The short answer
Scan three Tadpoles, then prepare a Moonpool, Tadpole Dock and Vehicle Fabricator. Leave clear space beneath the base; the dock extends downward.
Before you start
- A Scanner, oxygen upgrades and base crafting facilities.
- A powered vehicle supplies oxygen, but its current depth rating still limits the route.
Start with the shallower fragment options
Check the wrecked Tadpole northwest of the Old Habitat, and the ravine around 280 m northeast of the Lifepod at a 75° bearing. A deeper fragment lies among colony wreckage by the abyssal-crater edge northeast of the Lifepod. Treat the third as a separate prepared dive.
Sources for this section
Separate the dock from the vehicle budget
After installing the dock facilities, the Tadpole itself costs 2 Titanium Ingots, 1 Glass, 1 System Chip and 1 Power Cell. The Power Cell requires Strong Acid and Salt, so those materials are a separate preparation step.
Carry a spare Power Cell and a Repair Tool. Fit discovered modules through the top upgrade compartment; read each module’s stacking text rather than assuming duplicates work.
Sources for this section
Apply the current oxygen and sharing rules
Hotfix 1 fixes oxygen replenishment for players attached to a Tadpole or Haul. Inventory sharing is blocked while riding a Tadpole. Stop in a suitable location and leave the vehicle before trying to trade.
Sources for this section
Your checklist
0 of 3 ready · Stored only while this page is open.
Research checked 2026-09-12. This is a source-based guide; Kingy has not independently play-tested these steps. Evidence and coverage.