Ocean Presence Technologies (OPT), based in Santa Cruz, California, is owned and managed by Robert Aston, a pioneer in underwater imaging, telepresence, and real‑time ocean observation. With more than 25 years of experience developing and manufacturing underwater high‑definition camera systems—and over 40 years as an underwater photographer, videographer, and scuba diver—Aston has dedicated his career to expanding human access to the ocean through technology.
Aston’s background spans computer hardware, graphics, video engineering, networking, software design, and large‑scale system management. This multidisciplinary foundation led to the creation of OPT’s long‑duration, internet‑connected underwater camera systems, originally developed through the Manta Network. These systems provide continuous, diver‑free monitoring of marine environments, enabling biologists, educators, and the public to observe underwater ecosystems without disturbance.
As Executive Director of the nonprofit Manta Network, Aston has spent decades advancing manta ray research, conservation, and public awareness. His first environmental article, Ray of Hope, was published in 2003 in Asian Diver and World Environment magazines, marking the beginning of formal efforts to build a global educational and research platform dedicated to manta rays and ocean conservation. The Manta Network was established as an independent environmental organization separate from On‑the‑Edge Magazine, another publication founded by Aston. The manta website was designed to support research, education, and continuous underwater video monitoring—an early precursor to today’s telepresence systems.