Jaws vs. Kraken (2022) Movie Script
[narrator] Guadalupe Island,
home to one
of the largest aggregations
of great white sharks
on the planet.
Researchers believe
these sharks gather here
to feed on the island's
seal population.
[man speaking over radio]
[narrator] But recently,
incredible new evidence
has surfaced
about a battle royale
brewing beneath the waves.
[Tristan]
Mexican scientists here
have started to see evidence
of scarring on some of these
big white sharks,
suggesting that they're having
these titanic battles
with one of the most
mysterious creatures
on the planet...
the giant squid.
You just imagine
what that would look like.
We've got the white shark
in one corner.
Power, speed,
slicing triangular teeth.
And in the other corner
we've got massive, big,
and huge arms
to engulf something.
Completely different
tools to be
the most formidable predators
in the deep.
[narrator] Now, a team
of researchers are
on a mission...
[Tristan] Kraken,
here we come.
...to discover how these
titans clash in the abyss...
[Lily] Look at that shark
zoning in
right on the squid bait.
[Tristan] Amazing!
[narrator]
...and if a creature the size
of the mythical kraken
could beat a great white,
in the ultimate
deep sea showdown.
[Lily] Shark coming in hot!
[chomps]
[Tristan] We've come
to Guadalupe island
to explore
a fascinating phenomenon.
There was a study
that came out last year
that showed photographs
of white sharks,
with these suction marks
on them,
suggesting that they are
having these titanic battles
with squid in the depths.
It's hard to tell exactly
which species of squid it is
that's making the scarrings,
but the patterns,
the sizes of the suction cups,
means it could only be
three of the biggest squid
that exist.
[narrator] There are three
large species of squid
lurking around
Guadalupe Island.
All of them are elusive
and favor the hostile
environments
of the extreme deep.
First is the Humboldt,
which are also known
as Red Devils,
because of their
aggressive behavior.
Then, there's the extremely
rare octopus squid,
which can clock in
at a length of up to 7 ft.
But the most fearsome
is the giant squid,
a true alien of the deep,
that scientists theorize
can reach lengths
of up to 60 ft. long.
But if legends
are to be believed,
there might be something
even bigger out there.
[Tristan] You hear of these
legendary stories
of these sailors experiencing
this gigantic cephalopod
with huge arms reaching,
like, 40 ft. in length.
They call it the kraken.
[narrator] The myth
of the kraken
dates back centuries,
but researchers know
that most myths
have a kernel
of truth in them.
And modern scientists theorize
that the kraken
was probably inspired
by large squid species
like the ones
great whites are encountering
around Guadalupe.
[Tristan] Today, we know
that squid can get up
to huge sizes,
so if you imagine
one of these animals,
coming up
to the surface overnight,
it could easily be mistaken
for some sort of
bizarre sea monster.
We know that
there's these crazy battles
of giant squid
and white sharks here
at Guadalupe Island.
And, what I'm hoping to do
is gain a glimpse into that...
epic battle.
[bell dings]
[narrator] In one corner,
the kraken,
the giant squid of Guadalupe.
He's got the reach advantage
and much of it comes
from the eight tentacles.
Each of these fleshy whips,
is lined with
hundreds of suckers,
and each of those suckers
is lined with thousands
of tiny sharp teeth
that can tear
and lacerate flesh.
But that's not all.
Their mouths
are razor-sharp beaks
that can stab
and cut their opponents.
[bell dings]
[narrator]
In the other corner,
the white shark.
Jaws... they can reach lengths
of over 20 ft. long.
And when it comes to weight,
they pack much more punch.
A mature female white shark
can weigh close to 5000 lbs.
Their primary weapon
is a mouth lined
with dozens of huge
razor-sharp triangular teeth
designed to decimate
their prey.
[Tristan] When we put
these two fearsome predators
against each other,
we've got completely
different traits
that they can fight with,
and tools to be
the most formidable predators
in the deep.
[narrator] Because these large
squid species are so elusive,
it's extremely difficult
for behavioral ecologists
like Tristan,
to observe how white sharks
behave around them
in the wild.
[Tristan] Squid is some
of the most mysterious
creatures on the planet,
particularly some
of the bigger species
like the giant squid.
It's gonna be really tricky
to get an insight
into the behavior
of that species.
But the white shark,
by running
these different experiments,
by putting different
novel stimuli in the water,
hopefully we can learn
more about the behavior
of the white sharks when they
come across an adversary
like a squid.
However, even though
we're gonna be observing
the behavior of
the white sharks,
one goal that we'll have
throughout the trip
is to try and get
a unique encounter
with a big squid.
[whooshes]
[Tristan]
I've brought my friend, Lily,
she has a background
in neuroscience
and has worked
with squid before.
[Lily] My name
is Lily Rios-Brady,
and I have a master's
in marine science.
My background,
when it comes to squid,
we were looking to see if
membrane proteins [chuckles]
synthesize locally
within the axon.
Yeah, I know.
[both laughing]
[narrator] Even though
the researchers
can't place a white shark
in an arena
with a giant squid,
they can put them in one
that simulates their presence
with scent.
[Tristan]
So, it's a simple choice test
to see if these sharks
show any kind of preference,
or different behavior
towards squid versus tuna.
This frame right here,
I'll load it up with some tuna
and the frame behind me
will have squid.
It's marked with black tape
on the side,
so you know
which one is which.
And if we have them
either side,
-of a cage in the middle...
-Yep.
...then I can see
if they're cueing in
on the squid or tuna.
Let's do it.
[Tristan] By seeing how they
react to the smell of squid,
we can learn more
about how they might
approach the animal,
how they might attack it.
[narrator] In addition
to the big test rigs,
Lily deploys
a live feed camera,
so she can keep an eye out
for sharks from the surface.
Tristan and cameraman
Mark Romanov,
descend to 70 ft.
positioning themselves
right in the center
of the big test arena.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
All right, Tristan,
we got the live feed working.
I can see you and Mark
down there with the BRUV.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[exhaling]
[narrator] Moray eels
are a carnivorous species.
And their bodies are covered
with a mucous layer.
In some species,
this mucus is toxic.
[Tristan speaking]
[water splashes]
Holy [bleep]! Holy [bleep]!
[Lily speaking]
[Lily] There's a huge shark
up here.
It just came in for the bait.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] The cautious
behavior of the white sharks
could be a sign that
they recognize the presence
of a deadly foe.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[narrator] Tristan and Mark
are suddenly surrounded...
by big and powerful,
great white sharks.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] And they're growing
more and more aggressive,
in the presence
of the squid's scent.
[Tristan speaking]
[cage clangs]
[Tristan speaking]
[cage clangs]
[Tristan exclaiming]
[narrator] As the sharks
circle the squid bait,
they become
more and more aggressive.
[Tristan speaking]
[thuds]
[Tristan exclaiming]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] This massive female
displays battle scars,
similar to those
that scientists believe
other great whites received
from giant squid.
And along with other sharks
in the area,
she's showing a clear interest
in the squid bait rig.
[Tristan speaking]
All right, sounds good.
We'll pull you up right now.
-[man 1] We coming up?
-[man 2] Yeah.
[Tristan] Whoo!
Tristan, how was it
down there?
That looked crazy!
-Still kinda like...
-[Lily chuckles]
I mean it's...
it's a combination
of adrenaline, excitement,
and had really aggressive
approaches on the cage.
There was bites and bumps...
I could see a little bit of
that action on the live feed.
-All the action...
-[Lily] Was on the right side.
...was on the squid side.
Certainly a great start.
-[Lily] Oh, definitely.
-Whoo! Need to get
a hot chocolate.
[Lily laughs]
[narrator] The first test
is demonstrated.
The Guadalupe's white sharks
are more interested
in the scent of squid,
than that of other bait.
[thuds]
[Tristan exclaiming]
[metal clanks]
[narrator]
And they were also agitated
and aggressive
in its presence.
This behavior
might be explained
by their past experiences
battling these deadly foes
in the deep.
And it's the team's
first valuable insight
into what happens
when these titans clash.
[Tristan] Um, where are
we thinking the next one?
Up here?
And another one there?
These are just
gonna get chewed up.
[narrator]
Lily and Tristan prepare
for their next
behavioral experiment,
and this one
is all about sight.
[Tristan] We know the squid
can produce light themselves.
They can bio-luminesce.
But do the white sharks
use that to hunt them?
So, we have a camera,
with essentially
these little lights
that mimic
the bioluminescence.
And the idea is to see
whether white sharks react
to those lights.
[seagulls squawking]
I'm not really sure
what we should call it.
-What do you think?
-Um...
-The squid Christmas tree?
-The...
The Squidmas.
-Squidmas. Okay. Right.
-[chuckles]
[narrator] Squid use
bioluminescence
for a variety of reasons,
from communication
to confusing predators.
But Tristan and Lily
want to find out
if it might also make them
a target for white sharks.
Good luck.
[narrator]
In 2014, a lure like this
was used to capture
this incredible footage
of a giant squid
in the depths
of the Gulf of Mexico.
While the deep-drop camera
records in the abyss,
Lily and Tristan will dive
in a surface cage,
while the boat crew deploys
floating LED lures
as additional attractants
for white sharks.
This will also be
Lily's first time in the water
with these
incredible predators.
I've never dove
with white sharks.
So, I'm really excited to see
more of them
and how they behave.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] Ctenophora,
more commonly known
as comb jellyfish,
are bioluminescent
sea creatures
that both emit
and detect light.
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily exclaiming]
[Tristan exclaims]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[Tristan exclaiming]
[narrator] The seal's agility
and speed allows it
to narrowly escape the jaws
of these great whites.
With it fleeing the area,
the predator's attention
turns to something else.
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] The great white
has displayed interest
not only in the LED lights,
but in the crew's
underwater cameras as well.
This could be a result
of its ampullae of Lorenzini.
Small pores on its nose
that can detect electricity,
just like the bioelectricity
generated by bioluminescents.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] The drop camera
has been on the bottom
at 300 ft.,
recording for two hours.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] While testing
how great whites react
to light that mimics
squid bioluminescence...
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator]
...the researchers witness
something incredible.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator]
Several great whites
emerge from the depths,
in pursuit of their
deep-drop LED lure.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Lily] Whoo-hoo!
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[narrator] The assault
on the deep-drop camera
is further evidence,
that Guadalupe white sharks
hunt squid in the deep,
and that they're attracted
to their bioluminescence.
-[Tristan] Wow! That was cool.
-[Lily chuckling] Whoa!
When the drop cam came up
-you see it
pursuing it, as well.
-Yeah.
Makes me think what the hell
was going on down deep.
[narrator] Analysis of
the deep drop camera
reveals a huge great white
emerging from the abyss
to investigate the LED lure
shortly before the crew
brought it to the surface.
At this depth,
there's very little light
and giant squid
have a clear advantage
when it comes to seeing
in the dark.
And up to ten inches
in diameter,
they have the largest eye
in the animal kingdom.
Their huge
light-gathering pupils
allow them to see in the dark,
with enough resolution
to detect predators
from up to 400 feet away.
The giant squid's
heightened visual sense
makes it challenging
to get close enough
for an attack.
But even if a great white
manages to reach
striking distance,
the cephalopods have another
amazing defensive measure,
jet propulsion.
[Tristan]
Imagine a white shark
trying to hunt a squid.
They got this jet propulsion,
they can move through
the water really quickly,
so the sharks need
as much intelligence
as they do
power and brute force.
[narrator] Squid achieve
these amazing bursts of speed
by filling their mantle
with water,
and then expelling it
through a siphon-like tube
that gets narrower
towards the end.
[whooshes]
It's an incredible adaptation,
but it allows them to become
a very difficult animal
to then predate upon.
[narrator]
To see how the sharks
might overcome
a squid's jet power,
the team sets up an experiment
with throw-baits.
We have a bait
that's on a float,
manned by someone
who can move it.
And so, every time
they go for the bait,
someone's moving it
out of the way.
[narrator] This test
will allow Tristan and Lily,
to observe
how quickly great whites
change their tactics
on the fly
to make a successful attack
on fast-moving prey.
[Tristan] Lily and I are gonna
spend time in a cage
to see how these animals
are attacking a bait
and how they're
learning from experience.
[Lily] All right, let's go.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] The shark makes
a slow deliberate approach
to the tuna,
which doesn't work.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator]
On its second attempt,
the shark tries something new,
putting on a sudden
burst of speed,
as it gets close
to its target.
But it's still not enough.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator]
Like most wild predators,
great whites conserve energy
whenever possible.
But to catch this bait,
it's becoming clear
that it needs
to take advantage
of its incredible speed.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] On the third try,
the shark makes a faster
and more persistent approach
snapping several times
at the bait.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] But against
a highly evolved
and intelligent target
like giant squid,
strategy is just as important
as power and speed.
[Tristan speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] Having failed
at obtaining the bait
with horizontal approaches,
this great white
adopts a new strategy
by launching a fast
vertical attack from below,
out of the crew's
line of sight.
It snatches the bait
with ease.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] This aggressive
male shark shows clearly,
the intelligence and
the adaptability he'll need
to hunt giant squid
in the deep.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator]
To overcome a squid's
sudden burst of speed
from jet propulsion,
it makes sense
that the great whites
would alter their strategy
to launch ambush attacks
so they can catch the squid
off-guard.
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] A massive
battle-hardened female
appears in the area.
[Lily speaking]
[narrator] She's got the size
to take on a giant squid,
but she's not alone.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[Tristan] Whoo!
That was an amazing dive.
That was awesome.
And that one
right in front of the cage,
when it came
directly vertical...
-I didn't even see it.
And you...
-Yeah.
She was absolutely amazing.
These sharks
are learning on the job.
You know, they're learning
when the environment,
the stimuli are changing,
and responding to it
to try and get that food.
[narrator]
Pursuing giant squid
isn't like hunting seals
in daylight at the surface.
They live in the darkness
of the twilight zone.
A deadly expanse
where danger lurks everywhere.
To navigate
this extreme environment,
with their multiple limbs,
bioluminescent organs
and huge eyes,
they possess one of the most
complex neural networks
in the animal kingdom.
With all that, giant squid
are a challenge
for white sharks.
Now, the team prepares
for a night dive
in the hopes of seeing
an interaction
between squid
and white sharks.
[Tristan] So far, this has
been a great expedition.
All we need now,
is a monster squid.
[narrator] Night is when squid
rise from the deep
to the surface,
and it's the most likely time
that they might cross paths
with a white shark.
[indistinct chatter]
It's night time.
We're here at the drop-off.
I've no idea
what's gonna come up,
so we'll see what happens.
All right, best of luck
for some squid.
Kraken, here we come.
[water splashes]
Tristan! Tristan! Do you copy?
[Tristan speaking over radio]
All right, so Tristan is now
descending about 50 ft.
Animals at this depth
cannot see red lights.
So, he has a red light
on the cage,
and our drop camera, as well.
That makes him seem invisible
to the other animals.
They will not be able
to see it
and hopefully we'll be able
to see both of them at once
and maybe even
a predation event.
[Tristan speaking]
[bubbling]
[narrator] A green sea turtle.
Their diet
is mostly sea grass,
but they're known to feed
on bioluminescent species
like jellyfish too.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily] Oh, I see a squid.
Coming in right now
to the live cam. Wow!
Tristan, we just had
some squid swim by the lure.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] A Humboldt squid,
about five feet in length,
appears near the LED lure.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily] Oh, my God! Tristan,
I think I see a white shark
right now on the live feed.
[Tristan exclaiming]
[water warbling]
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator]
The team's witnessed
something incredible.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] Just moments
after spotting
the huge Humboldt squid,
a giant great white
surfaced from the deep
and attacked their LED lure.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] Everything
the team's witnessed
on the night dive
is further proof
that deadly clashes
between great whites
and large squid species
occur in the dark
around Guadalupe.
[Tristan speaking]
We're pulling you up
right now.
[clanking]
[Tristan] This has been
a great expedition.
We had this big shark
pursuing the Humboldt squid.
I'm guessing the scent,
the visual stimuli,
all kind of together
attracted that white shark
into it.
Although this was
just one observation,
we did see that
the white shark,
like it does
with the other prey items,
it was coming from underneath.
You just imagine the battle
between a big white shark
and a squid.
What that would look like
down at 500 meters
under the water.
[narrator] Even though
it's nearly impossible
to witness a great white
and giant squid
battling in the depths,
the researchers have handed
their observations over
to a team of CGI artists,
who are using the research
from the expedition
to imagine what the battle
would look like.
Under a full moon,
deep below the surface,
a giant squid
emerges from the abyss.
The real life kraken
searches for a midnight snack.
But it's not the only
nocturnal predator
on the prowl.
A large great white
has picked up
the unmistakable scent
of his deadly foe.
The squid spots
the great white
with its enormous eye,
and flashes a warning
for it to stay away.
But the bio-electricity
from its light display
triggers the shark's
ampullae of Lorenzini,
and like
a heat-seeking missile,
the great white
locks onto its target.
[whooshes]
[narrator] The giant squid
uses its jet propulsion
to narrowly escape
the shark's first strike.
-[whooshes]
-The shark charges back in,
and the squid's jet
has run out of fuel.
And the two giants
engage in a deadly embrace.
[cracking]
[crunching]
[chomps]
[narrator] The injured
fighters disengage.
[water warbling]
[narrator]
But the shark's tasted blood,
and isn't about to give up
on this potential feast.
[chomping]
[narrator] This clash
of the titans is over.
And the white shark digs
into its hard-earned meal
in the deep.
[Tristan] If I was announcing
a fight between
the giant squid,
the white shark,
really, you've got
the white shark in one corner,
power, speed, precision,
slicing triangular teeth.
And, in the other corner
we've got guile, mimicry,
suction cups with razor teeth,
that massive beak,
and huge arms
to engulf something.
Well, I think these are both
the most formidable predators
on the planet.
home to one
of the largest aggregations
of great white sharks
on the planet.
Researchers believe
these sharks gather here
to feed on the island's
seal population.
[man speaking over radio]
[narrator] But recently,
incredible new evidence
has surfaced
about a battle royale
brewing beneath the waves.
[Tristan]
Mexican scientists here
have started to see evidence
of scarring on some of these
big white sharks,
suggesting that they're having
these titanic battles
with one of the most
mysterious creatures
on the planet...
the giant squid.
You just imagine
what that would look like.
We've got the white shark
in one corner.
Power, speed,
slicing triangular teeth.
And in the other corner
we've got massive, big,
and huge arms
to engulf something.
Completely different
tools to be
the most formidable predators
in the deep.
[narrator] Now, a team
of researchers are
on a mission...
[Tristan] Kraken,
here we come.
...to discover how these
titans clash in the abyss...
[Lily] Look at that shark
zoning in
right on the squid bait.
[Tristan] Amazing!
[narrator]
...and if a creature the size
of the mythical kraken
could beat a great white,
in the ultimate
deep sea showdown.
[Lily] Shark coming in hot!
[chomps]
[Tristan] We've come
to Guadalupe island
to explore
a fascinating phenomenon.
There was a study
that came out last year
that showed photographs
of white sharks,
with these suction marks
on them,
suggesting that they are
having these titanic battles
with squid in the depths.
It's hard to tell exactly
which species of squid it is
that's making the scarrings,
but the patterns,
the sizes of the suction cups,
means it could only be
three of the biggest squid
that exist.
[narrator] There are three
large species of squid
lurking around
Guadalupe Island.
All of them are elusive
and favor the hostile
environments
of the extreme deep.
First is the Humboldt,
which are also known
as Red Devils,
because of their
aggressive behavior.
Then, there's the extremely
rare octopus squid,
which can clock in
at a length of up to 7 ft.
But the most fearsome
is the giant squid,
a true alien of the deep,
that scientists theorize
can reach lengths
of up to 60 ft. long.
But if legends
are to be believed,
there might be something
even bigger out there.
[Tristan] You hear of these
legendary stories
of these sailors experiencing
this gigantic cephalopod
with huge arms reaching,
like, 40 ft. in length.
They call it the kraken.
[narrator] The myth
of the kraken
dates back centuries,
but researchers know
that most myths
have a kernel
of truth in them.
And modern scientists theorize
that the kraken
was probably inspired
by large squid species
like the ones
great whites are encountering
around Guadalupe.
[Tristan] Today, we know
that squid can get up
to huge sizes,
so if you imagine
one of these animals,
coming up
to the surface overnight,
it could easily be mistaken
for some sort of
bizarre sea monster.
We know that
there's these crazy battles
of giant squid
and white sharks here
at Guadalupe Island.
And, what I'm hoping to do
is gain a glimpse into that...
epic battle.
[bell dings]
[narrator] In one corner,
the kraken,
the giant squid of Guadalupe.
He's got the reach advantage
and much of it comes
from the eight tentacles.
Each of these fleshy whips,
is lined with
hundreds of suckers,
and each of those suckers
is lined with thousands
of tiny sharp teeth
that can tear
and lacerate flesh.
But that's not all.
Their mouths
are razor-sharp beaks
that can stab
and cut their opponents.
[bell dings]
[narrator]
In the other corner,
the white shark.
Jaws... they can reach lengths
of over 20 ft. long.
And when it comes to weight,
they pack much more punch.
A mature female white shark
can weigh close to 5000 lbs.
Their primary weapon
is a mouth lined
with dozens of huge
razor-sharp triangular teeth
designed to decimate
their prey.
[Tristan] When we put
these two fearsome predators
against each other,
we've got completely
different traits
that they can fight with,
and tools to be
the most formidable predators
in the deep.
[narrator] Because these large
squid species are so elusive,
it's extremely difficult
for behavioral ecologists
like Tristan,
to observe how white sharks
behave around them
in the wild.
[Tristan] Squid is some
of the most mysterious
creatures on the planet,
particularly some
of the bigger species
like the giant squid.
It's gonna be really tricky
to get an insight
into the behavior
of that species.
But the white shark,
by running
these different experiments,
by putting different
novel stimuli in the water,
hopefully we can learn
more about the behavior
of the white sharks when they
come across an adversary
like a squid.
However, even though
we're gonna be observing
the behavior of
the white sharks,
one goal that we'll have
throughout the trip
is to try and get
a unique encounter
with a big squid.
[whooshes]
[Tristan]
I've brought my friend, Lily,
she has a background
in neuroscience
and has worked
with squid before.
[Lily] My name
is Lily Rios-Brady,
and I have a master's
in marine science.
My background,
when it comes to squid,
we were looking to see if
membrane proteins [chuckles]
synthesize locally
within the axon.
Yeah, I know.
[both laughing]
[narrator] Even though
the researchers
can't place a white shark
in an arena
with a giant squid,
they can put them in one
that simulates their presence
with scent.
[Tristan]
So, it's a simple choice test
to see if these sharks
show any kind of preference,
or different behavior
towards squid versus tuna.
This frame right here,
I'll load it up with some tuna
and the frame behind me
will have squid.
It's marked with black tape
on the side,
so you know
which one is which.
And if we have them
either side,
-of a cage in the middle...
-Yep.
...then I can see
if they're cueing in
on the squid or tuna.
Let's do it.
[Tristan] By seeing how they
react to the smell of squid,
we can learn more
about how they might
approach the animal,
how they might attack it.
[narrator] In addition
to the big test rigs,
Lily deploys
a live feed camera,
so she can keep an eye out
for sharks from the surface.
Tristan and cameraman
Mark Romanov,
descend to 70 ft.
positioning themselves
right in the center
of the big test arena.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
All right, Tristan,
we got the live feed working.
I can see you and Mark
down there with the BRUV.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[exhaling]
[narrator] Moray eels
are a carnivorous species.
And their bodies are covered
with a mucous layer.
In some species,
this mucus is toxic.
[Tristan speaking]
[water splashes]
Holy [bleep]! Holy [bleep]!
[Lily speaking]
[Lily] There's a huge shark
up here.
It just came in for the bait.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] The cautious
behavior of the white sharks
could be a sign that
they recognize the presence
of a deadly foe.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[narrator] Tristan and Mark
are suddenly surrounded...
by big and powerful,
great white sharks.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] And they're growing
more and more aggressive,
in the presence
of the squid's scent.
[Tristan speaking]
[cage clangs]
[Tristan speaking]
[cage clangs]
[Tristan exclaiming]
[narrator] As the sharks
circle the squid bait,
they become
more and more aggressive.
[Tristan speaking]
[thuds]
[Tristan exclaiming]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] This massive female
displays battle scars,
similar to those
that scientists believe
other great whites received
from giant squid.
And along with other sharks
in the area,
she's showing a clear interest
in the squid bait rig.
[Tristan speaking]
All right, sounds good.
We'll pull you up right now.
-[man 1] We coming up?
-[man 2] Yeah.
[Tristan] Whoo!
Tristan, how was it
down there?
That looked crazy!
-Still kinda like...
-[Lily chuckles]
I mean it's...
it's a combination
of adrenaline, excitement,
and had really aggressive
approaches on the cage.
There was bites and bumps...
I could see a little bit of
that action on the live feed.
-All the action...
-[Lily] Was on the right side.
...was on the squid side.
Certainly a great start.
-[Lily] Oh, definitely.
-Whoo! Need to get
a hot chocolate.
[Lily laughs]
[narrator] The first test
is demonstrated.
The Guadalupe's white sharks
are more interested
in the scent of squid,
than that of other bait.
[thuds]
[Tristan exclaiming]
[metal clanks]
[narrator]
And they were also agitated
and aggressive
in its presence.
This behavior
might be explained
by their past experiences
battling these deadly foes
in the deep.
And it's the team's
first valuable insight
into what happens
when these titans clash.
[Tristan] Um, where are
we thinking the next one?
Up here?
And another one there?
These are just
gonna get chewed up.
[narrator]
Lily and Tristan prepare
for their next
behavioral experiment,
and this one
is all about sight.
[Tristan] We know the squid
can produce light themselves.
They can bio-luminesce.
But do the white sharks
use that to hunt them?
So, we have a camera,
with essentially
these little lights
that mimic
the bioluminescence.
And the idea is to see
whether white sharks react
to those lights.
[seagulls squawking]
I'm not really sure
what we should call it.
-What do you think?
-Um...
-The squid Christmas tree?
-The...
The Squidmas.
-Squidmas. Okay. Right.
-[chuckles]
[narrator] Squid use
bioluminescence
for a variety of reasons,
from communication
to confusing predators.
But Tristan and Lily
want to find out
if it might also make them
a target for white sharks.
Good luck.
[narrator]
In 2014, a lure like this
was used to capture
this incredible footage
of a giant squid
in the depths
of the Gulf of Mexico.
While the deep-drop camera
records in the abyss,
Lily and Tristan will dive
in a surface cage,
while the boat crew deploys
floating LED lures
as additional attractants
for white sharks.
This will also be
Lily's first time in the water
with these
incredible predators.
I've never dove
with white sharks.
So, I'm really excited to see
more of them
and how they behave.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] Ctenophora,
more commonly known
as comb jellyfish,
are bioluminescent
sea creatures
that both emit
and detect light.
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily exclaiming]
[Tristan exclaims]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[Tristan exclaiming]
[narrator] The seal's agility
and speed allows it
to narrowly escape the jaws
of these great whites.
With it fleeing the area,
the predator's attention
turns to something else.
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] The great white
has displayed interest
not only in the LED lights,
but in the crew's
underwater cameras as well.
This could be a result
of its ampullae of Lorenzini.
Small pores on its nose
that can detect electricity,
just like the bioelectricity
generated by bioluminescents.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] The drop camera
has been on the bottom
at 300 ft.,
recording for two hours.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] While testing
how great whites react
to light that mimics
squid bioluminescence...
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator]
...the researchers witness
something incredible.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator]
Several great whites
emerge from the depths,
in pursuit of their
deep-drop LED lure.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Lily] Whoo-hoo!
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[narrator] The assault
on the deep-drop camera
is further evidence,
that Guadalupe white sharks
hunt squid in the deep,
and that they're attracted
to their bioluminescence.
-[Tristan] Wow! That was cool.
-[Lily chuckling] Whoa!
When the drop cam came up
-you see it
pursuing it, as well.
-Yeah.
Makes me think what the hell
was going on down deep.
[narrator] Analysis of
the deep drop camera
reveals a huge great white
emerging from the abyss
to investigate the LED lure
shortly before the crew
brought it to the surface.
At this depth,
there's very little light
and giant squid
have a clear advantage
when it comes to seeing
in the dark.
And up to ten inches
in diameter,
they have the largest eye
in the animal kingdom.
Their huge
light-gathering pupils
allow them to see in the dark,
with enough resolution
to detect predators
from up to 400 feet away.
The giant squid's
heightened visual sense
makes it challenging
to get close enough
for an attack.
But even if a great white
manages to reach
striking distance,
the cephalopods have another
amazing defensive measure,
jet propulsion.
[Tristan]
Imagine a white shark
trying to hunt a squid.
They got this jet propulsion,
they can move through
the water really quickly,
so the sharks need
as much intelligence
as they do
power and brute force.
[narrator] Squid achieve
these amazing bursts of speed
by filling their mantle
with water,
and then expelling it
through a siphon-like tube
that gets narrower
towards the end.
[whooshes]
It's an incredible adaptation,
but it allows them to become
a very difficult animal
to then predate upon.
[narrator]
To see how the sharks
might overcome
a squid's jet power,
the team sets up an experiment
with throw-baits.
We have a bait
that's on a float,
manned by someone
who can move it.
And so, every time
they go for the bait,
someone's moving it
out of the way.
[narrator] This test
will allow Tristan and Lily,
to observe
how quickly great whites
change their tactics
on the fly
to make a successful attack
on fast-moving prey.
[Tristan] Lily and I are gonna
spend time in a cage
to see how these animals
are attacking a bait
and how they're
learning from experience.
[Lily] All right, let's go.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] The shark makes
a slow deliberate approach
to the tuna,
which doesn't work.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator]
On its second attempt,
the shark tries something new,
putting on a sudden
burst of speed,
as it gets close
to its target.
But it's still not enough.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator]
Like most wild predators,
great whites conserve energy
whenever possible.
But to catch this bait,
it's becoming clear
that it needs
to take advantage
of its incredible speed.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] On the third try,
the shark makes a faster
and more persistent approach
snapping several times
at the bait.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] But against
a highly evolved
and intelligent target
like giant squid,
strategy is just as important
as power and speed.
[Tristan speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] Having failed
at obtaining the bait
with horizontal approaches,
this great white
adopts a new strategy
by launching a fast
vertical attack from below,
out of the crew's
line of sight.
It snatches the bait
with ease.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] This aggressive
male shark shows clearly,
the intelligence and
the adaptability he'll need
to hunt giant squid
in the deep.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator]
To overcome a squid's
sudden burst of speed
from jet propulsion,
it makes sense
that the great whites
would alter their strategy
to launch ambush attacks
so they can catch the squid
off-guard.
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] A massive
battle-hardened female
appears in the area.
[Lily speaking]
[narrator] She's got the size
to take on a giant squid,
but she's not alone.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[Tristan] Whoo!
That was an amazing dive.
That was awesome.
And that one
right in front of the cage,
when it came
directly vertical...
-I didn't even see it.
And you...
-Yeah.
She was absolutely amazing.
These sharks
are learning on the job.
You know, they're learning
when the environment,
the stimuli are changing,
and responding to it
to try and get that food.
[narrator]
Pursuing giant squid
isn't like hunting seals
in daylight at the surface.
They live in the darkness
of the twilight zone.
A deadly expanse
where danger lurks everywhere.
To navigate
this extreme environment,
with their multiple limbs,
bioluminescent organs
and huge eyes,
they possess one of the most
complex neural networks
in the animal kingdom.
With all that, giant squid
are a challenge
for white sharks.
Now, the team prepares
for a night dive
in the hopes of seeing
an interaction
between squid
and white sharks.
[Tristan] So far, this has
been a great expedition.
All we need now,
is a monster squid.
[narrator] Night is when squid
rise from the deep
to the surface,
and it's the most likely time
that they might cross paths
with a white shark.
[indistinct chatter]
It's night time.
We're here at the drop-off.
I've no idea
what's gonna come up,
so we'll see what happens.
All right, best of luck
for some squid.
Kraken, here we come.
[water splashes]
Tristan! Tristan! Do you copy?
[Tristan speaking over radio]
All right, so Tristan is now
descending about 50 ft.
Animals at this depth
cannot see red lights.
So, he has a red light
on the cage,
and our drop camera, as well.
That makes him seem invisible
to the other animals.
They will not be able
to see it
and hopefully we'll be able
to see both of them at once
and maybe even
a predation event.
[Tristan speaking]
[bubbling]
[narrator] A green sea turtle.
Their diet
is mostly sea grass,
but they're known to feed
on bioluminescent species
like jellyfish too.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily] Oh, I see a squid.
Coming in right now
to the live cam. Wow!
Tristan, we just had
some squid swim by the lure.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] A Humboldt squid,
about five feet in length,
appears near the LED lure.
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily] Oh, my God! Tristan,
I think I see a white shark
right now on the live feed.
[Tristan exclaiming]
[water warbling]
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[Lily speaking]
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator]
The team's witnessed
something incredible.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] Just moments
after spotting
the huge Humboldt squid,
a giant great white
surfaced from the deep
and attacked their LED lure.
[Tristan speaking]
[narrator] Everything
the team's witnessed
on the night dive
is further proof
that deadly clashes
between great whites
and large squid species
occur in the dark
around Guadalupe.
[Tristan speaking]
We're pulling you up
right now.
[clanking]
[Tristan] This has been
a great expedition.
We had this big shark
pursuing the Humboldt squid.
I'm guessing the scent,
the visual stimuli,
all kind of together
attracted that white shark
into it.
Although this was
just one observation,
we did see that
the white shark,
like it does
with the other prey items,
it was coming from underneath.
You just imagine the battle
between a big white shark
and a squid.
What that would look like
down at 500 meters
under the water.
[narrator] Even though
it's nearly impossible
to witness a great white
and giant squid
battling in the depths,
the researchers have handed
their observations over
to a team of CGI artists,
who are using the research
from the expedition
to imagine what the battle
would look like.
Under a full moon,
deep below the surface,
a giant squid
emerges from the abyss.
The real life kraken
searches for a midnight snack.
But it's not the only
nocturnal predator
on the prowl.
A large great white
has picked up
the unmistakable scent
of his deadly foe.
The squid spots
the great white
with its enormous eye,
and flashes a warning
for it to stay away.
But the bio-electricity
from its light display
triggers the shark's
ampullae of Lorenzini,
and like
a heat-seeking missile,
the great white
locks onto its target.
[whooshes]
[narrator] The giant squid
uses its jet propulsion
to narrowly escape
the shark's first strike.
-[whooshes]
-The shark charges back in,
and the squid's jet
has run out of fuel.
And the two giants
engage in a deadly embrace.
[cracking]
[crunching]
[chomps]
[narrator] The injured
fighters disengage.
[water warbling]
[narrator]
But the shark's tasted blood,
and isn't about to give up
on this potential feast.
[chomping]
[narrator] This clash
of the titans is over.
And the white shark digs
into its hard-earned meal
in the deep.
[Tristan] If I was announcing
a fight between
the giant squid,
the white shark,
really, you've got
the white shark in one corner,
power, speed, precision,
slicing triangular teeth.
And, in the other corner
we've got guile, mimicry,
suction cups with razor teeth,
that massive beak,
and huge arms
to engulf something.
Well, I think these are both
the most formidable predators
on the planet.