On the mostly ocean-covered Planet 4546B, there are is a ton of biodiversity between its many different ecosystems. Each Underwater Biome is an alien locale ripe for harvesting resources yet also potentially full of danger.
There is no reward without risk in Subnautica: Below Zero, however, knowledge of what each biome holds in terms of resources as well as threats can be greatly helpful to players exploring this frigid and unforgiving world. There are 10 Underwater Biomes to discover in the game, all of which players should visit at least once in their first playthrough.
Arctic
The frigid waters of the Arctic are divided into eastern and western segments with slight variations in ecology, though both are rich in resources and marine life.
East Arctic Plants
- Blue Scrub Bush
- Creepvine
- Fevered Pepper Tree
- Frost Anemone
- Frost Vase Plant
- Honeycomb Fungus
- Redwort
- Violet Beau
East Arctic Creatures
- Arctic Peeper
- Arctic Ray
- Boomerang
- Chelicerate
- Glow Whale
- Hoopfish
- Pengling
- Pengwing
- Pinnacarid
- Rockgrub
- Titan Holefish
East Arctic Coral
- None
East Arctic Resources
- Copper Ore
- Diamond
- Fevered Pepper
- Galena Outcrop
- Gold
- Ion Cube
- Large Copper Deposit
- Large Titanium Deposit
- Large Quartz Deposit
- Lead
- Limestone Outcrop
- Lithium
- Magnetite
- Pengwing Egg
- Ruby
- Snowball
- Titan Holefish Egg
- Titanium
West Arctic Plants
- Creepvine
- Fevered Pepper Tree
- Hardy Cave Bush
- Honeycomb Fungus
- Pouch Bulb
- Redwort
- Thermal Lily
- Violet Beau
- Violet Snowcone
West Arctic Creatures
- Arctic Peeper
- Arctic Ray
- Bladderfish
- Boomerang
- Eye Jelly
- Hoopfish
- Pengling
- Pengwing
- Pinnacarid
- Rockgrub
- Titan Holefish
West Arctic Coral
- None
West Arctic Resources
- Blue Trivavle Egg
- Copper Ore
- Creepvine Sample
- Diamond
- Fevered Pepper
- Gold
- Ion Cube
- Large Copper Deposit
- Large Titanium Deposit
- Large Quartz Deposit
- Limestone Outcrop
- Magnetite
- Pengwing Egg
- Silver Ore
- Snowball
- Titanium
- Titan Holefish Egg
Sparse Arctic
Found bordering Arctic biomes, Sparse Arctic ones are similar, though, as one might guess, less populated and far less rich in most resources. However, the rare Forest Anemone can be found here, as can its highly delicious fruit, which players should definitely collect while they are here.
Sparse Arctic Plants
- Frost Anemone
Sparse Arctic Creatures
- Arctic Peeper
- Brinewing
- Pengwing
- Symbiote
- Titan Holefish
Sparse Arctic Coral
- None
Sparse Arctic Resources
- Arctic Ray Egg
- Brinewing Egg
- Copper Ore
- Limestone Outcrop
- Quartz
- Salt Deposit
- Snowball
- Titanium
Arctic Kelp Forest
This undersea forest can make one feel sheltered when compared to the open water that often houses colossal and terrifying Leviathans. Most of the creatures here are docile, with some even being edible, so be sure to grab a snack as one harvests the many resources found in the Arctic Kelp Forest.
Arctic Kelp Forest Plants
- Creepvine
- Oxygen Plant
- Redwort
- Violet Beau
Arctic Kelp Forest Creatures
- Arctic Peeper
- Boomerang
- Pengling
- Pengwing
- Pinnacarid
- Sea Monkey
Arctic Kelp Forest Coral
- None
Arctic Kelp Forest Resources
- Argentite Outcrop
- Copper Ore
- Creepvine Sample
- Creepvine Seed Cluster
- Galena Outcrop
- Lead
- Limestone Outcrop
- Pengwing Egg
- Pinnacarid Egg
- Quartz
- Silver Ore
- Titanium
Lilypad Islands
This fascinating and beautiful location's most notable features are the great chunks of stone that have been pulled up by the mighty roots of the colossal lilypads on the surface that give this biome its name. Lifeforms of all kinds can be found here, in the Main Lilypad Islands biome, one can find the ever-useful Table Coral.
In some of these rocks, and the trenches in the seafloor, there is a sub-biome called the Lilypad Island Caves, which have mini-ecosystems within the larger Main Lilypad Island biome.
Main Lilypad Islands Plants
- Antennae Plant
- Blooming Raindrops
- Green Ternion
- Hardy Cave Bush
- Lilypad
- Mace Plant
- Oxygen Plant
- Radiant Sieve Coral
- Redwort
- Spotted Dockleaf
- Spotted Reeds
- Tongue Plant
- Violet Beau
Main Lilypad Islands Creatures
- Arrow Ray
- Bladderfish
- Brute Shark
- Feather Fish
- Glow Whale
- Lily Paddler
- Noot Fish
- Sea Monkey
- Spinner Fish
- Squidshark
Main Lilypad Islands Coral
- Jordi's Tung
- Table Coral
Main Lilypad Islands Resources
- Argentite Outcrop
- Copper Ore
- Galena Outcrop
- Large Silver Deposit
- Large Titanium Deposit
- Lead
- Limestone Outcrop
- Metal Salvage
- Quartz
- Silver Ore
- Titanium
Lilypad Island Caves Plants
- Antennae Plant
- Gel Sack
- Lilypad
- Purple Cattail
- Radiant Sieve Coral
- Ribbon Plant
Lilypad Island Caves Creatures
- Bladderfish
Lilypad Island Caves Coral
- None
Lilypad Island Caves Resources
- Calaverite Outcrop
- Gel Sack
- Glow Whale Egg
- Gold
- Ribbon Plant
- Titanium
Purple Vents
Caustic yet gorgeous, the Purple Vents span a jagged yellow seafloor covered in thermal jets that eject super-heated purple matter that can burn the player if they get too close. While plant life is sparse here, there are some great resources to be gathered, though be wary of the large predators that prowl these open waters.
Purple Vents Plants
- Ragged Pitcher Plant
- Sulfur Plant
Purple Vents Creatures
- Chelicerate
- Crashfish
- Cryptosuchus
- Feather Fish
Purple Vents Coral
- None
Purple Vents Resources
- Crashfish Egg
- Crystalline Sulfur
- Lithium
- Metal Salvage
- Quartz
- Salt Deposit
Shallow Twisty Bridges
This shallow area covered in sprawling and undulating rock formations is a relatively safe place to go about gathering resources and enjoying pleasant views. One can find a few different kinds of coral here, though not the much sought-after Table Coral.
Shallow Twisty Bridges Plants
- Blue Barnacles
- Blue Scrub Bush
- Bulb Stalk Plant
- Bullseye Shroom
- Crescent Moon Coral
- Double Lung Plant
- Ribbon Plant
- Scaly Maw Anemone
- Luna Plant
- Spotted Reeds
- Twisted Mandrake
- Violet Beau
Shallow Twisty Bridges Creatures
- Arctic Peeper
- Bladderfish
- Boomerang
- Hoopfish
Shallow Twisty Bridges Coral
- Coral Bridges
- Pink Narrowleaf
- Shelf Coral
Shallow Twisty Bridges Resources
- Copper Ore
- Galena Outcrop
- Gold
- Lead
- Limestone Outcrop
- Quartz
- Ribbon Plant
- Silver Ore
- Titanium
Twisty Bridges
As one can probably glean from the name of this biome, the Twisty Bridges are much like the Shallow Twisty Bridges biome, though has an even greater amount of biodiversity across all kinds of organisms. The amount of life packed into the lower canyons of the Twisty Bridges can offer up bountiful harvests for curious divers, including some Table Coral.
Twisty Bridges Plants
- Blue Barnacles
- Crescent Moon Coral
- Oxygen Plant
- Redwort
- Ribbon Plant
- Scaly Maw Anemone
- Sulfur Plant
- Trinity Barnacle
- Twisted Mandrake
Twisty Bridges Creatures
- Arctic Peeper
- Arctic Ray
- Bladderfish
- Boomerang
- Brute Shark
- Crashfish
- Hoopfish
Twisty Bridges Coral
- Coral Bridges
- Pink Narrowleaf
- Table Coral
- Thermal Zone Coral Shelf Plate
- Shelf Coral
Twisty Bridges Resources
- Copper Ore
- Crashfish Egg
- Crystalline Sulfur
- Galena Outcrop
- Lead
- Limestone Outcrop
- Quartz
- Salt Deposit
- Silver Ore
- Table Coral Sample
- Titanium
Thermal Spires
Great vents that eject dark and cloudy sediment into the water are the most notable features of the Thermal Spires biome. This hot location is home to some lesser-seen creatures and plants, so be sure to check this area out at some point.
Thermal Spires Plants
- Blooming Raindrops
- Hardy Cave Bush
- Radiant Sieve Coral
- Reaper's Wineglass
- Redwort
- Spotted Reeds
- Tornado Plates
- Trinity Barnacle
- Violet Beau
Thermal Spires Creatures
- Arctic Peeper
- Boomerang
- Cryptosuchus
- Feather Fish
- Rock Puncher
Thermal Spires Coral
- Glowing Coral Shelf
- Thermal Zone Coral Shelf Plate
- Tree Spires Purple Coral
Thermal Spires Resources
- Argentite Outcrop
- Calaverite Outcrop
- Copper Ore
- Diamond
- Galena Outcrop
- Gold
- Lead
- Limestone Outcrop
- Lithium
- Metal Salvage
- Rock
- Silver Ore
- Titanium
Tree Spires
Covered in tree-like hydrothermal vents, the Tree Spires biome looks a bit like a flooded forest. In these waters, be wary, as there are plenty of Leviathan swimming around, though, thankfully only the Chelicerate variety is dangerous. This region also possesses two sub-biomes: the Tree Spire Fissure and the central Large Spire located in the middle of this undersea forest.
Main Tree Spires Plants
- Blooming Raindrops
- Bulb Stalk Plant
- Cliff Lantern
- Reaper's Wineglass
- Redwort
- Spiral Plant
- Tornado Plates
Main Tree Spires Creatures
- Arrow Ray
- Brute Shark
- Chelicerate
- Feather Fish (Red)
- Hoopfish
- Juvenile Ventgarden
- Ventgarden
Main Tree Spires Coral
- Glowing Coral Shelf
- Tree Spires Purple Coral
Main Tree Spires Resources
- Argentite Outcrop
- Large Copper Deposit
- Large Quartz Deposit
- Large Titanium Deposit
- Silver Ore
- Spiral Plant Clipping
- Titanium
Tree Spires Fissure Plants
- Blooming Raindrops
- Reaper's Wineglass
Tree Spires Fissure Creatures
- Arrow Ray
- Discus Fish
- Triops
Tree Spires Fissure Coral
- Glowing Coral Shelf
- Tree Spires Purple Coral
Tree Spires Fissure Resources
- Calaverite Outcrop
- Diamond
- Gold
- Ion Cube
- Large Diamond Deposit
- Lithium
- Ruby
- Titanium
- Uraninite Crystal
Large Tree Spire Plants
- Blooming Raindrops
- Cliff Lantern
- Reaper's Wineglass
- Tornado Plates
Large Tree Spire Creatures
- Feather Fish (Red)
- Lily Paddler
Large Tree Spire Coral
- Glowing Coral Shelf
- Tree Spires Purple Coral
Large Tree Spire Resources
- Ruby
World Edge
At the edge of the ocean, there is a drop-off before one plunges into the abyss. These undersea cliffs are the World Edge, beyond which lies nothing except a watery void and a trio of terrifying Chelicerate Leviathans that are larger and paler than their counterparts met higher up. These creatures will spawn upon the player's location and will chase them down relentlessly until they are dead or they escape back above the World Edge into more shallow waters.
There are no resources, plants, creatures, or coral to find here except a few outcroppings upon the cliffs leading down into the horrible depths. This lack of potential food, combined with the partially decomposing appearance of the Void Chelicerates, has made many people wonder if these Leviathan are alive or if they are dead Chelicerates possessed by something unknown...
World Edge Plants
- None
World Edge Creatures
- Void Chelicerate (3)
World Edge Coral
- None
World Edge Resources
- Large Copper Deposit
- Large Titanium Deposit
- Large Quartz Deposit