Oceanbotics has returned to Discovery Channel’s Shark Week production, marking four consecutive years of using the SRV-8 Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to track and film underwater marine life.
During a recent two-day expedition off the coast of Catalina, ROV pilot and outside sales representative Ryan Gates alongside head of marketing Mira Nagle tracked and recorded Mako sharks. To maximize subsea situational awareness, the vehicle was deployed with a Blueprint Subsea 2D imaging sonar alongside the NavPod Navigation Module.
A key technical enhancement to the expedition was the integration of new 4K camera technology, which is now standard across all SRV-8 series ROVs. The upgraded optical sensor provides ultra-high-definition resolution to capture fine physical details, including skin textures and gill movements, even from a distance. Operating in tandem with powerful onboard lighting, the system captures broadcast-ready footage across varying underwater lighting conditions.
The SRV-8 platform is engineered for rapid deployment, connecting directly to a ruggedized laptop and achieving operational readiness in under three minutes. Underwater positioning and navigation rely on the SubNav OS software, allowing pilots to monitor live camera feeds and 2D sonar displays to identify targets from any angle. Using a handheld controller, the operator can engage automated pitch and depth locks to maintain a steady hover and precisely frame subjects as they move past the vehicle.
The physical stability of the SRV-8 ensures smooth 4K recording during close proximity encounters when marine life approaches or brushes against the frame. Upon completion of a dive, the vehicle is stowed in durable transport cases while SubNav OS exports .mp4 4K video files, .jpeg still frames, and raw .sonar data directly to the topside station for immediate processing by production crews.
Highlights captured by the SRV-8 platform are featured in the special “Biggest Mako on Earth,” now available on Discovery+ and associated Shark Week broadcast collections.
