
SEAmagine Hydrospace Corporation’s Aurora submersible, equipped with SubC Imaging’s deep-sea camera 1Cam Mk6, captured what is allegedly the first documented sighting of a prickly shark in French Polynesia.
This significant discovery occurred during a routine training dive with a private submersible, featuring a sixth generation 1Cam, which offers a depth rating of 6,000 meters and features a 20x optical zoom lens. 1Cam provides high-quality SD color optical zoom, built-in 4K/HD video recording, and 16.6MP digital stills. Additionally, footage and data can be transferred topside via USB.
SEAmagine submersibles can be outfitted with various subsea tools or custom devices. The company’s fleet has completed over 12,000 dives, reaching depths ranging from 100 to 2,300 meters. These submersibles are primarily employed for scientific research, professional expeditions, defense operations, and private use.
The Discovery
During a training dive for a submersible pilot aboard a private yacht, the team encountered a mature male prickly shark at a depth of 500 meters. The sighting occurred along the outer slope of the barrier reef near the island of Moorea, reportedly marking the first recorded observation of this rare species in French Polynesia.
The prickly shark (Echinorhinus cookei) is one of two species in the Echinorhinidae family, the other being the bramble shark. This slow-moving species is recognized by its two small dorsal fins and thorn-like denticles covering its body. Nocturnally active, prickly sharks can reach lengths of up to four meters.
Typically found at depths between 11 and 580 meters, these sharks are slow swimmers and are particularly vulnerable to threats such as deepwater trawling and line fishing. As a result, the species is listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
The Role of Submersibles & Citizen Science
Manned submersibles, like those developed by SEAmagine, are invaluable tools for marine exploration, whether used by scientists or members of the public.
Their popularity on yachts allows for dives and data collection in some of the most remote and less explored regions of the oceans. The data collected can then be shared widely, contributing significantly to citizen science initiatives.
Citizen science involves public participation in scientific research. While the concept has existed for centuries—such as sailors in the 1800s documenting ocean currents and wind patterns—the term itself emerged in the mid-1990s.
By enabling direct observation of marine environments and facilitating data collection, submersibles have become a key resource for both citizen science and scientific discovery. The observation of the prickly shark in French Polynesia serves as a prime example of how these technologies advance our understanding of marine life.