When it comes to exploring Earth’s most remote and hostile environments, traditional methods often fall short. That’s especially true for the icy, dark depths surrounding Antarctica, a place long beyond the reach of human divers and standard research vessels. But thanks to a remarkable underwater drone system, the Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI), based in Palo Alto, California, is changing the game.

In January 2025, Dr. Alan Jamieson led a team of researchers on the institute’s first expedition to the Southern Ocean, also known as the Antarctic Ocean, aboard the research vessel Falkor (too). SOI’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian played a key role in the expedition, allowing the research team to get an up-close view of an environment inhospitable to humans.

SuBastian is a drone designed specifically to operate in extreme conditions, navigating frigid Antarctic waters at depths of over 4,000 meters. Equipped with ultra-high-definition 4K cameras, precision robotic arms, and a suite of environmental sensors, the drone acts as the eyes, hands, and instruments for scientists aboard the Falkor (too). “We call it a submarine on a tether,” explains Dr. Jamieson. “It gives us the ability to go places people simply can’t go, safely, remotely, and with incredible detail.”

Operated in real time from the ship, SuBastian streams live video back to researchers around the world, allowing scientists to direct its movements and make discoveries collaboratively. This live feedback loop not only accelerates research but also broadens access to the deep ocean’s mysteries.

SuBastian has already completed several notable missions in Antarctica, beginning in the Weddell Sea. The drone undertook eight deep dives, reaching nearly 4,000 meters to survey seafloor habitats and gather biological samples. By remotely operating the drone beneath thick ice shelves, the team avoided the risks associated with human diving and gathered invaluable data on species, including what Dr. Jamieson referred to as diverse communities that often live in total darkness.

Just weeks later, the SOI team showcased the drone’s agility and responsiveness after a massive iceberg, named A-84, broke off from the George VI Ice Shelf. SuBastian was rapidly deployed to explore the newly exposed seafloor. Descending to about 1,300 meters, the drone revealed surprisingly lush ecosystems with ancient sponges, corals, octopuses, and even giant sea spiders thriving in an area once thought to be lifeless.

Perhaps the most jaw-dropping achievement came in March 2025 near the South Sandwich Islands, where the drone captured the first confirmed footage of a juvenile colossal squid in the wild. These elusive deep-sea giants had long been a mystery, known mainly from specimens caught accidentally. Using the drone’s 4K cameras at 600 meters, the team filmed the squid’s enormous eyes and hooked tentacles in stunning detail, marking a landmark moment in marine biology. “To see this creature alive, behaving naturally, is something we only dreamed of,” said Dr. Jamieson. “SuBastian made it possible by quietly navigating the depths without disturbing its environment.”

In May 2025, SuBastian helped uncover new coral gardens and hydrothermal vent systems around the volcanic South Sandwich Islands. At 700 meters deep, the drone’s sampling tools collected specimens of previously unknown corals, sponges, and sea stars, further demonstrating the biodiversity richness of these extreme habitats. This is just a snippet of what the team from SOI has discovered in a very short amount of time with this versatile underwater drone.

The institute plans to continue exploring the waters around Antarctica throughout the more favorable season in 2025. But as Dr. Jamieson points out, this is just the beginning. “The ocean is vast and mostly unexplored,” he said. “Drones like SuBastian let us see and understand ecosystems we otherwise couldn’t reach. This technology is critical for tracking changes in marine environments, especially as climate change accelerates.” SOI plans to return to the Southern Sea as much as possible, with several missions planned extending through 2029. With each dive, SuBastian is not only expanding scientific knowledge but also proving how underwater drones are redefining the future of ocean exploration, one deep-sea discovery at a time.

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