April 14, 2025 • 8 mins
"Camp Scuba" is a thrilling podcast that takes listeners to a summer camp on the coast of North Carolina, originally advertised as a marine biology camp for teenagers eager to learn about ocean life. However, the campers quickly realize that the camp's owners are far more interested in uncovering hidden pirate treasure than in studying marine biology. As the teens dive into unexpected adventures both above and below the water, they start to unravel the mystery of why the camp's owners are so obsessed with the lost loot. Is there more to this treasure hunt than meets the eye? Join the journey to find out!
Producers: Storybutton, Steven Forbis, Lisa Biggs
Writers: Chelsea Bowman, Jim Jacob
Sound Design & Mastering - Nicolas Gutierrez Garcia
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Avery, get up there on the ballant get ready. We
only have one shout that paddle, Morgan, Jack wait for
my direction.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Okay, got it.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Here's your fears, every here's your fears.
Speaker 4 (00:23):
Come on, Avery, I guessing we don't have all day
out here.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Jack.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I don't see you out there trying to balance on
top of this boat.
Speaker 5 (00:29):
You've got this, Avery, just hold on with one.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Hand while you push off with the paddle.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Unfortunately, now's my moment. Doesn't seem like I'll be making
a name for myself with grades or working class more,
even the fact that I'm actually two years ahead in
science school work. Of all the things I actually feel
confident doing, and this is where I end up on
the top of a boat, stuck on a rock. So far,
(00:56):
this whole camp thing hasn't proven to be worth.
Speaker 6 (00:58):
It at all.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Okay, everyone, get ready on three one, two, three and
push the pedal. It's fine. Now you're saving a broken paddle.
We're off the rocks and just get down from there.
We got places to be in on the facts.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Fine. To be honest, seems to me like a whole
lot of focus on anything and everything but marine biology.
I just wonder what my parents would think of all this,
And I'm starting to think there might be some other
reason for this whole camp to begin with searching diving awards,
basically no education before sending us out. I just don't
(01:43):
have the best feeling about it all. Can I really
be the only one feeling this way?
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Now? To make up for our slight detour, I'll cut
right to the chase.
Speaker 6 (01:53):
Listen closely.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
I'll be giving you a quick run. Now, gear up,
tank goes on your back, regulator in your shake, your games,
your air, and plate your BCD slowly.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
What in the world is a BCD?
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Don't know?
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Be sure to follow me closely. We do not want
anyone wandering off down there. Watch buoyancy, keep an eye
on your air, and stay calm.
Speaker 6 (02:16):
Got it?
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Wait, never mind, Okay, let's move.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Equally terrifying and exciting is how I describe diving. I
just wish I could figure out why Hayes is in
such a big hurry. Wait, what is he doing? He's
taking pictures of a rock.
Speaker 5 (02:39):
What in the world?
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Wait, he's axing off that rock? Makes me think of
what they did after Hurricane Katrina last year, when they
marked off the empty houses. They already searched strange.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
So Jack, what do you do think about this whole
scuba diving thing? And how did a goofa like you
get into this camp? Anyways?
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Yeah, it makes me feel pretty excited that I won
the lottery lottery. Yeah, not all of us got in
with test scores. You know, my mom entered me. We
spent the school year learning all things ocean, and when
she found out about this camp, she entered me in
the lottery and we held on to hope.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Oh wait, how did you spend a whole year on
marine biology? We spent like two weeks tops on it
at my school. And how exactly did you win the lottery?
Did you win a game or a raffle? Did you
find a magic ticket or something?
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Well, their lottery was pretty simple. I put my name
on a card and they pulled out three tickets and
mine was one of them. As for the marine biology
all year, I'm homeschool.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Your homeschool too, And I thought I was the only one.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Boom schoolers through went through put it here right ruent through,
I guess, yeah, for sure. Never thought i'd meet people
with much in common. Now I'm out here diving for
treasure with a bunch of swim team homeschoolers.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Ooh, whoa treasure? And I'm not homeschooled, just Avery, Wait.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
You think we're actually trying to find something valuable down there?
Speaker 4 (04:11):
Who knows? It's fun to dream, right, This professor dude
is totally looking for something, and from the sounds of it,
all these guys here are huh.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
I never a thought of treasure. Wouldn't that be something?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Maybe?
Speaker 3 (04:25):
But I still can't shake the feeling that we can't
trust this place. Didn't you guys see what Professor Hayes was.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Doing down there?
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Yeah, taking pictures of the rocks.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
He was exing them off, like someone does when they're
trying to keep track of places they've searched.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Already, call me crazy, you, but it just feels like.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
There's some hidden agenda or secret with this place.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
Oh no, are we part of some grand conspiracy? Now?
Speaker 5 (04:51):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Averrek, come on? Really?
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Maybe? But seriously, like, why are we required to come
to campfire stories every night? Why does mister Thatch read
the stories from that old, torn up book? And why
does the story seem, i don't know, different from your
normal stories about pirates like Blackbeard the Hero.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
No that you mentioned it. Hey, you over here, you
do it.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
You go for Pete's sake, Come on, you guys, I'll
do it. Who's there?
Speaker 6 (05:31):
It's me, Jim, Jim, Jim, the maintenance guy, you know,
the groundskeeper. Just come over towards the bushes. I don't
want them to see you. Kids need to listen to me.
You need to be careful what you say around here.
You can't just talk like this out in the open.
Just just keep it down.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
What do you mean, what's going on?
Speaker 6 (05:56):
All I know is that thatch has a real anytime
I've seen kids start to question his schedule or his plan,
he just goes off the rails. I gotta go, though.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
Just be careful.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
What was that all about. Why would this guy warn us?
Speaker 4 (06:18):
I don't know, but maybe this conspiracy theory of yours
actually isn't too far off.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Agreed, Let's keep our eyes open and no more talking
in the open like this. Keep this whole thing on
thedo right.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Everyone just try and keep their eyes and ears open.
Let's meet at the edge of camp by that rocky
hillside tomorrow before lunch. Maybe one of us will have
something to share by then.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
God.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
Man, So dear campers, let us remember black Beard, the
noble pirate who fought for justice and freedom on the
high seas. Black Beard I had once been a sailor
aboard a merchant vessel, but when his crew was attacked
by ruthless pirates, he vowed to protect the innocent from
such tyranny. With his loyal crew, Blackbeard sailed the seas,
(07:09):
hunting down those who preyed upon the weak and helpless.
He raided the ships of cruel tyrants, liberating their loot
and returning it to those who had suffered at their hands.
His name struck fear into the hearts of evildoers, but
to the downtrodden he was a beacon of hope. Many
a tale was told of Blackbeard's daring escapades. Once he
(07:35):
rescued a group of stranded sailors from a deserted island,
battling fierce sea monsters and bravery treacherous storms to reach them.
Another time, he stood against an entire armada of enemy ships,
his bravery inspiring his crew to fight on against impossible odds.
But Blackbeard's greatest act of heroism came when he faced
(07:58):
off against the notary glorious pirate captain Bartholomew Roberts. Roberts
had terrorized the sea for years, leaving a trail of
destruction in his wake, but Blackbeard would not stand idly
by while innocent lives were threatened.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Blackbeard a hero, barth all of you? Since when is
that a name for an infamous pirate? Just doesn't add up.
And what's with that mysterious book that she keeps reading from.
I just need to get a closer look at that cover.
Avery, get up there on the ballant get ready. We
only have one shout that paddle, Morgan, Jack wait for
my direction.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Okay, got it.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Here's your fears, every here's your fears.
Speaker 4 (00:23):
Come on, Avery, I guessing we don't have all day
out here.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Jack.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I don't see you out there trying to balance on
top of this boat.
Speaker 5 (00:29):
You've got this, Avery, just hold on with one.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Hand while you push off with the paddle.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Unfortunately, now's my moment. Doesn't seem like I'll be making
a name for myself with grades or working class more,
even the fact that I'm actually two years ahead in
science school work. Of all the things I actually feel
confident doing, and this is where I end up on
the top of a boat, stuck on a rock. So far,
(00:56):
this whole camp thing hasn't proven to be worth.
Speaker 6 (00:58):
It at all.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Okay, everyone, get ready on three one, two, three and
push the pedal. It's fine. Now you're saving a broken paddle.
We're off the rocks and just get down from there.
We got places to be in on the facts.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Fine. To be honest, seems to me like a whole
lot of focus on anything and everything but marine biology.
I just wonder what my parents would think of all this,
And I'm starting to think there might be some other
reason for this whole camp to begin with searching diving awards,
basically no education before sending us out. I just don't
(01:43):
have the best feeling about it all. Can I really
be the only one feeling this way?
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Now? To make up for our slight detour, I'll cut
right to the chase.
Speaker 6 (01:53):
Listen closely.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
I'll be giving you a quick run. Now, gear up,
tank goes on your back, regulator in your shake, your games,
your air, and plate your BCD slowly.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
What in the world is a BCD?
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Don't know?
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Be sure to follow me closely. We do not want
anyone wandering off down there. Watch buoyancy, keep an eye
on your air, and stay calm.
Speaker 6 (02:16):
Got it?
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Wait, never mind, Okay, let's move.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Equally terrifying and exciting is how I describe diving. I
just wish I could figure out why Hayes is in
such a big hurry. Wait, what is he doing? He's
taking pictures of a rock.
Speaker 5 (02:39):
What in the world?
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Wait, he's axing off that rock? Makes me think of
what they did after Hurricane Katrina last year, when they
marked off the empty houses. They already searched strange.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
So Jack, what do you do think about this whole
scuba diving thing? And how did a goofa like you
get into this camp? Anyways?
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Yeah, it makes me feel pretty excited that I won
the lottery lottery. Yeah, not all of us got in
with test scores. You know, my mom entered me. We
spent the school year learning all things ocean, and when
she found out about this camp, she entered me in
the lottery and we held on to hope.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Oh wait, how did you spend a whole year on
marine biology? We spent like two weeks tops on it
at my school. And how exactly did you win the lottery?
Did you win a game or a raffle? Did you
find a magic ticket or something?
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Well, their lottery was pretty simple. I put my name
on a card and they pulled out three tickets and
mine was one of them. As for the marine biology
all year, I'm homeschool.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Your homeschool too, And I thought I was the only one.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Boom schoolers through went through put it here right ruent through,
I guess, yeah, for sure. Never thought i'd meet people
with much in common. Now I'm out here diving for
treasure with a bunch of swim team homeschoolers.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Ooh, whoa treasure? And I'm not homeschooled, just Avery, Wait.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
You think we're actually trying to find something valuable down there?
Speaker 4 (04:11):
Who knows? It's fun to dream, right, This professor dude
is totally looking for something, and from the sounds of it,
all these guys here are huh.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
I never a thought of treasure. Wouldn't that be something?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Maybe?
Speaker 3 (04:25):
But I still can't shake the feeling that we can't
trust this place. Didn't you guys see what Professor Hayes was.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Doing down there?
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Yeah, taking pictures of the rocks.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
He was exing them off, like someone does when they're
trying to keep track of places they've searched.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Already, call me crazy, you, but it just feels like.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
There's some hidden agenda or secret with this place.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
Oh no, are we part of some grand conspiracy? Now?
Speaker 5 (04:51):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Averrek, come on? Really?
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Maybe? But seriously, like, why are we required to come
to campfire stories every night? Why does mister Thatch read
the stories from that old, torn up book? And why
does the story seem, i don't know, different from your
normal stories about pirates like Blackbeard the Hero.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
No that you mentioned it. Hey, you over here, you
do it.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
You go for Pete's sake, Come on, you guys, I'll
do it. Who's there?
Speaker 6 (05:31):
It's me, Jim, Jim, Jim, the maintenance guy, you know,
the groundskeeper. Just come over towards the bushes. I don't
want them to see you. Kids need to listen to me.
You need to be careful what you say around here.
You can't just talk like this out in the open.
Just just keep it down.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
What do you mean, what's going on?
Speaker 6 (05:56):
All I know is that thatch has a real anytime
I've seen kids start to question his schedule or his plan,
he just goes off the rails. I gotta go, though.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
Just be careful.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
What was that all about. Why would this guy warn us?
Speaker 4 (06:18):
I don't know, but maybe this conspiracy theory of yours
actually isn't too far off.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Agreed, Let's keep our eyes open and no more talking
in the open like this. Keep this whole thing on
thedo right.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Everyone just try and keep their eyes and ears open.
Let's meet at the edge of camp by that rocky
hillside tomorrow before lunch. Maybe one of us will have
something to share by then.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
God.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
Man, So dear campers, let us remember black Beard, the
noble pirate who fought for justice and freedom on the
high seas. Black Beard I had once been a sailor
aboard a merchant vessel, but when his crew was attacked
by ruthless pirates, he vowed to protect the innocent from
such tyranny. With his loyal crew, Blackbeard sailed the seas,
(07:09):
hunting down those who preyed upon the weak and helpless.
He raided the ships of cruel tyrants, liberating their loot
and returning it to those who had suffered at their hands.
His name struck fear into the hearts of evildoers, but
to the downtrodden he was a beacon of hope. Many
a tale was told of Blackbeard's daring escapades. Once he
(07:35):
rescued a group of stranded sailors from a deserted island,
battling fierce sea monsters and bravery treacherous storms to reach them.
Another time, he stood against an entire armada of enemy ships,
his bravery inspiring his crew to fight on against impossible odds.
But Blackbeard's greatest act of heroism came when he faced
(07:58):
off against the notary glorious pirate captain Bartholomew Roberts. Roberts
had terrorized the sea for years, leaving a trail of
destruction in his wake, but Blackbeard would not stand idly
by while innocent lives were threatened.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Blackbeard a hero, barth all of you? Since when is
that a name for an infamous pirate? Just doesn't add up.
And what's with that mysterious book that she keeps reading from.
I just need to get a closer look at that cover.
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