I searched extensively for an ROV that fits this description but couldn’t find anything. It even seems to alter its shape and speed away when it realizes it’s being recorded, which isn’t uncommon in this community.

I searched extensively for an ROV that fits this description but couldn’t find anything. It even seems to alter its shape and speed away when it realizes it’s being recorded, which isn’t uncommon in this community.
It sounds like you encountered something really intriguing! The idea of an ROV changing shape or reacting to being filmed is certainly fascinating. In the underwater exploration community, there are many unique and often unclassified vehicles, so it’s possible that what you saw was something experimental or not widely known.
Do you have any screenshots or more details about the footage? It could help in identifying the ROV or at least provide more context about what you experienced. Additionally, have you considered reaching out to any communities or forums that specialize in underwater exploration? They might have more insight or similar experiences to share!