00:00Are you ready to dive into the most dangerous waters of the planet?
00:05I'm kidding. Of course, put away your swimming gear and believe me, it is much safer to observe them from a distance.
00:13Some waters are infested with sharks, others are full of acid, and honestly, I don't know what's worse.
00:20Maybe the ones that are so deep and scary that many divers never come back.
00:25It's up to you to choose your worst nightmares.
00:29If you have already visited Texas in the summer, you know how overwhelming the heat can be,
00:34and jumping into an icy water without hesitation can seem seductive.
00:38The Jacob's Well, with its bright colors and its almost supernatural atmosphere, seems to be the perfect place for it.
00:45Discovered by the first colonists in the middle of the 19th century,
00:48this boiling hole of water up to 1.5 billion meters high was considered a good source of drinking water.
00:55The well has an average depth of 36 meters and is reputed to be the second largest cave entirely submerged in Texas.
01:03The fresh water of this well attracts the audacious who dive there from a ditch nearby.
01:09Personally, I would go there. And you?
01:13Some divers go down to 30 meters and make a path through the passages of the underwater cave.
01:19And everyone says it's not a healthy walk.
01:22Several people have never returned from the well, which is why it is said to be one of the most dangerous diving sites in the world.
01:30The underwater passages become so narrow in some places that you risk getting stuck with all your equipment.
01:37Another problem is the extreme depth of the cave.
01:40Even at the surface, the danger is present.
01:43Its diameter is only 3.6 meters, and the surrounding rocks increase the risk of injury by diving.
01:49If, despite all this, you still want to try the adventure, know that a special authorization is also required.
01:57Let's talk a little about the beach of Anacapiai in Hawaii, which embodies the image of the paradise beach,
02:03but should have its photo in the dictionary to accompany the definition of danger.
02:08If you decide to visit it, you will notice a wooden panel listing the number of divers who have never surfaced.
02:16You will see more than 80 brands, and this figure is not official.
02:20So they could have more.
02:22The main danger lies here in extremely powerful rip currents, coming out of an unpredictable swell.
02:29The absence of reefs in this area allows the current to flow smoothly.
02:34If you are adventurous and decide to go into the water,
02:38know that if you are caught in a rip current, the closest shore will be about 10 km away,
02:45which will considerably reduce your chances of survival.
02:48In addition, the beach is so isolated that there are no rescuers nearby,
02:52which means that you will be alone in front of the ocean.
02:55And it is he who has a strong chance of winning.
02:58This is why Anacapiai is not recommended even to the most experienced swimmers and surfers.
03:03Fortunately, Hawaii is full of beautiful beaches, and you will certainly find an alternative for your escape.
03:10Kogari, or Fraser Island, if you are rather old game, is famous for its fauna and breathtaking landscapes.
03:17But before you venture to the largest sand island in the world, it is crucial that we talk about safety.
03:24The island is populated by dingoes, nothing to do with the charming Labrador of your neighbor.
03:29These animals are unpredictable and potentially dangerous to humans if provoked.
03:35Never feed them, do not interact with them, and keep your food and your belongings on you to avoid attracting their attention.
03:42Believe me, it's better.
03:44The next threat are the snakes hidden in the tall grass.
03:48Walkers must stay on the marked trails and be particularly careful at night.
03:53The island also houses some particularly venomous spiders.
03:57And if you think you can escape this fauna by swimming, you are wrong.
04:02Large white sharks and bulldog sharks patrol the waters.
04:06You can meet them as soon as the water exceeds the level of your knees.
04:11In addition, the currents are particularly powerful here, and the ocean conditions can change quickly,
04:18sometimes giving the impression of being calmer than they really are.
04:22There is no rescuer to help you in the event of a problem, and you swim at your own risk.
04:28And if you count on your phone to call for help, know that the network coverage is very limited in this area.
04:34The weather on the shore can also change without warning, bringing sudden storms, violent winds and temperature variations.
04:44Our next destination of the day is the Blue Lagoon.
04:47But don't get carried away.
04:49This is not a magnificent spa in Iceland, but its British version.
04:54Swimming here is like diving in javelin water.
04:57Isn't that your favorite hobby?
05:00Neither am I.
05:01Authorities continue to issue warnings to dissuade people from swimming there.
05:05This ancient limestone quarry in Harpur Hill is probably one of the most dangerous waters in the country.
05:11These tropical waters of a striking blue have a very high alkaline pH due to the dissolution of limestone.
05:18Despite this, thousands of people go there in hot weather.
05:22Your skin, your eyes and your stomach will not thank you for this visit.
05:28You could also suffer a thermal shock due to the temperature of the water,
05:32where you bump into one of the many objects that have been thrown over the years,
05:36car wrecks with household waste.
05:39In March 2020, the situation became so worrying that the waters of the Blue Lagoon were even tinted in black to dissuade potential swimmers.
05:49In August 2014, residents of the region discovered a lake in the middle of the Tunisian desert.
05:55With the intense heat that reigns there, it would be understandable that you would want to throw yourself there immediately.
06:02This new water plan was nicknamed the Mysterious Lake and has indeed become a great enigma.
06:08Hundreds of people came to swim in this clear and fresh water.
06:12But a few days later, the lake turned dark green.
06:18The fishermen continued to swim despite everything.
06:21When scientists and geologists arrived, they noticed that this lake was full of stagnant water.
06:27It was not fed by underground watercourses or by the rains.
06:31This is how the water became muddy and crusty.
06:34The lake contained algae and many dangerous bacteria for the human body.
06:39Researchers have also discovered that the soil of this region contained deposits of phosphate.
06:45This substance can decompose, making the water even more toxic.
06:50But even this did not discourage people from swimming in the lake in the middle of the desert.
06:56Its origin remains mysterious.
06:59Some experts think that heavy rains could have filled a depression in the ground.
07:04A more widespread theory suggests that an earthquake would have created the lake.
07:09Seismic activity would have torn the earth's crust above a phreatic map,
07:14allowing underground sources to fill the crack.
07:19In theory, the lake could be emptied as suddenly as it appeared,
07:23so hurry if you want to see it.
07:28Have you ever thought of taking a bath in an old diamond mine?
07:32I do not advise you to try, especially if we are talking about the Big Hole of Kimberley in South Africa.
07:39150 years ago, a flat hilltop was here.
07:43Then, the news spread that big diamonds had been found in the region,
07:48and thousands of people loaded with shovels and picks rushed to the site.
07:53It became the largest excavation dug by hand in the world, and also one of the deepest.
08:00The mine quickly developed, but water infiltrated the pit, and the rocky walls became unstable.
08:06Underground mining with tunnels and wells proved too expensive,
08:11and the mine finally closed after extracting about 2,700 kilograms of diamonds.
08:20Today, the old mine is filled with about 40 meters of water.
08:24This bath here is extremely dangerous, because you do not see the bottom and the walls of the lake are steep.
08:30It would therefore be wiser to embark on your diamond hunting adventure elsewhere.
08:36Transcription by ESO, translation by —
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