ready? 68 00:03:57,895 --> 00:03:59,105 Let's go. 69 00:04:03,895 --> 00:04:05,995 The warm waters are teaming 70 00:04:05,995 --> 00:04:07,425 with colorful fish. 71 00:04:12,114 --> 00:04:14,474 Nowhere in all of seas of the world 72 00:04:14,474 --> 00:04:16,822 is there a greater diversity of life. 73 00:04:16,822 --> 00:04:21,822 (calm music) 74 00:04:26,163 --> 00:04:29,904 Over 500 species of corals live here, 75 00:04:29,904 --> 00:04:32,982 they in turn support a myriad of fish 76 00:04:32,982 --> 00:04:35,231 that depend on them for food and shelter. 77 00:04:40,762 --> 00:04:44,861 Tropical waters are surprisingly poor in nutrients, 78 00:04:44,861 --> 00:04:46,862 but the corals produce enough food 79 00:04:46,862 --> 00:04:50,152 to sustain a vast community of marine creatures. 80 00:04:53,742 --> 00:04:57,662 Ardmann has identified over 1,500 species of fish 81 00:04:57,662 --> 00:04:59,480 in the shallow waters here, 82 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,540 confirming that this is one of the greatest 83 00:05:01,540 --> 00:05:04,530 biodiversity hot spots in the world. 84 00:05:11,419 --> 00:05:13,440 But Ardmann has long been wanting 85 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:15,630 to explore the deeper ocean. 86 00:05:17,659 --> 00:05:20,240 It all started with an extraordinary discovery 87 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,730 that he made over 15 years ago. 88 00:05:33,780 --> 00:05:36,999 He was traveling around the island of Sulawesi, 89 00:05:36,999 --> 00:05:38,410 in Indonesia. 90 00:05:42,639 --> 00:05:45,820 So, it was on my honeymoon in 1997. 91 00:05:45,820 --> 00:05:48,579 We were in Manado when we are doing some diving there, 92 00:05:48,579 --> 00:05:50,358 and I always like to go to the fish market 93 00:05:50,358 --> 00:05:53,258 just to see what the people are catching there. 94 00:05:53,258 --> 00:05:54,865 So we went quite early in the morning. 95 00:05:56,536 --> 00:05:58,084 My wife saw it first. 96 00:06:02,014 --> 00:06:03,350 Very intrigued by what this was. 97 00:06:03,350 --> 00:06:05,320 It was something she'd never seen before. 98 00:06:07,051 --> 00:06:09,381 So she called me over and asked me what this was. 99 00:06:13,471 --> 00:06:15,531 Ardmann immediaterly recognized 100 00:06:15,531 --> 00:06:17,161 the bizarre looking fish. 101 00:06:22,251 --> 00:06:24,674 And I said, oh my goodness, it's a coelacanth. 102 00:06:26,944 --> 00:06:29,059 The coelacanth is a very rare fish 103 00:06:29,059 --> 00:06:31,339 that was once thought to be the ancestor 104 00:06:31,339 --> 00:06:34,089 of all land-living backbone animals. 105 00:06:35,459 --> 00:06:40,329 It has armor-like scales and large bulging eyes, 106 00:06:43,579 --> 00:06:46,449 and fleshy fins that resemble limbs. 107 00:06:49,558 --> 00:06:50,719 Very surprised to see, 108 00:06:50,719 --> 00:06:52,097 it's something I'd known as a child 109 00:06:52,097 --> 00:06:54,736 but obviously never seen a real one, 110 00:06:54,736 --> 00:06:58,626 so it was fantastic and a really big surprise to see. 111 00:07:00,216 --> 00:07:01,965 Until the live specimen was caught 112 00:07:01,965 --> 00:07:05,465 off the coast of South Africa in 1938, 113 00:07:05,465 --> 00:07:07,931 the coelacanth was thought to be extinct. 114 00:07:08,941 --> 00:07:11,159 It had only been known from fossils 115 00:07:11,159 --> 00:07:13,738 over 80 million years old. 116 00:07:13,738 --> 00:07:15,619 And the discovery of a living specimen 117 00:07:15,619 --> 00:07:17,819 was a scientific sensation. 118 00:07:17,819 --> 00:07:20,279 It was over a meter and a half long 119 00:07:20,279 --> 00:07:23,239 and weighed nearly 60 kilos. 120 00:07:23,239 --> 00:07:25,519 News of the strange primeval fish 121 00:07:25,519 --> 00:07:27,269 soon spread around the world. 122 00:07:31,858 --> 00:07:34,578 50 years later, Ardmann himself, 123 00:07:34,578 --> 00:07:37,616 found another coelacanth in Asian waters 124 00:07:37,616 --> 00:07:39,185 far from Africa. 125 00:07:39,185 --> 00:07:42,016 It was a different species and once again 126 00:07:42,016 --> 00:07:44,692 the strange fish captured our imagination. 127 00:07:44,692 --> 00:07:49,449 (mysterious music) 128 00:07:49,449 --> 00:07:52,007 Since then, a few more specimens 129 00:07:52,007 --> 00:07:55,088 had been recovered in Indonesian waters 130 00:07:55,088 --> 00:07:57,476 but only in a handful of places. 131 00:07:58,706 --> 00:08:00,604 Ardmann believes that their range 132 00:08:00,604 --> 00:08:02,912 maybe much wider than we think. 133 00:08:08,182 --> 00:08:10,080 He's long had the dream of conducting 134 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:13,622 a full scale exploration of the deep Pacific Ocean. 135 00:08:15,709 --> 00:08:19,010 Other prehistoric creatures such as deep-sea sharks 136 00:08:19,010 --> 00:08:21,949 and nautilus, have already been discovered here 137 00:08:21,949 --> 00:08:25,188 and he hopes one day to find the coelacanths too. 138 00:08:25,188 --> 00:08:30,138 (majestic music) 139 00:08:30,138 --> 00:08:31,647 There's an important question about 140 00:08:31,647 --> 00:08:33,628 why we have so many of those here? 141 00:08:33,628 --> 00:08:36,408 What about the deep tropical sea? 142 00:08:36,408 --> 00:08:38,424 And perhaps really try to unlock some 143 00:08:38,424 --> 00:08:43,292 of the mysteries of the deep tropical ancient seas here. 144 00:08:46,063 --> 00:08:47,483 The expedition that Ardmann 145 00:08:47,483 --> 00:08:49,242 and his colleagues are planning 146 00:08:49,242 --> 00:08:51,183 will require much preparation 147 00:08:51,183 --> 00:08:52,833 and take over a year. 148 00:08:54,923 --> 00:08:56,923 From inside this submersible, 149 00:08:56,923 --> 00:09:00,362 the team will have an unobstructed view, 150 00:09:00,362 --> 00:09:04,233 nearly 360 degrees all around them. 151 00:09:05,982 --> 00:09:09,442 The sub is also equipped with a high resolution camera 152 00:09:09,442 --> 00:09:13,048 that can capture even softer shades of color underwater. 153 00:09:18,178 --> 00:09:20,458 With final preparations complete, 154 00:09:20,458 --> 00:09:23,027 the sub is ready for its descent. 155 00:09:25,618 --> 00:09:28,138 I think that there's an extremely good chance 156 00:09:28,138 --> 00:09:30,298 that coelacanths are found right here. 157 00:09:30,298 --> 00:09:31,255 We're in the right place 158 00:09:31,255 --> 00:09:33,196 and I'm extremely excited about this 159 00:09:33,196 --> 00:09:35,983 and yeah, I'm just ready to go. 160 00:09:38,374 --> 00:09:41,144 Ardmann is excited and nervous. 161 00:09:42,353 --> 00:09:43,514 Guys happy? 162 00:09:43,514 --> 00:09:44,913 Very Happy. 163 00:09:44,913 --> 00:09:45,730 Ready to go. 164 00:09:45,730 --> 00:09:50,730 (questing music) 165 00:09:53,391 --> 00:09:56,111 The sub weighs nearly eight tons. 166 00:09:56,111 --> 00:09:58,945 It will be lowered into the sea by a huge crane. 167 00:09:58,945 --> 00:10:03,876 (questing music) 168 00:10:08,719 --> 00:10:10,995 (engine roaring) 169 00:10:10,995 --> 00:10:15,826 (questing music) 170 00:10:24,336 --> 00:10:27,232 It's Ardmann's first dive into the deep 171 00:10:27,232 --> 00:10:29,021 below the coral reef. 172 00:10:30,689 --> 00:10:33,549 (indistinct talking) 173 00:10:33,549 --> 00:10:35,237 Nearer to the surface, the swimmer clear, 174 00:10:35,237 --> 00:10:37,397 am I clear to vent? 175 00:10:37,397 --> 00:10:39,623 Oh, yeah, you're clear to vent. 176 00:10:41,231 --> 00:10:42,537 Hey guys. 177 00:10:44,588 --> 00:10:46,538 Here we go 178 00:10:46,538 --> 00:10:47,558 All right. 179 00:10:53,861 --> 00:10:55,132 Fingers crossed. 180 00:11:14,713 --> 00:11:18,243 The sub slowly descends into the deep. 181 00:11:24,953 --> 00:11:28,513 The lower they go, the darker it gets. 182 00:11:28,513 --> 00:11:31,943 Very little light penetrates these gloomy depths. 183 00:11:38,293 --> 00:11:40,413 [Man on the radio] Surface, surface Nadir, 184 00:11:40,413 --> 00:11:43,756 depth now 34 meters on the wall, over. 185 00:11:45,106 --> 00:11:46,846 Nadir, surface, 186 00:11:46,846 --> 00:11:49,471 steady 34 meters on the wall, loud and clear. 187 00:11:56,181 --> 00:11:58,436 Got a whole phalanx of little tiny squid. 188 00:11:58,436 --> 00:11:59,680 directly in front of the lights. 189 00:12:05,410 --> 00:12:06,850 [Man on the radio] Surface, surface, Nadir, 190 00:12:06,850 --> 00:12:09,910 depth 170 meters. 191 00:12:09,910 --> 00:12:11,476 The lights were okay. 192 00:12:12,486 --> 00:12:13,764 Are we on the bottom? 193 00:12:13,764 --> 00:12:15,192 Yeah. 194 00:12:20,702 --> 00:12:22,802 The seafloor is very different 195 00:12:22,802 --> 00:12:24,572 to the coral reef above. 196 00:12:25,842 --> 00:12:29,472 Bare and barren, there is little sign of life here. 197 00:12:36,902 --> 00:12:38,832 At last they spot something, 198 00:12:41,643 --> 00:12:45,892 the strange heart-shape creature at the end of the stalk. 199 00:12:48,302 --> 00:12:53,302 It's a rare comb jelly that was first discovered in 1941 200 00:12:53,402 --> 00:12:56,062 by the Japanese Emperor, Hirohito, 201 00:12:56,062 --> 00:12:59,172 who was also a passionate marine biologist. 202 00:13:02,382 --> 00:13:05,702 This jelly-like creature lives attached to a rock 203 00:13:05,702 --> 00:13:07,382 at the bottom of the sea 204 00:13:07,382 --> 00:13:09,850 and feeds in the most extraordinary way. 205 00:13:12,260 --> 00:13:14,560 It throws out long sticky filaments 206 00:13:14,560 --> 00:13:17,958 which catch tiny prey drifting by in the water. 207 00:13:17,958 --> 00:13:22,828 (mysterious music) 208 00:13:28,258 --> 00:13:31,277 [Man on the radio] Surface, surface, Nadir, depth, 22-- 209 00:13:31,277 --> 00:13:33,397 The surface is now descended 210 00:13:33,397 --> 00:13:36,437 to below 200 meters and is entering 211 00:13:36,437 --> 00:13:40,017 what is known as the twilight zone. 212 00:13:40,017 --> 00:13:43,027 Very little light penetrates as deeply as this. 213 00:13:45,837 --> 00:13:48,125 That sea urchin is beautiful. 214 00:13:49,135 --> 00:13:50,213 Oh that's-- 215 00:13:50,213 --> 00:13:51,329 The red one right there? 216 00:13:51,329 --> 00:13:52,459 Yeah. 217 00:13:55,049 --> 00:13:57,069 The sea urchin looks quite different 218 00:13:57,069 --> 00:14:01,136 to most modern day urchins, having fewer spines. 219 00:14:03,647 --> 00:14:06,347 In fact, it more close to resembles fossils 220 00:14:06,347 --> 00:14:08,667 from 200 million years ago 221 00:14:08,667 --> 00:14:12,806 and belongs to a primitive group known as the pencil urchins 222 00:14:12,806 --> 00:14:15,396 because of the thickness of their spines. 223 00:14:19,107 --> 00:14:23,357 The team notice another unusual creature on the seafloor. 224 00:14:25,287 --> 00:14:27,587 This is truly a living fossil here, 225 00:14:27,587 --> 00:14:29,167 if we can get up on that video 226 00:14:29,167 --> 00:14:31,648 and I think this is one of the things that we rarely see. 227 00:14:33,418 --> 00:14:37,131 So these are sea lilies which are now on stalks. 228 00:14:37,131 --> 00:14:38,931 This is basically exactly what they look like 229 00:14:38,931 --> 00:14:42,733 in a fossil record hundreds of millions of years ago. 230 00:14:44,688 --> 00:14:45,531 Here we go. 231 00:14:45,531 --> 00:14:46,767 There, and one up there. 232 00:14:46,767 --> 00:14:48,057 (mumbles) over there. 233 00:14:51,847 --> 00:14:54,107 The sea lily looks just like those 234 00:14:54,107 --> 00:14:58,355 found as fossils dating back 400 million years. 235 00:14:58,355 --> 00:15:01,313 It has ranged very little over millennia. 236 00:15:06,042 --> 00:15:09,383 Perhaps sensing the sub's presence as it approaches, 237 00:15:09,383 --> 00:15:12,489 the sea lily begins to wave its arms. 238 00:15:12,489 --> 00:15:17,425 (mysterious music) 239 00:15:19,795 --> 00:15:24,365 It may look like a plant but it is in fact an animal 240 00:15:24,365 --> 00:15:29,125 and if in danger, it will resort to a remarkable strategy. 241 00:15:32,335 --> 00:15:36,291 It detaches itself and uses its feathery arms 242 00:15:36,291 --> 00:15:40,126 to crawl over the sea floor in search of a safe spot. 243 00:15:40,126 --> 00:15:44,836 (mysterious music) 244 00:15:55,845 --> 00:15:58,865 The sea lily may have retained its primitive form 245 00:15:58,865 --> 00:16:00,386 for millions of years, 246 00:16:00,386 --> 00:16:03,125 but it's also hardly enough to have survived 247 00:16:03,125 --> 00:16:04,756 into the modern age. 248 00:16:08,502 --> 00:16:11,023 Discovering these living fossils 249 00:16:11,023 --> 00:16:13,633 has been quite overwhelming for Ardmann. 250 00:16:17,001 --> 00:16:18,531 If we had a week of this-- 251 00:16:18,531 --> 00:16:19,978 Oh my God. 252 00:16:22,729 --> 00:16:25,629 Stalked sea lilies like these were once 253 00:16:25,629 --> 00:16:27,984 far more abundant than they are today 254 00:16:27,984 --> 00:16:30,795 and then found mostly in shallow waters. 255 00:16:32,740 --> 00:16:37,560 (bubbly music) 256 00:16:38,521 --> 00:16:40,481 400 million years ago, 257 00:16:40,481 --> 00:16:43,101 thick carpets of these strange creatures 258 00:16:43,101 --> 00:16:44,781 covered the sea floor 259 00:16:44,781 --> 00:16:47,491 forming spectacular underwater meadows. 260 00:16:51,621 --> 00:16:54,601 The warm shallow waters were rich in plankton 261 00:16:54,601 --> 00:16:56,651 and there were few large predators. 262 00:17:02,461 --> 00:17:06,440 The nautilus, an ancient relative of the squid, octopus, 263 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:10,311 haunted small marine invertebrates such as trilobites. 264 00:17:15,198 --> 00:17:19,247 Overtime, more former developed predators began to appear, 265 00:17:20,717 --> 00:17:22,107 primitive sharks, 266 00:17:24,538 --> 00:17:27,897 and huge armored fish. 267 00:17:27,897 --> 00:17:31,116 With powerful jaws and the ability to swim swiftly, 268 00:17:31,116 --> 00:17:34,505 these formidable hunters rule the shallow seas. 269 00:17:41,375 --> 00:17:44,575 While many prehistoric creatures became extinct, 270 00:17:44,575 --> 00:17:46,936 the sea lilies and some other species 271 00:17:46,936 --> 00:17:50,926 survived as living fossils in the twilight zone. 272 00:17:53,936 --> 00:17:57,796 The key to their success was their ability to adapt. 273 00:17:57,796 --> 00:18:02,766 (calm music) 274 00:18:05,776 --> 00:18:07,776 During the age of the dinosaurs, 275 00:18:07,776 --> 00:18:10,836 even bigger and more ferocious predators appeared 276 00:18:10,836 --> 00:18:12,407 in the shallow seas. 277 00:18:14,536 --> 00:18:18,174 Large swimming reptiles like the plesiosaur. 278 00:18:18,174 --> 00:18:22,915 (calm music) 279 00:18:25,855 --> 00:18:29,911 Now, slow moving animals without weapons of their own, 280 00:18:29,911 --> 00:18:31,940 made easy prey. 281 00:18:36,271 --> 00:18:38,270 Those that lived in deep waters 282 00:18:38,270 --> 00:18:42,660 were largely unaffected by this struggle to survival. 283 00:18:42,660 --> 00:18:44,510 They are descendants of the living fossils 284 00:18:44,510 --> 00:18:48,740 that we know today, the coelacanths and the sea lilies. 285 00:18:48,740 --> 00:18:51,468 Here in the deep there were few competetors 286 00:18:51,468 --> 00:18:54,748 and it was too dark from most predators to find them. 287 00:18:54,748 --> 00:18:59,748 (calm music) 288 00:19:08,408 --> 00:19:11,308 The sub has returned to the surface. 289 00:19:11,308 --> 00:19:13,898 The first dive completed. 290 00:19:13,898 --> 00:19:14,988 Thank you sir. 291 00:19:14,988 --> 00:19:16,028 You're welcome. 292 00:19:16,028 --> 00:19:18,168 It's a fantastic trip. 293 00:19:18,168 --> 00:19:22,208 I would say it was other worldly, 294 00:19:22,208 --> 00:19:24,766 it was truly a lost world that we encountered. 295 00:19:24,766 --> 00:19:26,902 I think that if we had some more time here, 296 00:19:26,902 --> 00:19:29,430 that we would definitely find coelacanths. 297 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:34,400 The team start planning 298 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:36,807 for their next phase of the expedition. 299 00:19:38,355 --> 00:19:40,872 (lively music) 300 00:19:40,872 --> 00:19:42,360 We gotta take a look here. 301 00:19:44,070 --> 00:19:46,331 Ardmann decides to focus his search 302 00:19:46,331 --> 00:19:50,771 on finding prehistoric fish including the coelacanth. 303 00:19:50,771 --> 00:19:52,499 But where should he start to look? 304 00:19:56,409 --> 00:19:58,887 Coelacanth are thought to be nocturnal, 305 00:19:58,887 --> 00:20:01,325 hiding away in caves and rock crevices 306 00:20:01,325 --> 00:20:04,555 around 200 meters below the surface. 307 00:20:09,545 --> 00:20:12,165 There are hardly any maps of the seafloor 308 00:20:12,165 --> 00:20:13,913 around New Guinea. 309 00:20:13,913 --> 00:20:16,183 From the little information he has, 310 00:20:16,183 --> 00:20:18,721 Ardmann decides to focus on a small island 311 00:20:18,721 --> 00:20:21,831 called Wuvulu of the northern coast. 312 00:20:25,501 --> 00:20:27,101 I think that Wuvulu looks to me 313 00:20:27,101 --> 00:20:29,861 from the maps to be probably the steepest 314 00:20:29,861 --> 00:20:32,261 and a few divers that I've spoken to talked about 315 00:20:32,261 --> 00:20:33,962 very large caves there so that 316 00:20:33,962 --> 00:20:35,861 could also be quite interesting. 317 00:20:35,861 --> 00:20:38,340 So that's the general habitat that we're going to look for. 318 00:20:38,340 --> 00:20:39,499 General topography is something 319 00:20:39,499 --> 00:20:42,148 like quite steep and the caves. 320 00:20:43,737 --> 00:20:47,057 If coelacanths do live in these waters, 321 00:20:47,057 --> 00:20:49,733 Wuvulu could have the right kind of habitat. 322 00:20:49,733 --> 00:20:54,033 (questing music) 323 00:20:54,033 --> 00:20:58,316 They set course for this remote and little visit diver. 324 00:21:01,446 --> 00:21:04,285 If we can confirm the existence of coelacanths here 325 00:21:04,285 --> 00:21:06,446 in Northern PNG, it will be actually 326 00:21:06,446 --> 00:21:08,802 a very significant scientific finding, 327 00:21:08,802 --> 00:21:11,301 it will open the possibility that coelacanths 328 00:21:11,301 --> 00:21:14,101 are found of course throughout this western pacific rim. 329 00:21:14,101 --> 00:21:16,969 So we're very excited about this possibility. 330 00:21:18,238 --> 00:21:19,518 30 hours later, 331 00:21:19,518 --> 00:21:21,439 the ship has reached its destination 332 00:21:21,439 --> 00:21:23,043 just north of New Guinea. 333 00:21:25,239 --> 00:21:28,129 Wuvulu is about five kilometers long. 334 00:21:31,278 --> 00:21:33,248 The team head towards the shore. 335 00:21:39,819 --> 00:21:44,029 On the way, they encounter a fisherman in his small canoe. 336 00:21:47,256 --> 00:21:51,256 He's just caught an oilfish nearly two meters long. 337 00:21:51,256 --> 00:21:53,616 It's a deep sea fish usually found 338 00:21:53,616 --> 00:21:56,244 at depths of around 500 meters. 339 00:22:01,012 --> 00:22:02,862 (fisherman laughs) 340 00:22:04,531 --> 00:22:06,029 Where did you catch this? 341 00:22:06,029 --> 00:22:08,330 (foreign language) 342 00:22:08,330 --> 00:22:10,728 This is the place for them. 343 00:22:10,728 --> 00:22:13,868 It's definitely a good sign of good coelacanth habitat 344 00:22:13,868 --> 00:22:16,552 which we already know from what we've seen in the sample. 345 00:22:17,882 --> 00:22:20,242 It sounds like coelacanths and oilfish 346 00:22:20,242 --> 00:22:23,368 maybe found in the same kind of habitat. 347 00:22:26,399 --> 00:22:29,598 Ardmann and his team head towards the local village 348 00:22:29,598 --> 00:22:31,489 to see if they can find out more. 349 00:22:32,378 --> 00:22:35,798 The island has a population of some 900 people, 350 00:22:35,798 --> 00:22:39,259 most of them making a living from fishing. 351 00:22:39,259 --> 00:22:41,519 Everyone thinks they're a fish expert. 352 00:22:41,519 --> 00:22:43,915 Have you caught any of this fishes before? 353 00:22:43,915 --> 00:22:45,870 Yeah. Yeah? 354 00:22:45,870 --> 00:22:46,968 Including this one? 355 00:22:46,968 --> 00:22:47,968 Yes, but this one normally, 356 00:22:47,968 --> 00:22:50,107 we use to catch this fish at night. 357 00:22:50,107 --> 00:22:50,988 Right. 358 00:22:50,988 --> 00:22:52,662 But what about the coelacanth? 359 00:22:52,662 --> 00:22:54,463 This one is very rare. 360 00:22:54,463 --> 00:22:56,211 Very rare, okay. 361 00:22:58,060 --> 00:23:01,041 Ardmann then gets to meet a veteran fisherman 362 00:23:01,041 --> 00:23:04,210 who gives him a crucial piece of information. 363 00:23:04,210 --> 00:23:05,880 Let me ask you some questions. 364 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:08,221 Have you ever seen that fish before? 365 00:23:08,221 --> 00:23:09,580 I caught one. 366 00:23:09,580 --> 00:23:10,518 You caught one? 367 00:23:10,518 --> 00:23:11,298 A small one. 368 00:23:11,298 --> 00:23:12,568 A small one, yeah? 369 00:23:12,568 --> 00:23:14,930 Did you catch that during the day or at night? 370 00:23:14,930 --> 00:23:16,616 At night. At night, yeah? 371 00:23:16,616 --> 00:23:20,836 And was it also in the same kind 372 00:23:20,836 --> 00:23:23,493 of depths as this fish or, yeah? 373 00:23:23,493 --> 00:23:27,093 About 200 to 300 meter deep. 374 00:23:27,093 --> 00:23:28,014 Yeah? 375 00:23:28,014 --> 00:23:29,254 Quite deep, yeah? 376 00:23:29,254 --> 00:23:30,334 Okay. 377 00:23:30,334 --> 00:23:31,894 Was that a long time ago or? 378 00:23:31,894 --> 00:23:33,313 No, no. 379 00:23:33,313 --> 00:23:34,730 Just recently? 380 00:23:34,730 --> 00:23:35,583 This year. 381 00:23:35,583 --> 00:23:36,440 This year, yeah? 382 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:37,991 Okay. 383 00:23:39,101 --> 00:23:41,021 Ardmann asks the fisherman 384 00:23:41,021 --> 00:23:44,383 to take them to the spot where he caught the coelacanth. 385 00:23:47,574 --> 00:23:49,414 The Wuvulus have a traditional way 386 00:23:49,414 --> 00:23:51,139 of catching fish from the deep. 387 00:23:52,207 --> 00:23:54,886 They tie a strip of leaf to a stone 388 00:23:54,886 --> 00:23:57,766 and use it as a weight to lower the line down 389 00:23:57,766 --> 00:24:00,243 to 200 meters or more. 390 00:24:00,243 --> 00:24:05,243 (calm music) 391 00:24:05,823 --> 00:24:08,653 After that, it's simply a waiting game. 392 00:24:14,783 --> 00:24:19,459 (thunder rolling) 393 00:24:19,459 --> 00:24:22,732 Next morning, a tropical storm is brewing. 394 00:24:22,732 --> 00:24:27,732 (dramatic music) 395 00:24:35,232 --> 00:24:37,252 Despite the difficult conditions, 396 00:24:37,252 --> 00:24:41,202 the crew continues to prepare the sub for another dive. 397 00:24:45,512 --> 00:24:48,262 They want to get as close as possible to the shore. 398 00:24:55,071 --> 00:24:58,252 Then the plan is to follow the coral reef wall 399 00:24:58,252 --> 00:25:00,063 down into the deep. 400 00:25:00,063 --> 00:25:04,893 (dramatic music) 401 00:25:17,223 --> 00:25:20,953 Once underwater, they're sheltered from the storm above. 402 00:25:25,803 --> 00:25:29,613 And they discover that the reef drops straight down. 403 00:25:38,903 --> 00:25:43,637 Surface Nadir, passing through 60 meters. 404 00:25:43,637 --> 00:25:45,877 Conditions are good, visibility is good. 405 00:25:45,877 --> 00:25:47,444 We're on the face of the wall. 406 00:25:50,614 --> 00:25:52,434 They head for the location 407 00:25:52,434 --> 00:25:54,144 pointed out by the fisherman. 408 00:25:58,944 --> 00:26:00,164 Let's go down here. 409 00:26:02,702 --> 00:26:06,180 A large fish is lurking inside a crevice, 410 00:26:06,180 --> 00:26:08,670 could it be the coelacanth? 411 00:26:14,660 --> 00:26:16,070 No, it's not. 412 00:26:16,070 --> 00:26:17,988 It's a kind of grouper fish. 413 00:26:23,897 --> 00:26:25,987 The team seem a bit disappointed. 414 00:26:27,475 --> 00:26:29,240 (exclaims) 415 00:26:31,069 --> 00:26:33,563 But then, a massive grouper swims 416 00:26:33,563 --> 00:26:35,536 right up to the sub's window. 417 00:26:35,536 --> 00:26:40,174 (foreboding music) 418 00:26:40,174 --> 00:26:43,084 It's a giant, maybe a meter long. 419 00:26:43,084 --> 00:26:47,862 (foreboding rolls) 420 00:26:49,172 --> 00:26:50,632 As groupers mature, 421 00:26:50,632 --> 00:26:53,902 they are known to move into deeper water. 422 00:26:53,902 --> 00:26:58,462 It peers into the sub, fascinated by the alien visitors. 423 00:27:00,312 --> 00:27:03,490 This is a novelty even for Ardmann. 424 00:27:03,490 --> 00:27:07,068 (foreboding rolls) 425 00:27:07,068 --> 00:27:11,738 (calm music) 426 00:27:15,888 --> 00:27:20,808 Surface Nadir, depths, 200 meters. 427 00:27:20,808 --> 00:27:22,398 All systems good. 428 00:27:24,626 --> 00:27:26,766 It's the fisherman's anchor, you see that? 429 00:27:26,766 --> 00:27:28,044 Oh, yes. 430 00:27:30,642 --> 00:27:33,651 It's the weight from a deep sea line. 431 00:27:33,651 --> 00:27:35,032 This maybe the place 432 00:27:35,032 --> 00:27:37,092 where the fisherman caught the coelacanth. 433 00:27:37,092 --> 00:27:41,823 (mysterious music) 434 00:27:44,573 --> 00:27:47,007 Might be a stuck sea lily right there. 435 00:27:47,007 --> 00:27:51,777 (mysterious music) 436 00:27:52,967 --> 00:27:54,946 It's another sea lily 437 00:27:54,946 --> 00:27:58,326 confirming that they're now entering the twilight zone, 438 00:27:58,326 --> 00:28:01,737 the threshold into the lost world. 439 00:28:01,737 --> 00:28:04,596 Creatures like this are few and far between. 440 00:28:05,546 --> 00:28:09,185 These waters are barren, sustaining very little life. 441 00:28:09,185 --> 00:28:14,055 (mysterious music) 442 00:28:18,345 --> 00:28:20,963 But something is floating towards the sub. 443 00:28:20,963 --> 00:28:25,712 (mysterious music) 444 00:28:29,875 --> 00:28:32,606 (indistinct talking) 445 00:28:33,693 --> 00:28:35,186 They's like that for sure. 446 00:28:35,186 --> 00:28:39,606 (mysterious music) 447 00:28:39,606 --> 00:28:42,426 It's a nautilus, another living fossil 448 00:28:42,426 --> 00:28:44,505 once common in the shallow seas 449 00:28:44,505 --> 00:28:47,495 but now, largely confined to the deep. 450 00:28:50,446 --> 00:28:52,813 Surface Nadir, we have a nautilus. 451 00:28:54,963 --> 00:28:56,963 Its large shell contains 452 00:28:56,963 --> 00:28:59,403 gas-filled flotation chambers 453 00:28:59,403 --> 00:29:02,788 with much it controls its buoyancy and depths. 454 00:29:04,678 --> 00:29:08,398 And it moves by squirting water out through a siphon, 455 00:29:08,398 --> 00:29:10,127 a form of jet propulsion. 456 00:29:14,738 --> 00:29:17,193 The team have already had superb views 457 00:29:17,193 --> 00:29:19,114 of two primeval creatures, 458 00:29:19,114 --> 00:29:21,234 it's a promising beginning. 459 00:29:21,234 --> 00:29:25,904 (mysterious music) 460 00:29:29,234 --> 00:29:32,421 They're now at a depth of 200 meters. 461 00:29:34,611 --> 00:29:37,371 Ardmann notices that the surrounding seascape 462 00:29:37,371 --> 00:29:38,908 is gradually changing. 463 00:29:38,908 --> 00:29:43,739 (majestic music) 464 00:29:45,808 --> 00:29:47,727 Still looks like the twin here, 465 00:29:47,727 --> 00:29:49,695 (mumbles) of caves. 466 00:29:50,818 --> 00:29:52,488 It's (mumbles), is it? 467 00:29:54,736 --> 00:29:57,605 The rocks are riddled with holes. 468 00:29:59,615 --> 00:30:02,336 These caves are formed thousands of years ago 469 00:30:02,336 --> 00:30:05,875 by wind and waves eroding the limestone cliffs 470 00:30:05,875 --> 00:30:09,294 of a small island that is now sunk beneath the sea. 471 00:30:09,294 --> 00:30:13,904 (mysterious music) 472 00:30:19,223 --> 00:30:23,314 There could be a coelacanth hiding in one of these crevices. 473 00:30:28,064 --> 00:30:29,764 The team decides to embark 474 00:30:29,764 --> 00:30:32,394 on the systematic search of the caves. 475 00:30:34,264 --> 00:30:38,314 Day after day, they dive for eight hours at a time. 476 00:30:41,164 --> 00:30:44,694 But it's not easy to find a fish hiding in the dark. 477 00:30:45,864 --> 00:30:48,504 Getting the sub close to holes and crevices 478 00:30:48,504 --> 00:30:51,334 in strong currents is a challenge. 479 00:30:52,184 --> 00:30:56,850 It seems an endless task as they check hundreds of caves. 480 00:30:58,776 --> 00:31:00,086 Nothing seen. 481 00:31:01,156 --> 00:31:03,116 Have coelacanths already been fished 482 00:31:03,116 --> 00:31:05,316 to extinction in these waters, 483 00:31:05,316 --> 00:31:07,992 or are they too shy to reveal themselves? 484 00:31:07,992 --> 00:31:12,992 (gentle music) 485 00:31:13,612 --> 00:31:15,832 It's frustrating and they have nothing to show 486 00:31:15,832 --> 00:31:18,762 for their efforts but sheer exhaustion. 487 00:31:24,152 --> 00:31:26,962 The team faced a difficult decision. 488 00:31:26,962 --> 00:31:29,802 Should they stay or move to another site? 489 00:31:33,732 --> 00:31:36,572 After much consideration, Ardmann decides 490 00:31:36,572 --> 00:31:39,410 to take his chances on the new location. 491 00:31:39,410 --> 00:31:43,568 They head east towards the Kaniet Islands 200 miles away. 492 00:31:43,568 --> 00:31:48,568 (gentle music) 493 00:31:56,983 --> 00:31:59,942 Far out in the Pacific, the Kaniet islands 494 00:31:59,942 --> 00:32:01,860 are still uninhabited. 495 00:32:01,860 --> 00:32:05,280 (gentle music) 496 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:07,961 Untouched by man, the coral reefs are healthy 497 00:32:07,961 --> 00:32:09,379 and well preserved. 498 00:32:09,379 --> 00:32:13,219 (gentle music) 499 00:32:13,219 --> 00:32:15,698 And the water is rich in marine life. 500 00:32:15,698 --> 00:32:20,599 (gentle music) 501 00:32:20,599 --> 00:32:23,454 Ardmann hopes that here in these pristine waters, 502 00:32:23,454 --> 00:32:26,032 they may find the creature they're looking for. 503 00:32:26,032 --> 00:32:30,781 (gentle music) 504 00:32:56,452 --> 00:33:00,972 The sub descends into the crystal blue water. 505 00:33:00,972 --> 00:33:02,880 The team have their hopes set high. 506 00:33:11,449 --> 00:33:16,449 Even at 200 meters, the light still penetrates. 507 00:33:16,450 --> 00:33:19,240 The water is exceptionally clear. 508 00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:20,497 Wow. 509 00:33:22,087 --> 00:33:24,626 Oh, they're all around us, holy shit. 510 00:33:24,626 --> 00:33:26,076 They're everywhere. 511 00:33:28,118 --> 00:33:29,598 The team are astounded 512 00:33:29,598 --> 00:33:32,577 by the sheer numbers of fish at these depths. 513 00:33:32,577 --> 00:33:34,868 It's unlike anything they've seen before. 514 00:33:39,589 --> 00:33:40,890 (gentle music) 515 00:33:40,890 --> 00:33:44,527 Suddenly, they come across a whole complex of caves. 516 00:33:44,527 --> 00:33:46,228 Catacombs in there. 517 00:33:46,228 --> 00:33:47,365 Jesus. 518 00:33:47,365 --> 00:33:50,166 (gentle music) 519 00:33:50,166 --> 00:33:51,918 Openings large and small 520 00:33:51,918 --> 00:33:53,848 lie in the surface of the rock. 521 00:33:53,848 --> 00:33:58,767 (gentle music) 522 00:34:00,538 --> 00:34:03,178 Some are so large that the submersible 523 00:34:03,178 --> 00:34:04,896 could easily fit inside. 524 00:34:04,896 --> 00:34:09,746 (gentle music) 525 00:34:15,736 --> 00:34:19,126 A large grouper disappears into a hole. 526 00:34:22,136 --> 00:34:24,836 This place definitely has potential. 527 00:34:24,836 --> 00:34:29,836 (gentle music) 528 00:34:29,854 --> 00:34:34,067 Great point was rich with interesting caves 529 00:34:34,067 --> 00:34:35,837 but strong current. 530 00:34:40,867 --> 00:34:42,226 To find their quarry, 531 00:34:42,226 --> 00:34:45,011 Ardmann has brought along a new gimmick. 532 00:34:46,582 --> 00:34:49,522 It's a compact camera called the drop cam 533 00:34:49,522 --> 00:34:51,930 that can be taken down into the deep. 534 00:34:57,360 --> 00:35:00,445 The back of bait is tied to the front of the camera. 535 00:35:01,470 --> 00:35:03,870 Oh, but it goes straight there. 536 00:35:03,870 --> 00:35:05,305 And within minutes, 537 00:35:05,305 --> 00:35:06,694 it's attracted attention. 538 00:35:11,380 --> 00:35:14,910 Oh, no, no (laughs). 539 00:35:17,364 --> 00:35:19,666 (exclaiming) 540 00:35:19,666 --> 00:35:20,706 That's the end of our-- 541 00:35:20,706 --> 00:35:23,206 A huge grouper has ripped the bait bag 542 00:35:23,206 --> 00:35:26,375 right off together with the arm of the rig. 543 00:35:27,584 --> 00:35:29,284 Oh, Jesus Christ. 544 00:35:29,284 --> 00:35:31,444 Surface Nadir, we were just attacked 545 00:35:31,444 --> 00:35:36,144 by a very large grouper and he tore the whole bait arm 546 00:35:36,144 --> 00:35:38,124 of the front of the frame. 547 00:35:38,124 --> 00:35:40,104 (upbeat music) 548 00:35:40,104 --> 00:35:41,544 Back on their mother ship, 549 00:35:41,544 --> 00:35:43,978 the technicians hurried to build a second system. 550 00:35:43,978 --> 00:35:48,496 (upbeat music) 551 00:35:48,496 --> 00:35:50,656 They managed to assemble all the parts 552 00:35:50,656 --> 00:35:53,714 and even replaced the frame with a sturdier one. 553 00:35:53,714 --> 00:35:58,714 (upbeat music) 554 00:36:04,854 --> 00:36:05,854 Is that okay? 555 00:36:05,854 --> 00:36:07,102 Okay. 556 00:36:08,992 --> 00:36:10,712 The camera is rigged again 557 00:36:10,712 --> 00:36:14,602 and the contraption will be left for the next 24 hours. 558 00:36:19,612 --> 00:36:22,052 The drop cam uses red light 559 00:36:22,052 --> 00:36:25,222 the deep-sea creatures can't detect. 560 00:36:25,222 --> 00:36:28,262 This should allow us to see the animals behaving naturally. 561 00:36:32,652 --> 00:36:36,002 A nautilus has been lured in by the bait. 562 00:36:39,192 --> 00:36:41,170 And it's soon joined by another. 563 00:36:41,170 --> 00:36:45,760 (cartoony music) 564 00:36:49,130 --> 00:36:53,210 The new comer seems to be watching the first with interest. 565 00:36:53,210 --> 00:36:58,040 (cartoony music) 566 00:37:00,230 --> 00:37:04,070 Now, it's trying to pull the first one off the bait. 567 00:37:04,070 --> 00:37:06,670 (cartoony music) 568 00:37:06,670 --> 00:37:09,210 With a strong arm tactics and jet propulsion, 569 00:37:09,210 --> 00:37:12,270 it wrenches its rival off the food. 570 00:37:12,270 --> 00:37:16,110 (cartoony music) 571 00:37:16,110 --> 00:37:18,030 It's a surprisingly vigorous battle 572 00:37:18,030 --> 00:37:20,370 between these two living fossils. 573 00:37:20,370 --> 00:37:24,450 (cartoony music) 574 00:37:24,450 --> 00:37:26,990 Down in the deep, food is so scarce 575 00:37:26,990 --> 00:37:29,726 that every morsel is heavily contested. 576 00:37:29,726 --> 00:37:34,726 (cartoony music) 577 00:37:35,146 --> 00:37:38,426 The large bag of bait continues to attract others 578 00:37:38,426 --> 00:37:41,803 and is soon the center of a feeding frenzy. 579 00:37:41,803 --> 00:37:46,803 (cartoony music) 580 00:37:48,604 --> 00:37:53,554 (suspenseful music) 581 00:38:05,204 --> 00:38:07,954 It's the last day of the expedition. 582 00:38:10,524 --> 00:38:13,783 Aboard the Alucia, preparations are underway 583 00:38:13,783 --> 00:38:15,513 for the final dive. 584 00:38:18,904 --> 00:38:21,383 The dome is given a good clean 585 00:38:21,383 --> 00:38:24,754 and the crew also decides to change the lights on the sub. 586 00:38:27,144 --> 00:38:29,904 One light is replaced with a red one 587 00:38:29,904 --> 00:38:32,572 since it works so well with the trap cam. 588 00:38:32,572 --> 00:38:35,018 He'd made decrease visibility a little 589 00:38:35,018 --> 00:38:38,287 but it will ensure that they don't scare off the animals. 590 00:38:45,417 --> 00:38:46,937 Still optimistic. 591 00:38:46,937 --> 00:38:49,311 We don't get the mare, looking forward to this last dive 592 00:38:49,311 --> 00:38:53,045 and crossing fingers we get to it on the last dive. 593 00:38:53,045 --> 00:38:54,335 It's happened before. 594 00:38:54,335 --> 00:38:58,867 (questing music) 595 00:39:17,493 --> 00:39:22,493 Surface Nadir, depth 210 life spawn okay, 596 00:39:22,961 --> 00:39:24,338 heading south. 597 00:39:27,448 --> 00:39:30,208 They have entered the twilight zone. 598 00:39:30,208 --> 00:39:33,076 It's time to switch off the bright lights 599 00:39:34,586 --> 00:39:36,456 leaving only the red. 600 00:39:36,456 --> 00:39:41,456 (questing music) 601 00:39:44,479 --> 00:39:45,959 It's working. 602 00:39:45,959 --> 00:39:50,068 The fish seem unperturbed by the large sub above them. 603 00:39:51,819 --> 00:39:52,889 And then. 604 00:39:55,017 --> 00:39:56,215 (mumbles) has gotta go from, 605 00:39:56,215 --> 00:39:57,871 he really is (mumbles) 606 00:39:57,871 --> 00:39:59,368 This is gonna be awesome. 607 00:39:59,368 --> 00:40:01,196 (exclaiming) 608 00:40:02,746 --> 00:40:05,246 A massive grouper attacked the fish. 609 00:40:05,246 --> 00:40:08,285 A ferocious predator like this would like to scare off 610 00:40:08,285 --> 00:40:10,602 any coelacanth in the area. 611 00:40:10,602 --> 00:40:15,602 (questing music) 612 00:40:17,342 --> 00:40:21,340 Ardmann decides to take the sub down even further. 613 00:40:21,340 --> 00:40:26,340 (questing music) 614 00:40:26,521 --> 00:40:31,277 Surface Nadir, depth 275 meters, 615 00:40:31,277 --> 00:40:32,633 last border cave. 616 00:40:32,633 --> 00:40:37,633 (questing music) 617 00:40:38,732 --> 00:40:42,133 This deep, it's virtually pitch-black 618 00:40:42,133 --> 00:40:44,029 and there's almost no sign of life. 619 00:40:44,029 --> 00:40:47,639 (questing music) 620 00:40:49,029 --> 00:40:51,978 It seems unlikely they'll find anything here. 621 00:40:55,489 --> 00:40:58,596 Just as the crew are debating whether to turn back. 622 00:40:59,806 --> 00:41:01,845 There's a fish there having bright eyes. 623 00:41:01,845 --> 00:41:02,998 Wide eyes. 624 00:41:02,998 --> 00:41:04,445 You like the wide eyes. 625 00:41:05,989 --> 00:41:07,819 You know what fish has wide eyes. 626 00:41:12,969 --> 00:41:14,359 Very suspicious. 627 00:41:15,445 --> 00:41:17,454 Then you go straight to that. 628 00:41:22,845 --> 00:41:26,135 It's a big tube, whatever it is. 629 00:41:27,064 --> 00:41:28,622 Oh, there's a couple of them. 630 00:41:28,622 --> 00:41:30,923 Oh, shit, is this what, this could be it. 631 00:41:30,923 --> 00:41:31,776 This is coelacanth. 632 00:41:31,776 --> 00:41:32,797 This is it, mate. 633 00:41:32,797 --> 00:41:33,774 Yeah. 634 00:41:33,774 --> 00:41:36,488 We've got him (laughs). 635 00:41:36,488 --> 00:41:38,562 High five! 636 00:41:38,562 --> 00:41:39,662 Good boys. 637 00:41:39,662 --> 00:41:41,260 We nailed him. 638 00:41:41,260 --> 00:41:42,460 Where? 639 00:41:42,460 --> 00:41:43,356 Right? 640 00:41:43,356 --> 00:41:44,930 At least I think that, well, oh, let's make sure, 641 00:41:44,930 --> 00:41:46,468 let's make sure, let's make sure. 642 00:41:46,468 --> 00:41:47,868 My God! 643 00:41:47,868 --> 00:41:49,066 Oh, they got something. 644 00:41:49,066 --> 00:41:50,366 Yeah, it's them-- 645 00:41:50,366 --> 00:41:51,723 Are you sure, 'cause there's something else? 646 00:41:51,723 --> 00:41:54,215 There's something, they've got a weird something on it. 647 00:41:54,215 --> 00:41:55,302 What is this? 648 00:41:59,292 --> 00:42:01,507 Well, that's a cast-- 649 00:42:01,507 --> 00:42:03,848 That's not a coela, that's something else. 650 00:42:03,848 --> 00:42:05,573 But maybe right behind it, I-- 651 00:42:06,923 --> 00:42:09,196 Bizarre animal though, look at it. 652 00:42:09,196 --> 00:42:11,396 Oh shit. 653 00:42:11,396 --> 00:42:13,604 But there's a second above which-- 654 00:42:15,735 --> 00:42:17,133 You gotta film this. 655 00:42:17,133 --> 00:42:18,781 (laughs) You gotta film this. 656 00:42:21,911 --> 00:42:25,001 It's a creature Ardmann has never seen before. 657 00:42:28,671 --> 00:42:31,801 It swims slowly along the seafloor. 658 00:42:34,071 --> 00:42:38,220 It has a large head like a coelacanth but a spotted body. 659 00:42:39,631 --> 00:42:40,991 And beneath its belly, 660 00:42:40,991 --> 00:42:43,981 there are strange appendages or feelers. 661 00:42:45,890 --> 00:42:49,541 Ardmann has no idea what this fish could be. 662 00:42:49,541 --> 00:42:51,978 Is it possibly a new species? 663 00:42:53,288 --> 00:42:54,969 Ah, I thought we had a-- 664 00:42:54,969 --> 00:42:56,189 What do we gotta call this fish? 665 00:42:56,189 --> 00:42:57,468 An unknown species? 666 00:42:57,468 --> 00:42:58,602 Talking of weird fish. 667 00:42:58,602 --> 00:43:00,817 Man, look at these things. 668 00:43:01,737 --> 00:43:03,075 Surface Nadir, 669 00:43:03,075 --> 00:43:05,843 we have two coelacanths-looking fish. 670 00:43:06,813 --> 00:43:09,213 Variety, unknown. 671 00:43:09,213 --> 00:43:11,861 There is astonishment in the control room. 672 00:43:13,012 --> 00:43:17,771 It sounds like, they have just found a new fish, 673 00:43:17,771 --> 00:43:22,591 so it looks very much like a coelacanth. 674 00:43:22,591 --> 00:43:24,250 (machine operating) 675 00:43:24,250 --> 00:43:27,109 That dorsal fin is exactly 676 00:43:27,109 --> 00:43:29,037 carbon copy of a coelacanth. 677 00:43:32,807 --> 00:43:35,327 The strange fish shows little sign of fear 678 00:43:35,327 --> 00:43:37,597 even when the sub moves in closer. 679 00:43:38,807 --> 00:43:41,605 A second one is lurking further back in the shadows. 680 00:43:41,605 --> 00:43:46,554 (mysterious music) 681 00:43:49,465 --> 00:43:52,815 Ardmann is fascinated and decides to follow 682 00:43:52,815 --> 00:43:54,301 the mysterious creature. 683 00:43:54,301 --> 00:43:58,751 (mysterious music) 684 00:44:05,241 --> 00:44:07,341 But then to their surprise, 685 00:44:07,341 --> 00:44:10,670 the fish starts to swim towards them. 686 00:44:17,321 --> 00:44:20,081 It appears to be interested in the sub. 687 00:44:20,081 --> 00:44:23,337 It's a close encounter of their third kind. 688 00:44:23,337 --> 00:44:25,167 (indistinct talking) 689 00:44:32,096 --> 00:44:34,066 Wow, that is close. 690 00:44:37,837 --> 00:44:39,365 He thinks we're shelter. 691 00:44:43,275 --> 00:44:46,863 So it's about 1.2 meter of fish. 692 00:44:46,863 --> 00:44:47,899 And the other? 693 00:44:47,899 --> 00:44:48,987 1.2, 1.-- 694 00:44:53,238 --> 00:44:54,587 It's a weird fish. 695 00:44:59,378 --> 00:45:01,048 As it passes overhead, 696 00:45:01,048 --> 00:45:04,348 it clearly extends its curious appendages. 697 00:45:09,377 --> 00:45:14,377 (gentle music) 698 00:45:14,708 --> 00:45:17,889 Could it be using these to feel the surface of the dome? 699 00:45:17,889 --> 00:45:22,739 (gentle music) 700 00:45:27,809 --> 00:45:31,048 And then, it even swims upside down. 701 00:45:31,048 --> 00:45:35,847 (gentle music) 702 00:45:35,847 --> 00:45:39,148 It clearly has three antennae-like structures 703 00:45:39,148 --> 00:45:41,488 on both sides of the body. 704 00:45:41,488 --> 00:45:46,377 (gentle music) 705 00:45:50,147 --> 00:45:51,348 It's, wow! 706 00:45:51,348 --> 00:45:53,825 They look like that tripod. 707 00:45:55,534 --> 00:45:58,711 Feelers on the bottom here at the animal. 708 00:45:58,711 --> 00:46:01,448 (gentle music) 709 00:46:01,448 --> 00:46:04,628 The fish appears to stroke the rock 710 00:46:04,628 --> 00:46:08,009 with its antennae as if exploring the surface. 711 00:46:08,009 --> 00:46:13,009 (gentle music) 712 00:46:13,679 --> 00:46:17,689 The longest antennae extend just beyond the fins 713 00:46:17,689 --> 00:46:20,669 and the animal is able to move them at will. 714 00:46:20,669 --> 00:46:25,669 (gentle music) 715 00:46:29,309 --> 00:46:32,789 The tips of the strange feelers flatten out to a point 716 00:46:32,789 --> 00:46:35,667 and seem to be soft and tactile. 717 00:46:35,667 --> 00:46:40,667 (gentle music) 718 00:46:45,427 --> 00:46:49,266 Should we, do you wanna do some red light filming? 719 00:46:49,266 --> 00:46:50,612 Yes. Yeah? 720 00:46:52,063 --> 00:46:54,162 Ardmann switches to the red light 721 00:46:54,162 --> 00:46:57,142 to see if the animal will behave any differently. 722 00:46:57,142 --> 00:47:01,243 (gentle music) 723 00:47:01,243 --> 00:47:05,201 It heads off slowly towards the back of the cave. 724 00:47:05,201 --> 00:47:08,241 (gentle music) 725 00:47:08,241 --> 00:47:10,781 It seems to have lost interest in the sub 726 00:47:10,781 --> 00:47:13,421 and continues with its normal life. 727 00:47:13,421 --> 00:47:18,350 (gentle music) 728 00:47:23,141 --> 00:47:25,798 It swims into a narrow crevice. 729 00:47:25,798 --> 00:47:30,798 (gentle music) 730 00:47:32,153 --> 00:47:35,263 Though they wait, it doesn't appear to be coming out again. 731 00:47:36,273 --> 00:47:37,851 This must be its home. 732 00:47:37,851 --> 00:47:42,851 (gentle music) 733 00:47:42,951 --> 00:47:46,571 Slowly circling around, it appears to be checking out 734 00:47:46,571 --> 00:47:50,794 its surroundings gently propping the walls with its feelers. 735 00:47:52,524 --> 00:47:54,401 For creatures that live in the dark, 736 00:47:54,401 --> 00:47:57,802 other senses such as touch become more important. 737 00:47:57,802 --> 00:48:02,342 (gentle music) 738 00:48:02,342 --> 00:48:06,182 Ardmann is intrigued, what is this strange creature? 739 00:48:06,182 --> 00:48:10,692 (gentle music) 740 00:48:12,882 --> 00:48:16,281 The crew on the surface try to identify the fish 741 00:48:16,281 --> 00:48:19,252 from the information they've received from the sub. 742 00:48:20,721 --> 00:48:23,862 They come to the conclusion that it might be a new species 743 00:48:23,862 --> 00:48:26,008 that was only recently described. 744 00:48:26,939 --> 00:48:27,999 He says there's something there 745 00:48:27,999 --> 00:48:30,647 but a not as pronounced as the coelacanth. 746 00:48:34,997 --> 00:48:36,297 In fact, it turns out 747 00:48:36,297 --> 00:48:41,207 that the fish was first discovered in Japan in 2008. 748 00:48:43,957 --> 00:48:45,497 The specimen is preserved 749 00:48:45,497 --> 00:48:48,847 in the Museum of Natural History in Kanagawa. 750 00:48:50,837 --> 00:48:54,017 Dr. Hiroshi Senou who first described it, 751 00:48:54,017 --> 00:48:58,127 explains that it's a very rare kind of deep-sea fish. 752 00:48:59,997 --> 00:49:03,177 It has a skeleton made mostly of cartilage 753 00:49:03,177 --> 00:49:07,207 and a strange soft gelatinous nose. 754 00:49:11,237 --> 00:49:13,657 There are only four recorded specimens 755 00:49:13,657 --> 00:49:16,351 of this jellynose in the world. 756 00:49:16,351 --> 00:49:17,509 This is one of them. 757 00:49:17,509 --> 00:49:21,959 (calm music) 758 00:49:23,269 --> 00:49:26,729 Dr. Senou points out its strange pelvic fins 759 00:49:26,729 --> 00:49:29,029 which are typical of the species. 760 00:49:29,029 --> 00:49:32,809 They have evolved into three long, narrow fin rays 761 00:49:32,809 --> 00:49:34,726 which look like antennae. 762 00:49:34,726 --> 00:49:39,726 (calm music) 763 00:49:40,987 --> 00:49:43,407 It's almost certainly the same fish that Ardmann 764 00:49:43,407 --> 00:49:45,724 and his team encountered in the deep. 765 00:49:45,724 --> 00:49:50,724 (calm music) 766 00:49:51,094 --> 00:49:53,444 I think this video that we are able to capture 767 00:49:53,444 --> 00:49:57,944 of the jellynose is probably in many ways more valuable 768 00:49:57,944 --> 00:49:59,763 than any video of coelacanths, 769 00:49:59,763 --> 00:50:02,284 given that this group is so poorly known 770 00:50:02,284 --> 00:50:06,494 and there's really no existing footage 771 00:50:06,494 --> 00:50:07,922 of anywhere near that quality. 772 00:50:07,922 --> 00:50:11,142 In fact most of the photos and video that we have 773 00:50:11,142 --> 00:50:13,102 are just simply dead specimens, 774 00:50:13,102 --> 00:50:15,782 so this is really spectacular footage 775 00:50:15,782 --> 00:50:17,631 and I think that there's a lot that's gonna be able 776 00:50:17,631 --> 00:50:20,053 to be learned about this special group of fishes. 777 00:50:20,053 --> 00:50:23,114 (questing music) 778 00:50:23,114 --> 00:50:26,114 The jellynose hides in narrow caves 779 00:50:26,114 --> 00:50:27,933 deep within the ocean 780 00:50:27,933 --> 00:50:29,674 which is perhaps why it was not caught 781 00:50:29,674 --> 00:50:31,984 until the 21st century. 782 00:50:33,833 --> 00:50:37,033 Even today, we know virtually nothing about it 783 00:50:37,033 --> 00:50:38,981 and how it lives in the deep. 784 00:50:43,471 --> 00:50:46,551 The expedition's footage provides the first clues 785 00:50:46,551 --> 00:50:48,710 as to how this curious fish 786 00:50:48,710 --> 00:50:51,741 may have managed to survive at such depths. 787 00:50:54,071 --> 00:50:56,671 A tiny fish swims up to the jellynose 788 00:50:56,671 --> 00:51:00,219 and briefly comes into contact with its sensitive feelers. 789 00:51:01,489 --> 00:51:04,546 Surprisingly, the jellynose doesn't react. 790 00:51:04,546 --> 00:51:09,546 (questing music) 791 00:51:13,606 --> 00:51:15,983 Even though food is scarce in this environment, 792 00:51:15,983 --> 00:51:18,324 the jellynose showed no sign of feeding 793 00:51:18,324 --> 00:51:21,854 the entire four hours that the team followed it. 794 00:51:25,603 --> 00:51:29,244 Like many deep-sea fish, it seems to conserve energy 795 00:51:29,244 --> 00:51:32,343 by swimming very slowly in the cold water 796 00:51:32,343 --> 00:51:35,742 and can therefore survive on very little food. 797 00:51:35,742 --> 00:51:40,742 (gentle music) 798 00:51:43,442 --> 00:51:45,242 But how did the jellynose come to live 799 00:51:45,242 --> 00:51:49,051 in one of the most inhospitable places on earth? 800 00:51:50,541 --> 00:51:54,062 Genetic analysis suggests that its ancestors evolved 801 00:51:54,062 --> 00:51:58,011 in shallow seas, some, a hundred million years ago. 802 00:52:01,022 --> 00:52:03,641 At first they prospered, but were then driven 803 00:52:03,641 --> 00:52:07,652 into deeper water by the arrival of powerful predators. 804 00:52:08,782 --> 00:52:10,761 In this impoverished environment, 805 00:52:10,761 --> 00:52:13,967 they evolved to withstand periods of starvation. 806 00:52:15,477 --> 00:52:19,135 And this may be how the jellynose survived the extinctions 807 00:52:19,135 --> 00:52:21,493 that befell many other species on earth. 808 00:52:21,493 --> 00:52:26,223 (gentle music) 809 00:52:31,953 --> 00:52:36,072 66 million years ago, dinosaurs ruled the land 810 00:52:36,072 --> 00:52:38,551 and plesiosaurs dominated the seas. 811 00:52:38,551 --> 00:52:43,551 (powerful music) 812 00:52:43,569 --> 00:52:46,889 A gigantic meteorite, 10 kilometers in diameter 813 00:52:46,889 --> 00:52:51,177 collided with our planet with catastrophic consequences. 814 00:52:53,687 --> 00:52:58,227 (explosion) 815 00:52:58,227 --> 00:53:02,343 The intense heat burnt over half the earth's forests. 816 00:53:02,343 --> 00:53:04,555 (explosion) 817 00:53:04,555 --> 00:53:06,635 (waves splashing) 818 00:53:06,635 --> 00:53:10,095 Giant tsunami swept across the continent. 819 00:53:10,095 --> 00:53:15,095 (waves rushing) 820 00:53:15,509 --> 00:53:20,419 (dramatic music) 821 00:53:21,988 --> 00:53:24,663 It may well be this that wiped out the dinosaurs. 822 00:53:24,663 --> 00:53:27,296 (dramatic music) 823 00:53:27,296 --> 00:53:29,356 (heavy raindrops falling) 824 00:53:29,356 --> 00:53:33,073 The shock waves of the impact released underground sulfur 825 00:53:33,073 --> 00:53:37,773 into the atmosphere which turned into deadly acid rain. 826 00:53:42,973 --> 00:53:46,054 The sulfuric rain killed off the plankton 827 00:53:46,054 --> 00:53:47,553 in the shallow seas 828 00:53:47,553 --> 00:53:50,753 and many marine animals including the plesiosaurs 829 00:53:50,753 --> 00:53:53,091 are thought to have died of starvation. 830 00:53:53,091 --> 00:53:57,860 (dramatic music) 831 00:54:01,090 --> 00:54:04,190 The acid rain, however, never reached the deep. 832 00:54:04,190 --> 00:54:07,107 It was neutralized by seawater on the way down. 833 00:54:07,107 --> 00:54:10,988 (dramatic music) 834 00:54:10,988 --> 00:54:13,787 So many creatures that lived in the deep seas 835 00:54:13,787 --> 00:54:15,517 were able to survive. 836 00:54:18,767 --> 00:54:21,848 Already adapted to living in the sparse environment, 837 00:54:21,848 --> 00:54:25,346 these animals now had an advantage. 838 00:54:25,346 --> 00:54:28,396 (powerful music) 839 00:54:32,545 --> 00:54:35,006 Moving slowly to conserve energy 840 00:54:35,006 --> 00:54:37,725 and able to endure periods of starvation 841 00:54:37,725 --> 00:54:40,165 helped the ancestors of the jellynose 842 00:54:40,165 --> 00:54:42,015 to survive in the deep. 843 00:54:43,226 --> 00:54:46,156 That certainly is Ardmann's theory. 844 00:54:51,965 --> 00:54:55,725 It's clearly something from the lost world. 845 00:54:55,725 --> 00:54:59,045 It would appear that these animals actually have a, 846 00:54:59,045 --> 00:55:01,045 an ecology or behavior which is very similar 847 00:55:01,045 --> 00:55:04,646 to the coelacanths, so it's dwelling inside of caves. 848 00:55:05,666 --> 00:55:08,305 It's well camouflaged against the back of the cave 849 00:55:08,305 --> 00:55:11,705 hovering there, but then if it's disturbed it will come out. 850 00:55:11,705 --> 00:55:13,645 From our limited observations from the submarine, 851 00:55:13,645 --> 00:55:16,123 it appeared that these fishes really are probably 852 00:55:16,123 --> 00:55:18,584 quite dependent on the caves where they're living. 853 00:55:18,584 --> 00:55:20,243 So I would say that the caves are probably 854 00:55:20,243 --> 00:55:23,483 a very important part of their habitat. 855 00:55:23,483 --> 00:55:27,300 (calm music) 856 00:55:27,300 --> 00:55:30,700 The yearlong research has come to an end. 857 00:55:30,700 --> 00:55:34,039 Ardmann and his team have discovered a lost world 858 00:55:34,039 --> 00:55:38,020 of pre-historic creatures still living in the deep waters 859 00:55:38,020 --> 00:55:39,780 of the tropical seas. 860 00:55:39,780 --> 00:55:44,780 (calm music) 861 00:55:48,140 --> 00:55:52,440 A nautilus, virtually unchanged for 400 million years 862 00:55:52,440 --> 00:55:55,219 slowly bobbing through the dark water. 863 00:55:55,219 --> 00:55:59,760 (calm music) 864 00:55:59,760 --> 00:56:03,839 And sea lilies standing tall on the ocean floor. 865 00:56:03,839 --> 00:56:08,790 (calm music) 866 00:56:13,220 --> 00:56:16,760 It's a world where time stood still 867 00:56:16,760 --> 00:56:19,459 and living fossils survive. 868 00:56:19,459 --> 00:56:24,320 (dramatic music) 869 00:56:24,320 --> 00:56:28,000 This barren environment where most marine creatures 870 00:56:28,000 --> 00:56:32,020 could not survive has cradled these ancient animals 871 00:56:32,020 --> 00:56:34,397 in a virtual time capsule. 872 00:56:34,397 --> 00:56:39,397 (gentle music) 873 00:56:41,598 --> 00:56:42,978 Exploring these tropical seas 874 00:56:42,978 --> 00:56:45,117 just 200 meters below the surface, 875 00:56:45,117 --> 00:56:47,197 we found a very unique and special place 876 00:56:47,197 --> 00:56:49,778 unlike anything that I've ever experienced before. 877 00:56:49,778 --> 00:56:52,898 The deep sea of course is a very vast area. 878 00:56:52,898 --> 00:56:55,898 Interestingly, very little explorations ever been done 879 00:56:55,898 --> 00:56:58,557 in this region and it's largely still a mystery. 880 00:56:58,557 --> 00:57:00,738 But by using cutting-edge technology 881 00:57:00,738 --> 00:57:02,418 like the Triton submersible, 882 00:57:02,418 --> 00:57:04,257 we've been able to really shed some light 883 00:57:04,257 --> 00:57:06,567 on this very unique place 884 00:57:06,567 --> 00:57:09,093 and understand much better this lost world. 885 00:57:09,093 --> 00:57:13,862 (dramatic music) 886 00:57:17,673 --> 00:57:19,473 The astounding encounter 887 00:57:19,473 --> 00:57:22,032 with the bizarre fish, the jellynose 888 00:57:22,032 --> 00:57:25,108 that leads a austere life in the dark waters 889 00:57:25,108 --> 00:57:27,649 was the highlight of the expedition. 890 00:57:27,649 --> 00:57:29,847 (delightful music) 891 00:57:29,847 --> 00:57:32,745 It was revealed that the deep sea still remain 892 00:57:32,745 --> 00:57:35,465 a mysterious and unexplored world. 893 00:57:35,465 --> 00:57:40,465 (delightful music) 894 00:57:40,645 --> 00:57:43,905 Over 90% of our oceans are so deep 895 00:57:43,905 --> 00:57:46,905 but they're normally far beyond our reach 896 00:57:46,905 --> 00:57:50,404 and they remain the least known part of our planet. 897 00:57:50,404 --> 00:57:55,395 (delightful music)