Tadpole (Small Submarine) Guide & Fragment Locations

Learn how to create the Tadpole (Small Submarine) in this guide. We cover its fragment locations, the required materials, the Tadpole Dock, modules & everything you need to build it.

What is the Tadpole?

Only Vehicle in Subnautica 2

At launch, the Tadpole is the only vehicle available in Subnautica 2. It allows for faster and easier underwater traversal, as well as protection against hostile creatures.

How to Get Tadpole (Tadpole Fragment Locations)

Locate 3 Tadpole Fragments

Unlocking the Tadpole will require locating and scanning 3 total Tadpole Fragments. By the third scan, the blueprint should automatically be unlocked.

Confirmed Tadpole Fragment Locations

Location 1	Location 2
Coordinates: -272549, 435139, -15053	Coordinates: -272549, 435139, -15053
Location 3	-
Coordinates: -272549, 435139, -15053	-

There are more Tadpole Fragments in other locations, but for the sake of simply unlocking the Tadpole Blueprint, here are three confirmed locations!

Build the Tadpole

Tadpole Recipe Materials
Titanium Ingot x2	System Chip x1
Glass x1	Power Cell x1

Requires Moonpool & Vehicle Fabricator

To craft the Tadpole, you will need both the Moonpool and the Vehicle Fabricator set up on your base. You will not be able to build the Tadpole without them.

Tool	Description
Moonpool	Moonpool of configurable size and shape. Allows entry/ exit of personnel and vehicles from a room [Recipe]: - Titanium x 5
Vehicle Fabricator	Atomically restructures raw materials into vehicles and chassis [Recipe]: - Titanium Ingot x 2 - Copper Ingot x 1 - Glass x 2

Better to Have Vehicle Dock Too

The Tadpole requires power to run. Although you can use batteries to do this, it's much easier to just have a Vehicle Dock in your base to make charging it easier.

Tool	Description
Tadpole Dock	Recharges vehicles while powered when habitat is powered [Recipe]: - Titanium Ingot x 2 - Silver Ingot x 1 - Copper Wire x 2

Tadpole Upgrades & Mods

Outfitting your Tadpole with Chassis and Mods increases its performance and provides new features to it. Same as the Tadpole itself, you will have to unlock each of their blueprints to craft them.

Install Chassis for Speed & Space

There are only two available Chassis in the game right now. The Scout Chassis will increase the overall speed of the Tadpole, while the Haul Chassis increases its storage and passenger capacity.

All Tadpole Chassis

Tool	Description
Scout Ray Chassis	Enhanced agility and speed chassis. Maximize acceleration, top speed, and turn rate [Recipe]: - Plasteel Ingot x 2 - Advanced Wiring Kit x 1 - Dedicated Core x 1 - Strong Acid x 1
Haul Chassis	Dockable passenger and cargo chassis for the Tadpole [Recipe]: - Titanium Ingot x 4 - Strontium x 3 - Enameled Glass x 3 - Dedicated Core x 1

Mods Offer Better Performance

Mods, on the other hand, provides different features for the Tadpole. They will require the use of a Modification Station in order to craft so they're more of a late-game addition to your vehicle.

All Tadpole Modules

Module	Description
Module Depth Mk 1	Extends safe diving depth to 450 meters. Without it, the hull takes continuous damage below 250 meters.
Strike Armor	Reduces incoming physical damage from attacks and collisions.
Engine Efficiency	Reduces power use by 20% per module. Stacks up to four times for a maximum 80% reduction.
Cavitation Muffler	Reduces vehicle noise to lower the chance of drawing large predators.
Photovoltaic Charger	Passively recharges the Tadpole's power cell in shallow, sunlit water during the day.

Tadpole Uses & Features

Faster Underwater Traversal

The Tadpole makes traversing underwater so much easier. It's way faster than just swimming and it negates the need to constantly have to find an Oxygen source.

Protection From Direct Attacks

When a sea creature attacks you while you're in the Tadpole, it takes the blunt of the damage. This can even save you from any one-hit attacks, including from Leviathans.

Can be Broken or Destroyed

However, you have to take note that your Tadpole can become broken or even destroyed. Make sure to always bring a Repair Tool with you at all times in case of emergency fixes.

An Oxygen Source

The Tadpole has a limitless supply of Oxygen as long as it has enough power. When exploring, you just have to hop back in the Tadpole to quickly replenish your Oxygen.

Offer Storage Options

Even at its base form, the Tadpole has a bit of storage that you can use to bring materials along with you. This can be further increased by using the Haul Chassis!

Related Articles

Recommended Guides

Walkthrough (Early to Late-Game)	Where to Go and What to Do Next	Tadpole Pens: How to Open the Locked Door
Plant Farming Guide	Cooking and Recipes Guide	Best Biomods
Best Tadpole Upgrades	Metal Farm Guide

Progression & Priorities
Early Game	Mid-Game	Endgame

Lists

All Leviathans	All Items List	Biomes & PoI List
Blackbox List	Recipe Data Cards (Blueprints)	Vehicle List
Buildings & Facilities List	Best Base Locations	Best Tools to Craft

Notable Items

Salt	Silver	Copper
Lead	Lucifer Rotsac	Conduit Crystals
Creature Enamel	Enameled Glass	Troilite
Celestine

Guides for Beginners

Multiplayer Guide	How to Eat Food (Digestion)	How to Craft Items
Drinking Water Guide	How to Craft Air Tank?	How to Get Basic Fins
Scanner Station Guide	How to Manage Your Oxygen?	Base Guide
Alien Ruins	How to Use Coordinates	Tadpole Guide
How to Get More Storage	How to Get a Rebreather	Bioscanner Guide
Night Survival Guide	How to Heal	Angel Comb Guide
How to Power Your Base	How to Recharge Batteries and Tools	How to Get the Repair Tool
World Tree Guide	Flashlight Guide	Strong Acid Guide
How to Get Heat Tolerance	Scanner Guide	How to Get Tadpole Depth Module Mk. 2
How to Get a Wakemaker	How to Get Fibrous Pulp	How to Get a Wiring Kit
How to Get Advanced Wiring Kit	How to Get the Entangled Power Cell	How to Refund Bases

Pre-Game Guides

Specs Requirements	New Game Features	Is There Crossplay?
Supported Devices	Update & Roadmap	How Long to Beat?
Can You Play Subnautica 2 on PS5 and PS4?	Is Subnautica 2 on Xbox?	Is Subnautica 2 on Steam?
Is Subnautica 2 on Switch?