Live from the Deepest Point in the Great Lakes

Live from the Deepest Point in the Great Lakes : Hidden Below LIVE “Superior Maximus”

What lies at the very bottom of the Great Lakes in waters deeper than 400 metres?

For this episode of Hidden Below LIVE, award-winning filmmakers and freshwater explorers Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick (Inspired Planet Productions) take audiences on a live descent to “Superior Maximus”, the deepest point in Lake Superior, and one of the most extreme freshwater environments on Earth.

More than 55 kilometres offshore, in near-total darkness and under pressures over 40 times greater than at the surface, this is a world rarely seen. Forty-one years ago, scientists descended here in a submersible. Since then, the depths have remained virtually unexplored.. until now.

Streaming live, the expedition offered a rare opportunity to witness this hidden environment in real time. Using a cinema grade Boxfish Luna ROV, the team set out in search of deepwater life uniquely adapted to these conditions. They also hope to encounter one of the rarest fish in the Great Lakes, the kiyi, a deepwater cisco now found only in Lake Superior, and never photographed alive in its natural habitat.

Showcasing Science in Action

Joining the dive is fisheries research biologist Shawn Sitar from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, bringing a critical scientific perspective to the mission. His research into the appearance of “zombie fish”, emaciated siscowet lake trout increasingly found across Lake Superior. Many of these fish are believed to originate from the deepest parts of the lake, raising new questions about what is happening in these largely unseen ecosystems.

Viewers can expect close encounters with species including:

Deepwater sculpin
Forests of colourful hydra
Mysis shrimp
Siscowet lake trout, a giant trout specially adapted to survive in cold, lightless depths
The kiyi, a deepwater cisco now found only in Lake Superior, and never photographed alive in its natural habitat.

And, as with any live expedition, the most compelling moments were often the unexpected.

"All Too Clear" Co-directors with their ROV Boxfish Luna — Co-directors Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick with “Kiyi”, the Boxfish Luna underwater drone they use to explore the Great Lakes. Photo Credit: Inspired Planet Productions.

Deepwater sculpin nests filmed by the Boxfish Luna, Credit of Inspired Planet Production

Cliff rock covered in hydra filmed by the Boxfish Luna, Credit of Inspired Planet Production

Underwater mountain filmed by the Boxfish Luna, Credit of Inspired Planet Production

Siscowet Trout filmed by the Boxfish Luna, Credit of Inspired Planet Production

Why Watch

The descent to Superior Maximus is a powerful reminder that the Great Lakes still hold vast, unexplored environments.

By going live, the project not only contributes to ongoing research but also brings audiences directly into the moment of discovery, connecting science, exploration, and storytelling in a truly immediate way.

This live dive forms part of Hidden Below: The Great Lakes, an ongoing effort to reveal the unseen freshwater world. Each expedition offers real-time insight into environments that are rarely accessed, connecting technology, science, and public engagement like never before.

How to Join

Date & Time: Planned for 6 June, 1:00 PM (local time)
Weather Window: 6–9 June (timing subject to conditions)
Where: Watch live on YouTube

Don’t miss this chance to explore the waters surrounding one of the world’s largest power plants live and see how Boxfish Luna is powering a new era of underwater exploration.