In Subnautica 2, you can’t do without the Tadpole—that’s a fact. But sooner or later, the moment comes when the little apparatus becomes cramped: either you can’t reach the tools, or you can’t squeeze through a crevice. You have to climb out and swim yourself. In open water, you’re a target. Jellyfish are fine, but the local predators… In short, the fins need to be upgraded first. I’m talking about the Improved Fins.
Fortunately, the recipe doesn’t require rare resources. The problem is finding three fragments to scan and opening the blueprint in the Fabricator. The developers have scattered them generously across the seabed: there are more than three scans, so if you’ve already explored the map, you might already have a couple. But for a quick start, there’s a bundle of three fragments within a hundred meters of each other. The easiest and most accessible ones are listed below.
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Where to find Improved Fins blueprint in Subnautica 2?
Let’s start with the eastern direction. The first fragment is 1,300 meters due east of the Escape Pod, at a depth of about 160 meters. If you’ve already unlocked the Alien Ruins location, you’ll recognize this spot—the fragment is located right on that abandoned base. Landmark: a rope hangs over the cliff from the edge of the base, leading to the research tables. The fins are by the tables. You can’t miss it.
The second fragment is 1,416 meters east-southeast (azimuth 104 degrees) from the capsule, at a depth of 295 meters. This one is more interesting. The fragment is hidden under a rock structure with protruding needles—it’s visible south-southeast (160 degrees) from the Ruins. Under the rock is what appears to be an open cave. The fins are lying on the floor next to the Rebreather and the Ruby 2 Black Box. The story will eventually lead you to this crate, so it’s hard to miss. But be careful: there are Needleshooters floating around the area.
The third one is practically above the second. Coordinates: 1360 meters east-southeast (100 degrees), depth 207 meters. If the first scan was in the cave beneath the Needleshooter’s Lair, then this one is at the top of the same Lair. The fins are leaning against a storage container, lying right on the research table. And again, beware of Needleshooters. They’re clearly not happy with your excursions here.
Crafting Improved Fins in Subnautica 2 and resources
Crafting Improved Fins is a mixed bag. For some players, it’s a piece of cake, while for others, it’s a bit of a puzzle. It all depends on what’s already lying around in your inventory. You’ll need two workbenches: a regular Fabricator and a Recycler. They’re essential.
Resources for creating upgraded fins
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1x Basic fins (the same ones you started with)
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1x Mesh Fiber
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2x Conductive Crystal
Basic fins are the base. You crafted them back in the prologue, so the only problem is the rest.
Mesh Fiber is made from Fiber (scattered in several places) and Concentrated Acid. Acid, by the way, is obtained exclusively in a Refiner. So, without this device, you can’t do it without one.
Conductive Crystal is a bit more complicated. It’s obtained at the Power Plant, which is located in the Alien Ruins zone. The landmark is the large domed structure just beyond the Observatory. Swim there and search for crystals.
Once you have all the components, run to the Fabricator. The main thing is that it’s fully functional (broken ones also occur in Subnautica 2, but that’s a different story). Press the button and voila, the legs are in action.
Improved Fins characteristics speed test
The advantage of this upgrade lies in pure dynamics. Enthusiasts have already thoroughly dissected the game build (Early Access, April-May 2025 patch) and released precise measurements. Improved fins boost your horizontal speed by a solid 28-32%. Vertical thrust increases more modestly, at around 18-20%. Near your home capsule, you’re unlikely to notice this increase. On a long, 800-1000-meter dash to the desired biome, saving seconds can make all the difference. Especially when the vicious Needler is on your tail—every percent of efficiency literally means the difference between a successful swim and a loading screen.
At the same time, a number of basic mechanics remain completely untouched. What you definitely shouldn’t expect from advanced equipment:
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Turning radius. Underwater maneuverability is completely identical to the stock version.
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Oxygen consumption. Fins have no effect whatsoever on how quickly your lungs empty. If you want to breathe longer, consider a rebreather and high-capacity tanks.
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Acoustics. Local leviathans won’t react any more aggressively to you, as the noise level while swimming is locked at standard values.
And here comes the key assembly detail, which newbies usually learn about after the fact (see the last line of the table). The manufacturer won’t give you a second, better pair of boots. They’ll use your old fins as a required component for crafting new ones. This process cannot be reversed. The game doesn’t have a separate slot for “spare” gear, so if for some reason you suddenly need your stock set again, you’ll have to farm resources and craft everything from scratch.
Right now, this is the final stage of upgrading your last gear. There’s nothing better in the game yet. But Subnautica 2 is still in Early Access. The developers can add new upgrades at any time. We’ll keep our finger on the pulse.
You might be interested in: Console Commands in Subnautica 2.
