Full Breakdown
Researchers Launch First Deep-Water ROV Expedition to Superior Maximus, the Great Lakes’ Deepest Point
6/6/2026, 11:47:59 PM
Deep-Water ROV Dive to Superior Maximus
On Saturday, June 6, 2026, a remotely operated underwater vehicle will descend to Superior Maximus, the deepest point in Lake Superior and the Great Lakes, at more than 1,300 feet (?400 metres) below the surface. The dive, weather-dependent, will be streamed live.
Historical Context
The last visual record of Superior Maximus dates to 1985, and no unmanned survey has visited the site in four decades, making this the first deep-water ROV exploration of the point since the 1980s.
Participants & Equipment
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) partners with documentary team Inspired Planet. Lead scientists include fisheries biologist Shawn Sitar and producer Yvonne Drebert; filmmaker Zach Melnick will pilot the Boxfish Luna drone from the research vessel Lake Char.
Scientific Goals
The team seeks footage of deep-water siscowet lake trout, kiyi, burbot, sculpin, red-fin trout, mysis shrimp and freshwater hydra. Recent captures of “emaciated” siscowet trout have spurred investigation of their health and habitat use.
Ecological Importance
Sitar notes, “the deepest waters act as a long-term record of what’s happening in the ecosystem,” underscoring how deep-water data reveal energy flow, nutrient cycling and climate responses in Lake Superior.
Official Statements
The DNR announced the livestream will run June 6-9, weather permitting, using a high-resolution ROV for research and documentary filming. The Great Lakes Commission supplied a depth of 1,332 feet and highlighted Lake Superior’s 3,000 cubic-mile volume.
Public Interaction
During the broadcast, Drebert, Sitar and Melnick will answer live questions from viewers on the Bridge Michigan site and via Great Lakes Now, providing real-time public engagement.
Verbatim Quotes
- “People kind of think of the Great Lakes as being looted and dead, but really there’s this whole vibrant world under the waves that is pretty amazing,” — Yvonne Drebert, producer
- “The deepest waters act as a long-term record of what’s happening in the ecosystem,” — Shawn Sitar, DNR fisheries biologist
- “More people have been to the moon than they have been to the deepest part of the Great Lakes,” — Yvonne Drebert, underwater filmmaker
- “If you think about the great ecosystems of the world, in Ontario and parts of the U.S., the Great Lakes are our Serengeti, they’re our tropical rainforest, and the lake trout are the top predators,” — Zach Melnick, filmmaker
Conflicting Reports
Depth is cited as “about 1,300 feet” and “1,332 feet.” Location is described as “34 miles offshore” and “50 kilometres off Munising.” The drone appears as “Boxfish Luna” or simply “Boxfish water drone.” The filmmaker’s name appears as Zach Melnick and Zack Melnick.
What’s Next
Footage will appear in the documentary “Hidden Below: The Great Lakes,” due later in 2026. The team plans additional ROV dives through 2028 to map other deep sites, expand species inventories and monitor ecosystem change.
