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A terrifying video has shown how tourists get dropped off to stay at the "most dangerous hotel in the world", where even medical help is far away.
For most people, a vacation involves rest and relaxation in some lavish accommodation, where your every need is catered for.
However, some people decide to do the exact opposite of that, and choose to stay in possibly the most stressful circumstances they can find - and pay handsomely for the dubious privilege.
Thrill-seeking holidaymakers are spending thousands of dollars to stay in a remote hotel in a decommissioned US Coast Guard light station located 34 miles off the coast of North Carolina.
The light station, named Frying Pan Tower, was constructed in 1964 to warn ships of dangerously shallow waters in the "Graveyard of the Atlantic". However, advancements in GPS technology rendered it obsolete by the 2000s, and it was decommissioned in 2004.
The structure was bought in 2010 by an independent buyer, Richard Neal, who was joined by a team of volunteers in turning it into a nonprofit, as well as providing the opportunity for people to partake in a truly unique getaway in the middle of the ocean.
Charter boat captain Austin Aycock took to TikTok to share a glimpse at how people get dropped off to the steel tower, which stands 80 feet above the shark infested waters.
Those with a fear of water obviously need not apply, as the first stage of the journey requires being taken out on a small boat to the tower, before beginning the ascent to the platform.
A fear of heights is also not ideal, as guests are then winched up on ropes on a high-speed lift that hauls them 80 feet into the air in under a minute to the platform - which looks hair-raising enough.
That's without mentioning that the waters below are full of sharks, and that the tower sits in the middle of hurricane alley and is regularly battered by tropical storms with wind speeds over 100MPH.
Guests are then left in the middle of the ocean until they are picked up "in a couple of days", returning back to the boat in a similar fashion.
Now, if the thought of being stranded on a potentially rusting steel tower in the middle of the ocean isn't anxiety-inducing enough, there's also the question of what would happen in an emergency, as help would be pretty far away and difficult to get to.
Viewers took to the comments to write: "My anxiety would never allow this, if a medical emergency, do they have to call the coast guard?"
Others added: "What’s the opposite of a bucket list?", and: "I don’t trust people enough for this."
One joked: "'See you in a couple days!' is literally like a line out of a horror movie!", as another wrote: "we'll see a scary movie with this plot 2 years from now lmao."
A horrified viewer added: "The fact that you can’t see land is sending me. Absolutely freaking not."
If all of that hasn't put you off, stays on Frying Pan Tower start from around $200 per person per night, with a three-night minimum stay, meaning it's going to cost at least $600 a head for a long weekend in the middle of nowhere.
For some, the peace and solitude is very alluring, as Aycock confirmed that one group stayed an impressive amount of time, writing: "The longest I’ve had a group stay out there was two weeks!"
As for what happens in an emergency, help is either a helicopter ride away, or a 35-mile trip on a boat back to shore.
The tower has eight bedrooms and can house up to 12 guests, and includes all the amenities you'd need for your stay, including a fully-equipped kitchen, as well as a washer and dryer, hot showers, and even high-speed internet powered by solar energy.
Guests also have fresh water by way of a reverse osmosis filtration system and for groups that don't want to cook, a private chef can be hired for the stay, too.
Despite being miles from land, there's little chance of boredom as there are activities ranging from fishing and snorkeling over a protected reef below the structure, as well as golf with biodegradable balls made of fish food, and skeet shooting with biodegradable clay targets.
Guests have been able to stay on the tower since 2012 and the property is maintained by a volunteer community dedicated to preserving the historic station.
It's definitely not for everyone, but that's one vacation you'd truly never forget.
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Taking a cruise is supposed to be the pinnacle of chill. Sun lounger? Check. Piña colada? Obviously. Ocean views for days? Yes please.
But while most of us are focused on soaking up the rays and queuing for the buffet, one man decided to point the camera down, and now everyone’s thinking twice about what’s lurking below deck… literally.
Greek photographer Odysseas Froilan had the bright (read: mildly cursed) idea to lower a GoPro off the side of a cruise ship to capture the world beneath the waves.
The result? Peaceful daytime vibes, followed by pure nightmare fuel as the sun set.
At first, the footage is almost soothing. A school of curious fish swirl around the camera like they’re in a Disney movie. It’s giving underwater spa. But fast forward to nighttime, and the tone shifts fast. The ocean goes from "Finding Nemo" to straight-up Jaws.
One moment, it’s all floating serenity. The next? A shark darts into frame out of nowhere, slicing through the beam of light like it’s got unfinished business. Seconds later, a much bigger shark emerges from the pitch-black abyss like it’s answering a call. And viewers? Fully spiraling.
“The way I went from kicking my feet in the air at the cute fishies to sitting frozen in terror watching that shark slide out of the darkness…” one commenter confessed when the video was posted to YouTube. “This confirmed my intense fear of the ocean.”
Another added: “There’s something primally terrifying about seeing a shark emerge from absolute blackness. I’m sweating.”
Some viewers found the video educational. Most just found it horrifying.
“For years I wondered why there were pools on a cruise ship when there’s an entire ocean outside,” one person wrote. “This video made me realize, that chlorine water is my safe space.”
And if you were ever tempted to jump into the ocean for a late-night dip? Consider this your official sign not to.
“Marine life isn’t the same at night,” another user warned. “Sharks are nocturnal hunters. They’re literally just… waiting.”
As for Froilan? He’s probably still watching back the footage, and laughing as the internet collectively rethinks every tropical holiday it’s ever planned.
Moral of the story: if you’re going to drop a camera into the ocean, be prepared for what might stare back. And maybe just stick to the ship’s infinity pool next time.
Cruises have become an increasingly popular vacation choice for many travelers. With the promise of luxurious amenities, exotic destinations, and endless entertainment, cruise ships have become a floating paradise for vacationers.
However, as with any large-scale form of transportation, cruising carries certain risks that passengers often overlook. One of the most unsettling scenarios is falling overboard.
A chilling simulation posted on Instagram demonstrates the terrifying reality of what happens if someone falls from a cruise ship and no one sees it.
The simulation vividly portrays the harrowing experience of falling into the open ocean. In the video, the narrator explains in detail what would occur in such a situation.
"What happens if you fall from a cruise ship and no one sees you? First, you hit the water at 30 miles per hour. It feels like concrete."
The moment the body crashes into the water, the force is immense, and the shock of impact can leave a person momentarily disoriented.
The video continues, "You gasp, breaking the surface, but the panic hits immediately. You have no life jacket."
Once in the water, the danger escalates. "You scream, but the deafening roar of the propellers drowns you out. Within 10 minutes, the glowing ship is just a speck of light on the horizon. Then, it's gone."
The person is left alone, with no chance of immediate rescue. "You are alone in the pitch black." It becomes clear how quickly one can be separated from any hope of immediate safety.
The chilling reality becomes even more daunting. The simulation illustrates the extreme physical dangers of being stranded in the cold ocean waters.
"The freezing water instantly saps your body heat. By hour one, exhaustion and terror take over."
The fear of the unknown becomes as much of a threat as the physical cold itself.
The narrator explains, "You realize the water beneath you is two miles deep, and then you feel something brush against your leg."
This terrifying scenario brings to light the perilous conditions that many passengers may not consider when embarking on a cruise.
The video also highlights the harsh truth that this is not a rare occurrence. "In fact, over 30 people go overboard on cruise ships every single year, and most are never found."
This stark reminder reveals the risks of falling off a cruise ship and the challenges of survival when no one is around to help.
People are vowing to never go on a cruise after a passenger recently showed them what they look like at night.
When you think of your perfect vacation, what comes to mind? For a lot of people, they picture kicking back and relaxing on a massive ship while it sails across the vast oceans.
However, for others, they couldn't imagine anything worse.
One passenger has ignited that fear amongst a handful of people on the internet after they recently showed what a cruise ship looks like in the dark - and let's just say we won't be in a rush to book one any time soon.
Taking to TikTok, user @chasingthedream.hj posted a viral video that showed what the ocean looks like after the sun has set.
The clip, which has been viewed almost 10 million times, shows a boujee cruise ship with all the lights on on board the ship, allowing passengers to see what's going on around them.
However, when you move away from the main part of the ship and towards the railings overlooking the sea, that's when the real nightmare begins.
Have a look at the full video below:
This has left a lot of people with a newfound fear of cruises.
"The ocean is the most terrifying place on earth but the ocean at night is just a different beast," wrote one user, while another added: "The darkness, the depth, the power, the total helplessness... It terrifies me. I'm a marine biologist."
A third commented: "Not only dark but whats in the dark ocean following the cruise ship..."
Another person described it as a "deep black void of nothing," adding: "The way I would grip the handrails looking at the ocean at night. It actually was terrifying..."
And one user even recalled one of their own memories, writing: "l used to work on cruise ship, that sight of absolute darkness scared me so much, I run inside in panic, never go outside and look at the ocean at night time."
Another TikToker who also shared her experience was @victorias.way, who posted a video of her on her cabin balcony in the middle of the night - with nothing but a confronting curtain of darkness in front of her.
"After what I saw, I couldn't sleep all night," she wrote. "This is the most terrifying thing I've ever laid eyes on," she added on the video's overlay text.
However, others seemingly disagreed, offering up a new perspective about it all.
"I don’t know why people see this as a shock. You’re literally in the middle of the ocean. You put your trust in the staff and captains. I love cruises and all of the excursions," this person wrote.
And this user also stated: "I work at sea... I find the darkness at night while at sea to be refreshing. When you come from somewhere saturated with light pollution, actually seeing the Milky Way is a great thing to behold."
What do you think?
Viewers have been left terrified after the man who sailed to the Pacific Ocean on his own revealed how he sleeps.
As previously reported, Luke, who goes by "sailing songbird" on TikTok, uses the social media platform to document his travels.
The content creator used to teach music at Washington Middle School in Seattle before giving up his career to follow his dreams.
In one of his recent videos, Luke showed people how he sleeps when he's taking a break from sailing in the Pacific.
Watch Luke's video below:
The traveler said that it was "night 18" of sailing across the deep ocean alone, and then demonstrated his sleeping style when there are high seas.
He swayed from one side to the other back and forth, slamming into the wall of his cabin and the side of his bed constantly.
Luke noted that "wedging" yourself before dozing off is important as it can reduce you from "flying around everywhere".
He then told his followers to be grateful for a flatbed, quipping: “I would pay a pretty penny for a flatbed right now, goodbye, wish me luck."
Many people flooded the comment sections with their shocked reactions as one user said: "That's why I personally chose not to sail across the ocean. That and I've never sailed before."
Another wrote that they "would be so sick and my anxiety of sinking while asleep would torture me," while a third added: "The constant thought of the boat being so close to tipping over legit everytime it turns to the side makes me not wanna do this."
One user who sailed alone offered some advice, suggesting that a hammock and bungee lines might reduce all the tossing and turning.
"Seems that a bunch more cushiony pillows would fix the problem," someone else said, while another added: "You should build a harness bolted directly into the bed frame so you can hook into it and remain stationary when sleeping."
Luke surpassed a full month out in the Pacific. On day 31, he decided to do paddle-boarding for some "exercise," and noticed that he was stuck "in the doldrums," where there is "no wind".
He showed a screen recording of his location on Google Maps, where he was "about as far away from land as you can be on this planet".
Despite Mexico appearing to be one of the closest destinations, albeit a long distance away, he found that there was "absolutely nothing on the horizon".
"I am well over 1,000 miles away from any piece of land and it's so quiet," he said. "This definitely feels like one of the more incredible things I'm privileged enough to experience."
A man has left people stunned after sailing to middle of the Pacific Ocean on his own.
Luke, who goes by "Sailing Songbird" on TikTok, uses the social media platform to share videos of his life after giving up his career as a teacher. The content creator used to teach music at Washington Middle School in Seattle before giving up his career to follow his dreams.
He has since amassed over 900,000 followers as he details he journey across French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean all alone.
In a viral clip, the content creator revealed that he has surpassed a full month out in the Pacific, and decided that on day 31 he would do paddle-boarding for some "exercise".
He then turned the camera around to show viewers his surroundings and said: “I’m stuck here in the doldrums. There is no wind.”
Check out his video below:
Luke showed a screenshot of his location on Google Maps, where he was "about as far away from land as you can be on this planet," with Mexico appearing to be one of the closest destinations, albeit a long distance away.
"So I pumped up my inflatable paddleboard and getting some exercise in," he continued, adding that it is "disorienting" to paddle-board with "absolutely nothing on the horizon".
"I am well over 1,000 miles away from any piece of land and it's so quiet," he remarked. "This definitely feels like one of the more incredible things I'm privileged enough to experience."
Shocked viewers flooded Luke's comment section with their reactions, sharing that they could never sail in the Pacific Ocean on their own.
One user said their thalassophobia - which is an intense phobia or fear of large or deep water - "could neverrrrr," while another chimed in: "The best thing about sailing across the Pacific Ocean alone is that you do not have to do it."
A third interjected: "Bro.. inflatable paddle board? Sun is setting AND YOURE THAT FAR FROM YOUR BOAT???" and a fourth added: "You just keep saying words that make me panic."
Others were more amazed by Luke's phone signal, as one person questioned: "Damn the Pacific got Wi-Fi ?" and another added: "How does your phone battery get charged?"
Meanwhile, a few stunned users shared comments about the remote "Point Nemo," which is located in the South Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and Chile, and 1,670 miles (2,688km) from land, according to BBC.
"Literally just learned about Point Nemo and that's all I can think about watching this. Get back to your boat sir!!!" someone commented.
A second added: "Bro you’re almost at point Nemo!!! Come back!!"
The TikToker used to teach music at Washington Middle School in Seattle before circumnavigating the world in a sailboat.
Speaking to Komo News, he said: "I had the dream of sailing around the world. I came across a YouTube video a couple of years ago that was just like a boat tour of a vessel that was fully equipped to live off-grid and I became just fascinated with sailing and kind of obsessed with it."
Luke's new to sailing on his own, and has only ever hitchhiked around Mexico on other people's boats. He knows there are difficulties such as storms, high winds, and high seas, but said they're challenges he's willing to face to live out his dream.
"If you have a dream then you can do it," he said. "There's so much time and if you use that time well, you can achieve any dream that you have."
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