Cort returns to Baywatch to recertify as a lifeguard and rekindles his relationship with former love, C.J. She is worried something is wrong with his eyes, as evidenced when he bungles a simple rescue by bumping into many beachgoers. Mitch persuades Cort to see an eye doctor, who discovers he has a severe disease that will eventually leave him blind. Cort leaves Baywatch and C.J. for good.

Hobie and Mitch visit a beachside attraction where a very tall man works as a "feral man" to scare customers. Hobie befriends the man and discovers he is a depressed immigrant with no family, who carves exceptional pelicans from wood. His extra-large size is a challenge for the Baywatch crew when he falls into the water accidentally.

Matt and Slade decide to settle their mutual affection for Summer in a daring surfing contest. A prison break gone awry finds Mitch held hostage on a fishing boat by a desperate, beautiful woman. She forces him to perform surgery for a gunshot wound on her escaped convict husband. Meanwhile, CJ tries to help Summer overcome her eating disorder. While Summer, Matt, and Slade dive into an underwater cave searching for Matt's surfboard, an octopus pulls Summer down and nearly kills her.