Oceanbotics Returns to Shark Week to Capture Rare Black Mako
Oceanbotics is excited to announce 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.
A rare Black Mako Shark flashes its sharp teeth and distinctive dark top as it passes the SRV-8X ROV.
The Black Mako Shark slows down to study a Shark Week diver as it glides past the SRV-8X ROV.
What is a Black Mako?
The black mako is a rare color variant of the shortfin mako shark, not a separate species, but named for its strikingly dark pigmentation. Known for their speed, power, and elusiveness, black makos are almost never seen, let alone filmed. That’s why capturing footage of one in its natural habitat is such a rare achievement for marine researchers and underwater filmmakers.
First sighted years ago off the coast of Catalina, this unique shark resurfaced for Shark Week 2025. With the help of the SRV-8X ROV and Southern California shark expert Keith Poe, known in the field as The “Shark Tagger”, the crew was able to track and film the black mako in action, bringing this mysterious predator to audiences around the world.
ROV + Divers: A Team Effort Below the Surface
Documenting a rare predator like the black mako takes more than just courage, it takes teamwork and the right technology. For this Shark Week mission, both divers and the SRV-8X remotely operated vehicle played critical roles. Divers offered critical insight and situational awareness in the water, while the ROV took on the deeper, more technical tasks—holding position, maneuvering quietly, and filming from angles that would be difficult or dangerous for a diver to reach.
This balanced approach not only protects the crew, but also ensures minimal disruption to the animal’s natural behavior. By keeping interactions low-impact and respectful, the team was able to capture breathtaking footage without interfering with one of the ocean’s most elusive creatures.
SRV-8X ROV featuring HD camera and enhanced lighting for tracking sharks.
SubNav OS software displays live video and imaging sonar to detect and track sharks beneath the surface.
The Gear That Made It Happen
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 ROV 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.
Sonar and Cameras Working Together
Tracking a fast and elusive predator like the mako shark requires more than just sharp eyes. For this mission, the SRV-8X ROV was equipped with advanced imaging sonar technology that scanned the surrounding waters, detecting the shark’s movement even when visibility was low.
Simultaneously, the high-definition camera captured clean, detailed visuals as soon as the shark was located, delivering clear and steady footage for the Shark Week crew to document every thrilling moment. Complementing the camera, the ROV’s four powerful 1500-lumen lights lit up the scene perfectly, highlighting the shark’s distinctive dark pigmentation and razor-sharp teeth with stunning clarity.
By combining 2D imaging sonar’s “sixth sense” detection with the precision of the ROV’ camera, our team was able to find, follow, and film the black mako without disturbing its natural behavior.
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.
Where Can I Watch “Black Mako of the Abyss?”
You can now stream “Black Mako of the Abyss” on HBO Max, Discovery+ and Prime Video.
From the Shark Week Archives
This isn’t our first encounter with the mako shark. Catch up on our previous Shark Week missions, where the SRV-8X ROV captured never-before-seen moments beneath the waves.
