THE TURKS & CAICOS Miles of Unknown.

The Turks & Caicos Islands have long been popular with the super-rich and wealthy elite, off the radar to almost everyone else who isn’t looking for a honeymoon spot. It’s high time our host peels back the American Express Gold Card layer and gets to the heart of this amazing country. Recently hit by not one but two Category 4 hurricanes, Provi­denciales, Grand Turk and Salt Cay are still licking their wounds when Aaron gets there. But this is no wimpy nation; with a will to overcome adversity and endless reefs just bursting with life, it’s high time these folks let loose ... Into The Drink-style.

Using the Turks & Caicos Explorer II—a live aboard dive boat—as his base of offshore operations, Aaron seeks the counsel of Alan Jardine, a salty Scotsman who’s been living and diving in Provo for decades. Jardine has his sights set on exploring the miles of untouched, pristine reef from Northwest Point to Grace Bay that no one has bothered to investigate. It could be worthless or it could be the most incredible discovery off the coast of Turks & Caicos in years. There’s only one way to find out ...

There’s no way Aaron’s leaving dry land without checking in with Serge, owner of the Turks Head Brewery. With no natural source of fresh water, there’s challenges to brewing and some secrets to success that are unique here. Turks Head still bottle and can two at a time—it’s a sly peek into the old-school way of mak­ing a good beverage. Rumor has it that Turks Head is also moving into the distillery arena. Will Aaron get a first-peek at Turks Head Rum as well?

As a Boston native, Aaron’s most at home in an Irish pub. Cue: Danny Buoys, the locals’ hangout in Provo. Aaron’s brush with the law, chatting up the local girls and playing cards with Jamaican gangsters ... it needs to be seen to be believed.

In addition is a visit to the crippled Grand Turk, who, at last glance did not have running water or electricity from the beating of hurricanes Hanna and Ike. Aaron checks in with local legend Mitch Rolling and invites the guitar-slinger and his bandmates on board the Turks & Caicos Explorer II for a raucous night of music at sea that lifts the spirits of musicians and guests alike.

The people of Turks & Caicos have been such good stewards of conch that it’s the only place in all of the Caribbean where it’s not an endangered species. Why? Apparently it’s considered the “Island Viagra.” Aaron breaks his decade-long moratorium on eating seafood for obvious reasons ... we’ll let you watch the rest.

Casinos, reggae legends, playing pool with some amazing kids who were displaced by the hurricane, getting to know what it’s like to be a crewmember on a boat. There’s no shortage of hijinks in this pilot episode.

PUERTO RICO Donde esta la aventura?

To most Americans, Puerto Rico is simply a U.S. ter­ritory with little to offer other than a cheap holiday with no passport needed. But Puerto Rico is the size of the state of Connecticut and features a wealth of ad­venture opportunities, some of which involve a considerable amount of locally-distilled rum.

In this episode, Aaron teams up with ex-hippie­turned-world-renowned photographer Steve Simonsen. Steve literally wrote the book on diving Puerto Rico and speaks in grand language about the satellite islands of Mona and Desecheo, two remote pindrops in the Puerto Rican Trench. Their guide both on and off the water is Greg Carson, the obscenely handsome and chiseled owner of Taino Divers in Rincon. Greg knows spots that even Steve hasn’t heard of and claims there are two locations at Desecheo and Mona respectively that boast big animal encounters rivaling any place on the planet. But the journey is not an easy one—most expeditions to Mona Island—which is 50 nautical miles past some of the most treacherous ocean in the world—are unsuccessful due to weather or government intervention. The three explorers will attempt to cross these waters and see what makes these desolate islands so mythic.

But that’s only half the story. Puerto Rico is home to the main distilleries for both Bacardi and Cap­tain Morgan rums, and they are prepared to give Aaron a peek into the process that traditional visitors never get to see. Greg Carson says that’s only half the fun—the main event takes place at the Villa Cofresi, a seaside bar in Rincon that is the prime hangout for ex-pats, surfers, skate rats and tourists in-the-know. As reverently as Steve speaks of the off shore islands, Carson is equally as reverent about the Can Opener, a local drink that involves three different kinds of rum—the banger being Bacardi 151. It is known to the locals as the “Leg Spreader.” Oh no ... Horseback riding, surfing lessons, a riotous tour of the salsa clubs of Old San Juan ... it’s a guaranteed party with a Latin flavor

THE PHILIPPINES It’s stronger than you think, Aaron.

An archipelago nation made up of 7,100 islands and 90 million people; you think Aaron’s going to have trouble finding trouble to get into? Neither did we. Aaron’s prime targets while in country are dfferent not only in where he must go to find them, but in their level of difficulty to find. We journey to Malapascua, where Aaron’s in  search of an encounter on film with the extremely rare and highly elusive thresher shark. It’s a remote trek to Malapascua and there is no room for error, both on the bottom and at the surface. The catch—the threshers only come up from thousands of feet below to diveable depths very, very early in the morning, and they’re incredibly skittish. It’s diffcult to say what’s going to be more of a challenge—getting the sharks to cooperate or getting Aaron out of bed at 5AM after having drank until 4:30.

And what was he drinking? Well, a tour of the Philippines’ own Ginebra San Miguel distillery and brewery is a start. San Miguel is the Philippines’ flagship brew and the largest food-and-beverage company in Southeast Asia. There’s plenty to explore here—the protected Tabon caves, which boast 25,000-year-old human remains, sampling the balut—a fertilized chicken or duck egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is considered an aphrodisiac by locals, or the rich heritage of eco-tourism and environmental protection the Philippines are cultivating ... there’s just no limit.

Of course, there’s always the target-rich environment of the Malate District, a strip of bars and clubs that are always filled with beautiful people and good music. Aaron may learn the hard way that Red Horse “Extra Strong” beer may not be the best thing to double up on before heading out to sea in search of rare sea creatures ...

AUSTRALIA Get your root on, mate.

It’s Aaron’s favorite place in the world, and also the one place he can’t seem to get in or out of without some “snag” in Customs & Immigration. Australia is awesome in the truest sense of the word, and there’s so much to cover in this nation-continent that it cannot be contained to one episode. Part 1 finds Aaron headed to Queensland. His first stop is well out to sea, in the wilds of the Far North. Closer to Papua New Guinea than mainland Oz, Aaron learns why many divemasters wait years to lead trips here and others are too frightened of its watery inhabitants to go back again.

Making his way down the Gold Coast includes a stop at the Bundaberg Rum factory and then a fur­ther trek to the beautiful city of Brisbane. Aaron is part of the first-ever Brisbane Bundaberg Pub Crawl, and if he makes it out with his liver intact, he continues to his own Mecca—Cairns. Once in Cairns, it’s off to the Wool Shed—a bar that defies logic and, some nights of the week, public decency laws. It’s known to the locals as the “Pull Shed,” because if you can’t get lucky by 3AM here, it means you didn’t show up. Setting Aaron and his libido loose here means you may want to put the kids to bed early before turning on the TV.

But it’s back out to sea with the ever-entertaining Pete Mooney, a local diving legend who has been
filming the Great Barrier Reef for over 30 years. Rumor has it Pete’s been sitting on some highly-secret satel­lite coordinates for spots in the Northern Ribbon Reefs, and it’s Aaron he wants as his wingman. With an ocean full of animals that can kill you instantly in a dozen different ways, the Great Barrier Reef will offer up some of the most exciting moments of Aaron’s career—and the most dangerous.

Part 2 means it’s time to kick it Sydney-style ... with old friend and diving/drinking buddy Marty White,
Aaron sets off on a tour of bars and clubs that would make most men squeal like a kid at Christmas.
Down to Bondi Beach for still more surf lessons and ... ahem ... “people watching,” an extended stay at the Red Oak Beer Cafe and then out to sea to film the giant cuttlefish mating season ... or, as Aaron likes to call it, “animal porn.”

Teaming up with Australian music legend Xavier Rudd, Aaron ventures deep into the bush, past the tourist traps and theme parks to encounter and embrace Aborigine culture, the oldest civilization of the planet. Mystical and life-changing, Aaron’s time with these amazing people is sure to educate and inspire a world full of viewers to make environmental changes in their own native lands.

JAMAICA I and I will find the party.

Interestingly enough, at the start of the episode we find our host nestled snugly in a corner of The Canal Room in New York City, enjoying some excellent jerk chicken and some great live reggae music. Curious about this amaz­ing culture’s origins, it’s off to pack a bag or two and head for Jamaica.

In Jamaica, and the wildlife above water is as pro­lific as any famed scuba destination. Appleton Estate Rum, Myers’s Rum, Red Stripe, Green Leaves ... you get the idea. Aaron and his liver have their work cut out for them. Aaron treks through Negril to find the best reggae clubs on the island and charms the lovely and legendary Paula at the 3 Dives Bar into teaching him how to prepare her famous jerk chicken. Then it’s time to make a pilgrimage to Kingston’s Trenchtown, site of Bob Marley’s birthplace. Aaron hangs with Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records and the man single-hand­edly responsible for bringing reggae music to the American masses and gets an amazing history lesson. A continuous thread in this episode will be whether or not Aaron is able to secure a permit from the Jamaican government to dive Port Royal, a former pirate and smuggler haunt that sank into the ocean dur­ing an earthquake in 1692. Why it’s such a closely-guarded secret only fuels Aaron’s desire to explore further.

CALIFORNIA Go West, young man.

The kelp-infested waters off Tinsel Town are wilder and, frankly, cooler (literally) than Rodeo Drive. Follow Aaron as he swings from raucous night clubs on the sunset strip with a host of celebrity friends and then goes skinny dipping in the Golden State’s shark-infested waters. A top-down ride up California’s Highway 101 stops in Napa Valley, where we tour the lesser-known but no less impressive vineyards of Napa Valley. Then it’s off to San Francisco’s Chinatown and Fisherman’s wharf, the launching pad for a trip out to the foreboding Farallon Islands, where Aaron accompanies the legendary Ron Elliott, an urchin diver with a back story that has to be seen to be believed. Did we fail to mention the lost weekend at the California Festival Of Beers in San Luis Obispo? Aron’s coming home, folks. This episode takes place in his own backyard, where he plays tourist and tour guide from Rockport to Providence. It’s off to the chilly green waters off the coast of Cape Ann, Massachusetts, where Aaron is re­minded that there is beauty in the cold, low-visibility depths of the North Atlantic. Along the way, Aaron gets to hang with some Red Sox all-stars in the depths of the hallowed Fenway Park. Maybe he can convince them to hit the water with him ... Ever wonder what it’s like to be a brewmaster? Own your own beer empire? Both questions are answered as Aaron takes a private tour of the Samuel Adams plant with Jim Cook, founder and president. Aaron’s shot at Career Day takes a noteworthy turn as he is schooled in the process of making one of the most popular beverages in America by Sam Adams’ team of brewmasters.

On his way to the South Shore, a requisite pub crawl through a dozen of Boston’s best (and some­times least-known) bars and alehouses is in order. Aaron’s rather colorful cast of townie cronies is sure to make the evening an interesting one. Fitzy, Sully, Devin, Jimmy Knuckles and Big Tom round out the gang coming through the door fists and hearts first ... Did we mention this is College Town USA? Go easy, Aaron. These girls don’t know any better ... Down on Cape Cod, there’s literally hundreds of unidentified shipwrecks lying just off the coast. Over the whitecaps and through the canal, Aaron joins wreck hunter Jerry Comeau as he attempts to positively ID several targets. Back on land and heading south, Aaron pulls into Rhode Island and gets some ice time with the Provi­dence Bruins. It’s important to note that Aaron’s never put on a pair of ice skates in his life ...

BAJA CALIFORNIA In search of the ultimate toothy grin.

Cabo San Lucas is western Mexico’s answer to Cancun, and the night­life is legendary. Just ask Sammy Hagar—we know Aaron will. Sammy takes Aaron on a guided tour of his very own Cabo Wabo Tequila distillery, and invites Aaron to his Cabo Wabo Cantina for a raucous celebra­tion of all things rock and roll. Honestly— when was the last time a rock star whipped up a margarita for you? Or carried you back to your hotel room?

But most revelers will never see the serious wildlife here, which lies just off shore La Paz and Cabo Pulmo. The giant mantas of San Benedicto and the breathtaking pods of dolphins are nothing short of inspiring. But it’s a place that has to be sought out ... pur­sued. And nothing is a guarantee in the wilds of the open ocean.

It’s an overnight passage to Isla Gua­dalupe, 150 miles off the coast of Baja Norte. This 94-square-mile oasis in the Pacific has become the #1 place in the world to see the ultimate leviathan—the Great White Shark. Aaron will be taking the unprecedented step of actually leaving the safety of the steel cage to go mask-to-maw with the ocean’s most feared predators—because shooting behind bars doesn’t make for the best shots. Our man will be bringing home some very interesting dental records, hopefully not soiling his wetsuit in the process.

THE AZORES Did Atlantis have a pub?

Some speculate that this 400­mile-long archipelago, halfway between Africa and Newfound­land, Canada, smack dab in the center of the Atlantic Ocean, is the home of the lost civilization of Atlantis. He brings along old friend Arthur Medieros, who takes him on a grand journey of this amazing collection of islands and watch­es as Arthur nostalgically traces his fam­ily history right to the edge of the ocean.

Graciosa, Terceira, Biscoitos, Santa Maria, São Lourenço, and Verdhello—there’s not enough time to take in all the labels of wine that are made here, but Aaron will do his best to try. Don’t worry—we already have the taxi waiting for him.

Out in the blue lie the Formigas Islands, which boast rich fauna including exotic black coral and manta rays, sharks, and sea turtles. Aaron takes one of the boldest moves of his entire career, attempting to swim and film sperm whales as they make their way to the Azorean coast for mating season. It’s difficult to say what the bigger gamble is—that the sperm whales will come in close enough to warrant jumping in, or if they’ll allow him access without being charged by the very territorial males.

THE FLORIDA KEYS For the love of body paint.

They may be wackos but they’re our wackos ... this kooky, kitschy little bit of the Caribbean dangling off the bottom of Florida is perhaps the most popular scuba diving destination in the United States. Aaron hits the gas and cruises down US 1 to find out what makes Key Largo wreck diving so compelling, and Key West mornings so, well, hangoverful ... Aaron teams up with the most published underwater photographer in history, the great Stephen Frink, to research Snapper Ledge, a hotly contested geographical anomaly off the coast of Key Largo that is being petitioned as a marine sanctuary. The potential effects of such legislation and why they’re needed in the first place give a decidedly environmen­tal angle to the first part of this episode. It wouldn’t be an Into The Drink expedition to the Keys without a (lengthy) stop at the Key West Brewery, proud home of Key West Lager and Key West Sunset Ale. Aaron will need to get in fighting shape before the evening’s agenda. There is nothing on earth like Key West’s annual Fantasy Fest, where the bacchanalia includes plenty of drinking, dancing and body paint. And little else, quite honestly. It’s no surprise to anyone that Aaron’s in 7th Heaven here, carefully weighing his options for drawn-on costumes.

SOUTH AFRICA Where the wild things are.

From Dyer Island to Cape Town, from Aninzamnintoti to Johannesburg—South Africa’s coast is not for the faint of heart or the wary traveller. Of course, a ridiculously bloated self-image and blind courage have never been a problem for Aaron.

Aaron teams up with Nic de Gersigny, owner of SEAL Expeditions. Aaron accompanies Nic on a heart-pumping trip out to the Wild Coast for the annual Sardine Run, an explosion of life and death that de­fies comprehension. The ocean is alive with every predator that swims—copper, bull, dusky, raggedtooth and tiger sharks, humpback whales, hundreds of spotted and bottlenose dolphins, and literally thousands of Cape Gannets, all competing for the packed schools of sardines. All at once. If Nic—a 6-foot-4, 260-pound stack of pure muscle still gets terrified every time he jumps in the water during these dives, then you know it’s some­thing to take deadly seriously. Back on land Aaron’s in search of the best of South Africa’s famous wines, from the Tulbagh Moun­tains to the Meerlust Estate. With Nic in his corner, there’s no way they can refuse him...

EGYPT Diving the Cradle of Civilization.

It’s no secret that in the 21st Century, most Americans wouldn’t consider the Sinai Peninsula as a safe destination for Westerners. Maybe that’s exactly why our host is insistent on breaking down the myths. Yes, folks ... leave it to Aaron to find a party of biblical proportions in the heart of the Middle East.

This 1,400-mile-long sea is a scuba hotspot for European divers, who come here to sample the diverse ecosystem. Of the more than 1,100 species of fish in the Red Sea, 10% are found nowhere else. Aaron follows renowned Red Sea expert Tamara Double to some secret spots on the largely unexplored southern tip of the Farasan Bank of Yemen.

In Egypt, beer is a meal—a meal with heavenly connections. Aaron learns the ancient secrets of brew­ing from historical records that date back thousands of years, with recipes found in the legendary Book Of The Dead. Ekkhehard Zitzmann, owner of Luxor Wheat Beer, gives Aaron some insight into the relationship between beverage and drinker in both ancient and present-day Egypt.

With beer in hand and a head full of history lessons, it’s time to jump into the 21st century by head­ing to Sharm El Sheik for some serious nightlife. Pacha, Mojo and Cafe Tche Tche are all on the list of places who will swear they never saw the charming American coming ...