Oceanbotics Returns to Shark Week for the Third Year to Capture Black Mako

31 July 2025

(Image credit: Oceanbotics)

Oceanbotics Inc. has announced its return to the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week for the third consecutive year, participating in the production of a new special, Black Mako of the Abyss, filmed off the coast of Catalina Island in Southern California.

To help locate this rare, dark-colored shark, Oceanbotics deployed its professional SRV-8X remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). Ryan Gates, an ROV operator, easily piloted the vehicle down to 1,640 feet (500 meters) using just a handheld controller and a laptop, showcasing how straightforward and user-friendly the system is, even in challenging conditions.

In the special, you’ll see how the SRV-8X was used to track down, locate, and film Mako sharks in their natural habitat. You’ll also notice how the SubNav OS software displays the sharks circling the vehicle, while the team monitors the action in real-time from a laptop-based control station, offering a dramatic, up-close look at how professional-grade ROVs are expanding the way we explore the ocean.

This project highlights Oceanbotics’ ongoing mission to build the easiest-to-operate and most maneuverable ROVs, designed to make underwater operations more efficient, safer, and more cost-effective. Combined with intuitive SubNav OS software, Oceanbotics delivers a user experience that redefines ease of operation in the underwater ROV industry.

You can now stream Black Mako of the Abyss on HBO Max, Discovery+, and Prime Video.