Black boxes are Subnautica 2's primary collectible, scattered data recorders that flesh out the backstory of the planet and its previous inhabitants. Unlike story-critical PDA logs, black boxes are optional, but collecting them unlocks bonus lore entries, cosmetic rewards, and a completion percentage tracked in your PDA. There are 20 black boxes hidden across the map, ranging from shallow wrecks to deep precursor sites, and finding all of them is one of the game's most rewarding long-term goals.
Your PDA tracks collected black boxes in the Collectibles tab, showing a checklist with locations marked by biome. This lets you monitor progress and identify which biomes you have not fully explored. Black boxes do not appear on the map or Scanner Room by default; you must locate them through exploration, PDA hints, and environmental cues. Each black box emits a faint distress signal that becomes audible when you are within roughly 50 meters, a static-laden ping that grows clearer as you approach.
Because black boxes are scattered across all depth tiers, you cannot collect them all early. Plan a progressive collection strategy: gather shallow boxes during Act One, mid-depth boxes during Act Two, and deep boxes during Act Three when your vehicle and biomods are fully upgraded. Attempting a deep box before you are prepared is a common cause of death. Treat black box hunting as a parallel objective that rewards thorough exploration, not a rush to completion.
Black Boxes Overview and Tracking
Black boxes are Subnautica 2's primary collectible, scattered data recorders that flesh out the backstory of the planet and its previous inhabitants. Unlike story-critical PDA logs, black boxes are optional, but collecting them unlocks bonus lore entries, cosmetic rewards, and a completion percentage tracked in your PDA. There are 20 black boxes hidden across the map, ranging from shallow wrecks to deep precursor sites, and finding all of them is one of the game's most rewarding long-term goals.
Your PDA tracks collected black boxes in the Collectibles tab, showing a checklist with locations marked by biome. This lets you monitor progress and identify which biomes you have not fully explored. Black boxes do not appear on the map or Scanner Room by default; you must locate them through exploration, PDA hints, and environmental cues. Each black box emits a faint distress signal that becomes audible when you are within roughly 50 meters, a static-laden ping that grows clearer as you approach.
Because black boxes are scattered across all depth tiers, you cannot collect them all early. Plan a progressive collection strategy: gather shallow boxes during Act One, mid-depth boxes during Act Two, and deep boxes during Act Three when your vehicle and biomods are fully upgraded. Attempting a deep box before you are prepared is a common cause of death. Treat black box hunting as a parallel objective that rewards thorough exploration, not a rush to completion.
Shallow and Early-Game Black Boxes
The first black boxes are found in shallow biomes accessible from the start. Box 1 is located inside your starting lifepod's damaged section, unmissable during the opening sequence. Box 2 sits in a small wreck in the Shallow Twisty Bridges at roughly 30 meters; look for a damaged supply crate near a coral formation. Box 3 is in the Open Water Plains at 40 meters, inside a partially buried transport pod. These three are collectible with basic gear and a Seaglide, making them ideal early targets.
Boxes 4 and 5 require slightly more preparation. Box 4 is in the Lilypad Islands shelf at 50 meters, tucked inside a hollow lilypad stalk. You need a Survival Knife to cut through the stalk's outer layer. Box 5 is in a cave system beneath the Grassy Plateaus at 60 meters; the cave entrance is guarded by Sand Sharks, so approach with a vehicle or a Sonic Resonator. Both are manageable with a basic vehicle and reinforced dive suit, and they provide early lore context that enriches the story.
For shallow boxes, the main challenge is navigation, not survival. Use beacons to mark wrecks you find during normal exploration, and return with a Scanner to confirm black box locations. Listen for the distress signal ping, which is the most reliable indicator of proximity. Carry a waterproof container to store collected black box data, because each box transfers a data file to your PDA that occupies a small amount of storage until processed. Collecting the shallow boxes early builds your lore understanding and establishes the collection habit that serves you throughout the game.
| Box | Biome | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starting lifepod | 0m | Story-guaranteed |
| 2 | Shallow Twisty Bridges | 30m | In supply crate wreck |
| 3 | Open Water Plains | 40m | Buried transport pod |
| 4 | Lilypad Islands | 50m | Cut lilypad stalk |
| 5 | Grassy Plateaus cave | 60m | Sand Shark guarded |
Mid-Depth Black Boxes
Boxes 6 through 12 are located in mid-depth biomes from 100 to 250 meters, requiring a vehicle with upgraded hull and a reinforced dive suit. Box 6 is in the Twisted Bridges at roughly 150 meters, inside an abandoned research module. The module is accessible through a damaged airlock on its eastern side. Box 7 lies in the Underwater Islands at 180 meters, wedged inside a fallen debris chunk; watch for Bonesharks in this area. Box 8 is in the Bulb Zone at 200 meters, inside a wrecked transport vessel split into two halves.
Box 9 sits in the Deep Purple Vents edge at 170 meters, inside a damaged observation post. Approach from above to avoid the Chelicerate patrol. Box 10 is in the Thermal Spires at 220 meters, requiring thermal protection; it is inside a supply cache marked by a faint beacon. Box 11 rests in the Deep Lilypad Caves entrance at 240 meters, tucked behind a bioluminescent rock formation. Box 12 is in the Tree Spires at 200 meters, inside a hollow mineral column that you must cut open with a Survival Knife.
For mid-depth boxes, the primary challenges are predators and navigation. Use a vehicle with at least 300-meter crush depth and carry a Sonic Resonator or decoys for predator evasion. The Scanner Room helps locate wrecks, but the black box signal ping is your most reliable tool once you are close. Bring a Repair Tool because mid-depth wrecks often have damage that must be fixed to access interior compartments. Collect these boxes during Act Two when you are already exploring these biomes for story objectives, rather than making dedicated trips.
Deep and Endgame Black Boxes
Boxes 13 through 20 are the deepest and most dangerous collectibles, located from 300 to 450 meters in hostile endgame biomes. Box 13 is in the Crystal Caves upper shelf at 350 meters, inside a precursor cache. The cache requires a specific tool to open, gated by story progression. Box 14 is deeper in the Crystal Caves at 420 meters, near a Shadow Leviathan patrol route; collect it only with a fully upgraded vehicle and a pre-planned escape vector. Box 15 is in the Deep Lilypad Caves lower section at 320 meters, inside a collapsed habitat module.
Boxes 16 and 17 are in the Thermal Spires deep zone at 400 meters and beyond, near the lava boundary. These require a vehicle with 400-plus meter crush depth and tier-three biomods for safety. Box 18 is in a hidden precursor facility at 380 meters, accessible only after completing a story objective that unlocks its entrance. Box 19 is in the Void Edge at 350 meters along the map boundary, a risky location due to the Void Chelicerate; approach from inside the map and retreat immediately after collection.
Box 20, the final black box, is inside the main precursor facility at the climax of Act Three. It is collected automatically during the story sequence if you explore the facility thoroughly, so do not rush the final mission. Missing it means returning to the facility after the story, which is possible but dangerous. For all deep boxes, prioritize safety over speed: scan patrol routes, carry multiple decoys, and never attempt a deep box without a charged escape vehicle docked nearby. Completing the full set of 20 black boxes unlocks a special lore entry that ties together the game's narrative threads and awards a unique cosmetic, making the effort worthwhile for dedicated players.