April 21, 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 (00:08):
Campers, campers, suitt down, sut down, Let's find our seats.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I hope you all had a RESTful night.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Eh.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Let's hope today we have a little less excitement than
our first diving crew.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Maybe our captain needs some voting lessons, you're telling.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Me today we have a very special group project planned
to explore the rich history of the coastal oasis. You
will be dividing the teams of three to four in
tasks with completing a scavenger hunt to uncover signs of
the past scattered around the camp, and the team who
can find the most relevant and exciting artifact will be
(00:49):
given a very special surprise award from mister Thatcher himself.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yes, Jack, So how do we know if these so
called artifacts are relevant?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Let's just say you're looking for anything unnatural or anything
that catches your eye. I trust you'll know.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
If you see it.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Okay, now everyone needs to find their teams and I'll
get your packets handed out. You'll have until three pm
to complete the hunt. May the best team win.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Sounds like fun if we actually knew what he's looking for.
Avery Morgan with your team, I'm in totally.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
This is a perfect excuse to get a better look
around this place. The shore, the woods, the old buildings.
There's so much I've been wanting to see.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
So you too have any idea what exactly we're looking for?
Speaker 5 (01:44):
Avery?
Speaker 3 (01:45):
What's on that packet anyways?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Yeah, it says ancient rocks with ancient wonders. Whatever that means.
Seems like you made up a bunch of stuff just
to have something written down for us. I don't even
care about what this says, though. You need some going
to clue us in as to why that you care
so much about black beer.
Speaker 6 (02:04):
So you're looking for your own treasure. I guess you
could say that seems like looking for a needle in
a haystack if you ask me.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Hey, guys, come check this out.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Holy holy, what is that? Holy? Barnacles?
Speaker 6 (02:21):
Huh?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Barnacles? Those little shellish bumpy things, crustaceans, never mind, just
those things lining this entire mini cave.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yeah, but that's not quite what I was looking at,
although those are kind of cool. Take a look in
that dark corner.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
See it is that a chest?
Speaker 5 (02:41):
Whoa quick, Avery, let's jump down there and grab it. Morgan.
You can keep a look out.
Speaker 6 (02:46):
What if there's a spider crab or something.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Morgan, aren't you the brave one?
Speaker 6 (02:55):
Not if there's a spider, we've got this. Come on, Avery, here,
hand in your Morgan Rob the other side. What is
this thing?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
It's our needle in a haystack. Here, hold the sides.
I'm gonna grab a rock to try and knock these
barnacles off. Maybe we can try and cry it open.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Hum.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
That's interesting. The treasure Wait, look it's it's a compass.
And look at that symbol. It looks just like my
swim team logo.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
I was hoping we'd find some kind of helpful landmark,
maybe some old excavation evidence, if anything, but a treasure
test with a compass. What are the odds? The compass
is like nothing I've ever seen. It looks ancient. It
has nautical symbols on front and back. I'm guessing these
are those swim team logos Jack mentioned, and barely noticeable
(03:59):
on the bottom edge there's the old engraved initials E. T.
Speaker 6 (04:04):
Wait, you're on a swim team.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Too since third grade. You're looking at the front stroke
champion right here.
Speaker 6 (04:10):
Jack, Avery and I are both on teams too.
Speaker 5 (04:13):
Oh man, that's totally awesome.
Speaker 6 (04:16):
So cool, Jack, Come on, don't you think?
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Don't you think it's a little strange that we all
come from highly competitive swim backgrounds now here we are
at this camp and we just so happened to be
chosen time and time again for scuba points.
Speaker 6 (04:31):
It's like they're using us or something.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Hmm, So what exactly do we do? How can we
even I prove this theory?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Let me see that compass again. See these initials E T.
They have to stand for something extra terrestrial.
Speaker 6 (04:53):
Oh my goodness, Come on, Jack, think well, what if
E is some kind of cover name for Blackbeard?
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Did we just find Blackbeard's compass?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
That would definitely explain why it's so old and why
it was hidden away in that cave.
Speaker 6 (05:10):
And if this compass belonged to Blackbeard, then maybe, just
maybe it's pointing us towards something important.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
So are we saying we stumbled upon Blackbeard's compass and
now it's pointing towards his hidden treasure.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
It's sure is starting to see him that way. But
this would explain the camp, wouldn't it.
Speaker 6 (05:31):
And would explain Thatch, that's for sure. But all of
this is just a guessing game. Maybe there's a connection
we just haven't figured out yet, like the book the
story is about Blackbeard or that excavation guy. We just
don't have anything concrete.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
You're right, we have to figure out more about that
old book. Guys. Tonight, we need to spread out. I
think I have a plan, so just follow my lead.
Just get as close as you can to Thatch without
being suspicious.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
I captain.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Okay, Okay, don't worry, I got it. Eyes on the book,
Eyes on the book.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Hello, Jim, anyone there, Hi there, Jim, It's Jim.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Right, Yeah, what why are you here? Aren't you like
supposed to be at the bonfire down there?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yes, but I was hoping you could help me with
something with that.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
No, no, no, no, no no no. I'm I'm just the
maintenance gy. Like I'm mow, I clean fix stuff. I
just do what I'm supposed to do.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
You know, Listen, I need to get to the bottom
of something. I really need your help.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
They'll kick you out if you start snooping around too
much like that. Is A is a private guy. You
shouldn't mess around stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
That's a risk I'm willing to take. Listen, I just
need you to distract that from me. I don't care
how flood, the bathrooms spill, the fire alarm in the kitchen.
I just neede five minutes, and I promise I'll leave
you alone.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
Fine, five minutes, awesome.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Give me a head start before you call him, and
we should be golden.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Okay, But wait, Avery, just give me.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
A little head start.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
What did I just do?
Speaker 5 (07:31):
In a legendary battle that shook the very foundations of
the ocean, Blackbeard and his crew confronted Roberts and his men.
Cannon Balls thundered across the waves, Swords clashed in a
symphony of steel, and the very heavens themselves seem to
weep for the fallen.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Morgan. Yeah, anything, not yet, then I have a plan.
Just stay where you are until he steps away. He's
still reading, though. Just wait and you'll see. As soon
as Jim ran down the stairs, I knew the plan
was going to work. That ran up the hill to
the boy's flooding showers, and I jumped on the opportunity.
(08:12):
Morgan caught the clue to distract the rest of the campers,
and she started telling crazy stories about a food fight
that broke out at her school last year. I grabbed
the book and opened it up to the first page.
It set for Elizabeth Thatch, my beloved daughter. May this
lead you to the truth, father Blackbeard. This is when
(08:34):
I started to piece together the entire story.
Campers, campers, suitt down, sut down, Let's find our seats.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I hope you all had a RESTful night.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Eh.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Let's hope today we have a little less excitement than
our first diving crew.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Maybe our captain needs some voting lessons, you're telling.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Me today we have a very special group project planned
to explore the rich history of the coastal oasis. You
will be dividing the teams of three to four in
tasks with completing a scavenger hunt to uncover signs of
the past scattered around the camp, and the team who
can find the most relevant and exciting artifact will be
(00:49):
given a very special surprise award from mister Thatcher himself.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yes, Jack, So how do we know if these so
called artifacts are relevant?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Let's just say you're looking for anything unnatural or anything
that catches your eye. I trust you'll know.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
If you see it.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Okay, now everyone needs to find their teams and I'll
get your packets handed out. You'll have until three pm
to complete the hunt. May the best team win.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Sounds like fun if we actually knew what he's looking for.
Avery Morgan with your team, I'm in totally.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
This is a perfect excuse to get a better look
around this place. The shore, the woods, the old buildings.
There's so much I've been wanting to see.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
So you too have any idea what exactly we're looking for?
Speaker 5 (01:44):
Avery?
Speaker 3 (01:45):
What's on that packet anyways?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Yeah, it says ancient rocks with ancient wonders. Whatever that means.
Seems like you made up a bunch of stuff just
to have something written down for us. I don't even
care about what this says, though. You need some going
to clue us in as to why that you care
so much about black beer.
Speaker 6 (02:04):
So you're looking for your own treasure. I guess you
could say that seems like looking for a needle in
a haystack if you ask me.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Hey, guys, come check this out.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Holy holy, what is that? Holy? Barnacles?
Speaker 6 (02:21):
Huh?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Barnacles? Those little shellish bumpy things, crustaceans, never mind, just
those things lining this entire mini cave.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yeah, but that's not quite what I was looking at,
although those are kind of cool. Take a look in
that dark corner.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
See it is that a chest?
Speaker 5 (02:41):
Whoa quick, Avery, let's jump down there and grab it. Morgan.
You can keep a look out.
Speaker 6 (02:46):
What if there's a spider crab or something.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Morgan, aren't you the brave one?
Speaker 6 (02:55):
Not if there's a spider, we've got this. Come on, Avery, here,
hand in your Morgan Rob the other side. What is
this thing?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
It's our needle in a haystack. Here, hold the sides.
I'm gonna grab a rock to try and knock these
barnacles off. Maybe we can try and cry it open.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Hum.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
That's interesting. The treasure Wait, look it's it's a compass.
And look at that symbol. It looks just like my
swim team logo.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
I was hoping we'd find some kind of helpful landmark,
maybe some old excavation evidence, if anything, but a treasure
test with a compass. What are the odds? The compass
is like nothing I've ever seen. It looks ancient. It
has nautical symbols on front and back. I'm guessing these
are those swim team logos Jack mentioned, and barely noticeable
(03:59):
on the bottom edge there's the old engraved initials E. T.
Speaker 6 (04:04):
Wait, you're on a swim team.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Too since third grade. You're looking at the front stroke
champion right here.
Speaker 6 (04:10):
Jack, Avery and I are both on teams too.
Speaker 5 (04:13):
Oh man, that's totally awesome.
Speaker 6 (04:16):
So cool, Jack, Come on, don't you think?
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Don't you think it's a little strange that we all
come from highly competitive swim backgrounds now here we are
at this camp and we just so happened to be
chosen time and time again for scuba points.
Speaker 6 (04:31):
It's like they're using us or something.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Hmm, So what exactly do we do? How can we
even I prove this theory?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Let me see that compass again. See these initials E T.
They have to stand for something extra terrestrial.
Speaker 6 (04:53):
Oh my goodness, Come on, Jack, think well, what if
E is some kind of cover name for Blackbeard?
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Did we just find Blackbeard's compass?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
That would definitely explain why it's so old and why
it was hidden away in that cave.
Speaker 6 (05:10):
And if this compass belonged to Blackbeard, then maybe, just
maybe it's pointing us towards something important.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
So are we saying we stumbled upon Blackbeard's compass and
now it's pointing towards his hidden treasure.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
It's sure is starting to see him that way. But
this would explain the camp, wouldn't it.
Speaker 6 (05:31):
And would explain Thatch, that's for sure. But all of
this is just a guessing game. Maybe there's a connection
we just haven't figured out yet, like the book the
story is about Blackbeard or that excavation guy. We just
don't have anything concrete.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
You're right, we have to figure out more about that
old book. Guys. Tonight, we need to spread out. I
think I have a plan, so just follow my lead.
Just get as close as you can to Thatch without
being suspicious.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
I captain.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Okay, Okay, don't worry, I got it. Eyes on the book,
Eyes on the book.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Hello, Jim, anyone there, Hi there, Jim, It's Jim.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Right, Yeah, what why are you here? Aren't you like
supposed to be at the bonfire down there?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yes, but I was hoping you could help me with
something with that.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
No, no, no, no, no no no. I'm I'm just the
maintenance gy. Like I'm mow, I clean fix stuff. I
just do what I'm supposed to do.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
You know, Listen, I need to get to the bottom
of something. I really need your help.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
They'll kick you out if you start snooping around too
much like that. Is A is a private guy. You
shouldn't mess around stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
That's a risk I'm willing to take. Listen, I just
need you to distract that from me. I don't care
how flood, the bathrooms spill, the fire alarm in the kitchen.
I just neede five minutes, and I promise I'll leave
you alone.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
Fine, five minutes, awesome.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Give me a head start before you call him, and
we should be golden.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Okay, But wait, Avery, just give me.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
A little head start.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
What did I just do?
Speaker 5 (07:31):
In a legendary battle that shook the very foundations of
the ocean, Blackbeard and his crew confronted Roberts and his men.
Cannon Balls thundered across the waves, Swords clashed in a
symphony of steel, and the very heavens themselves seem to
weep for the fallen.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Morgan. Yeah, anything, not yet, then I have a plan.
Just stay where you are until he steps away. He's
still reading, though. Just wait and you'll see. As soon
as Jim ran down the stairs, I knew the plan
was going to work. That ran up the hill to
the boy's flooding showers, and I jumped on the opportunity.
(08:12):
Morgan caught the clue to distract the rest of the campers,
and she started telling crazy stories about a food fight
that broke out at her school last year. I grabbed
the book and opened it up to the first page.
It set for Elizabeth Thatch, my beloved daughter. May this
lead you to the truth, father Blackbeard. This is when
(08:34):
I started to piece together the entire story.
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