In 2019, the OceanX team captured stunning footage of a rare encounter with a massive bluntnose sixgill shark, a species that predates the dinosaurs. The video shows the giant shark, which can grow up to 20 feet in length, curiously inspecting the researchers’ submarine as it swims by. Despite its terrifying appearance, the encounter was a historic moment for the team, as it was one of the few times a satellite tag was successfully attached to this elusive predator.
The researchers attracted the shark using 100 pounds of bait, and the interaction has since gone viral, amassing over 25 million views. The bluntnose sixgill is a dominant predator in the deep-sea ecosystem, and this encounter allowed scientists to collect valuable data about its behavior. The tagging process involves using archival tags, which store data and send it to satellites when they detach from the shark.
OceanX opened up a Reddit forum to address questions about the tagging process, explaining how the data is collected and transmitted. The viral footage has sparked significant interest in the mysterious creatures that inhabit the deep sea, highlighting the importance of continued exploration and research in these remote parts of the ocean.
