Sam and Gus go on a monitor lizard hunt while the new doctor, Rick, has trouble adjusting to working in a remote clinic. Meanwhile, a new bride on her honeymoon steps on a deadly stonefish.

To pay for a much needed outboard motor, Sam gives a lecture to Andrew’s medical students at the Mainland University. Whilst there, she discovers her rival Malcolm has a newly renovated hi-tech lab.

On Freya's day off, Sam and Gus take her on a venomous spider hunt. When Gus falls into a stinging bush and Sonny loses consciousness out on the reef, Freya experiences a real test in emergency medicine.

It's a busy monthly clinic day on Hope Island and Rick is keen to see some new patients. Sam and Livvy try to get him to improve his bedside manner and listen to their complaints.

Andrew tells Sam that her clinic may be in line for an upgrade but when she heads to the university to discuss the details, she discovers he means to give her research to an independent research foundation.

Toby runs into trouble with sharks while diving alone, in secret. Meanwhile, romance is in the air as Gus asks Livvy out and Rick and Freya discover their mutual attraction.

Sam is collecting deadly cone shells when Andrew calls with the news that the Foundation has agreed to fund her venom cream. However, there's a catch that Sam is not happy about.

Sam and Jack are excited when two family friends, renowned husband and wife wildlife film-makers, come to the island for a bit of a holiday and to film out on the reef for their latest TV series.

Sam has arranged a ceremony to scatter her beloved Father's ashes. Much to Jack's dismay, Andrew is bringing his girlfriend and her daughter and he predicts the event will end in disaster.

A wild storm heralds the coming wet season and damages the clinic's satellite dish. Meanwhile, Freya is initially intrigued to learn something of Rick's past.

When Toby finally finds a relic from a shipwreck that will triple in value all the artifacts he has so far collected, an excited Erica flies out to see the piece for herself.

It's 'stinger' season and the arrival of dangerous Irukanji jellyfish shuts down Sonny's Beach. Sam discovers a massive aggregation of them and collects some for her research.