Subnautica 2: How to Swim Faster — Fins, Wakemaker & Speed Biomods

TL;DR

• Craft Basic Fins first — the blueprint is unlocked by default and they give an immediate speed boost.
• Basic Fins are made from 2x Rubber, which comes from Lucifer Rotsac plants near your Lifepod.
• Upgrade to Improved Fins at the Fabricator for even more speed.
• The Wakemaker is a handheld tool that greatly increases swim speed — scan 3 fragments to unlock it.
• Passive speed Biomods give always-on swimming boosts once unlocked.
• The Dash active Biomod gives a burst of speed to escape predators.

Your default swim speed in Subnautica 2 is slow. That is intentional — the ocean is supposed to feel large and intimidating. But slow movement means less oxygen efficiency, more danger from predators, and longer time between your base and the resources you need.

The good news is there are several ways to go faster, and the first one is available right from the start. This guide covers every method to increase your swim speed in Subnautica 2, from the first pair of fins you craft to the Biomods you unlock later in the game.

Step 1: Craft Basic Fins — Do This Immediately

Basic Fins are the fastest and easiest speed upgrade in the game. The blueprint is already unlocked when you start — you do not need to scan anything. Just gather the materials and craft them at the Fabricator.

Basic Fins recipe: 2x Rubber → craft at Fabricator

How to Craft Rubber in Subnautica 2

Rubber is made from Lucifer Rotsac, a plant you can find right near your Lifepod. Look for plants with a glowing orange center on the seabed. Once you know what you are looking for, you will realize they are everywhere. You do not need any tool to harvest them — just swim up and collect.

Rubber recipe: 2x Lucifer Rotsac → craft at Fabricator → 1x Rubber

You need 2x Rubber to make Basic Fins, which means you need 4x Lucifer Rotsac total. A quick sweep of the seafloor around your Lifepod should get you everything you need in one dive.

Once crafted, equip the Basic Fins in your equipment slots. They give you a noticeable speed boost immediately and make catching fish, exploring coral domes, and covering distance much easier from the very first hour.

Step 2: Upgrade to Improved Fins

Once you are past the basics, the next upgrade is Improved Fins. These are crafted at the Fabricator and push your swim speed higher than the Basic Fins. You need to unlock the blueprint first — keep scanning equipment fragments as you explore and it will become available as you progress.

Improved Fins are a straightforward upgrade. When you have the blueprint and materials, craft them and swap out your Basic Fins. There is no reason to keep using the starter version once Improved Fins are available.

Step 3: Get the Wakemaker — The Biggest Early Speed Upgrade

The Wakemaker is a pair of handheld tools that greatly increases your swimming speed when equipped. It is the most significant movement upgrade in the early game and something you should work toward as soon as possible after getting your fins sorted.

Unlike fins, the Wakemaker needs to be unlocked by scanning fragments. You need to find and scan 3 Wakemaker fragments before the blueprint becomes available.

Where to Find Wakemaker Blueprint Fragments

Fragment 1: Head to your compass and face N-NW (between bearing 330 and 345). Swim approximately 95 meters in that direction. Look down near an orange coral formation in the shallow waters biome. You will spot broken metal containers on the seafloor. The first Wakemaker fragment is inside one of those containers.

Fragment 2: After finding Fragment 1, look for additional broken containers and scannable wreckage in the same general area. Continue searching outward from that first location.

Fragment 3: Return to the area near Fragment 1. Turn your camera to the 240 bearing marker (next to the South symbol on your compass) and swim roughly 20 meters. Look down for a crevice in the seafloor. Swim into the crevice and descend to find the third Wakemaker fragment inside another metal box.

Wakemaker fragments can also be found at Camp One, roughly 250 meters NNE of the Lifepod, if you are having trouble finding them in the first locations.

How to Craft the Wakemaker

Once all 3 fragments are scanned, the blueprint unlocks. Head to any Fabricator to craft it.

Wakemaker recipe:

• 1x Silver
• 1x Wiring Kit
• 1x Grease
• 1x Basic Battery

Where to find Silver: Silver is in caves located about 200 meters north of your Lifepod. Look for caves lit with luminescent, colorful fauna. Small orange plants called Pent often grow near the cave entrances — use them as a landmark.

How to craft Grease: Grease is made from 1x Lucifer Rotsac at the Fabricator — the same plant used for Rubber. There is also an alternate recipe using 2x Halfmoon fish once you have handled one.

How to craft a Wiring Kit: 1x Silver and 1x Copper Wire (Copper Wire is made from 2x Copper) at the Fabricator.

The Wakemaker runs on Basic Battery charges. Every time you use it, it drains a little power. To recharge it, place a charged Basic Battery in your inventory and press the reload key (R on PC). The Wakemaker swaps the depleted battery for the charged one automatically. Always carry a spare battery on long exploration runs.

Need Copper for the battery and Wiring Kit? Check our guide on where to find Copper in Subnautica 2.

Step 4: Unlock Speed Biomods for Passive Boosts

Biomods are a separate progression system in Subnautica 2. They come in two types — Active (triggered by input) and Passive (always on). Several Passive Biomods directly increase your swimming speed without you having to do anything.

Passive speed Biomods include abilities like swimming faster when close to the seafloor or underwater surfaces, and bonuses when entering underwater currents. These stack on top of your fins and Wakemaker, meaning your total speed gets higher the more you invest in mobility upgrades.

Biomods are unlocked using Adaptation Points (AP), which you earn by scanning new biomes, fauna, and architecture. The more you explore and scan, the more AP you accumulate and the more Biomods you can unlock. Passive Biomods are equipped in a separate panel from Active ones, so they never compete for the same slots.

For a broader overview of how to unlock and equip Biomods, check our guide on how to unlock blueprints and crafting recipes in Subnautica 2.

Step 5: Use the Dash Biomod for Burst Speed

The Dash Biomod is an Active ability that gives you a short, sharp burst of speed in any direction. It has a cooldown between uses. It will not make you faster overall the way fins or the Wakemaker do, but it is the best tool for escaping predators quickly.

When a creature locks onto you and closes in fast, Dash gets you out of the attack cone before it can connect. For deep ocean exploration where aggressive wildlife is much more common, this is one of the most useful active abilities in the game.

Dash is unlocked through the Biomod system using Adaptation Points earned through scanning.

Other Passive Speed Biomods Worth Knowing

Beyond the basic swim speed buff, several other Passive Biomods improve your movement in specific situations:

• Current boost — Entering an underwater current temporarily increases your move speed significantly. Useful for navigating zones where currents are common.
• Seafloor proximity speed — Swim faster when close to the seafloor or underwater surfaces. Handy for cave exploration and tight terrain.
• Reduced oxygen consumption in currents — Not a speed buff directly, but lets you use current speed bonuses longer without worrying about oxygen.

Most early progression in the Biomod system goes into the passive panel because swim speed and oxygen upgrades open new biomes faster than tools alone. Prioritize these early.

Summary: Best Order to Get Speed Upgrades

1. Basic Fins — Craft immediately. Blueprint is already unlocked. 4x Lucifer Rotsac is all you need.
2. Wakemaker — Scan 3 fragments (95m N-NW of Lifepod area). Craft with Silver, Wiring Kit, Grease, and Basic Battery.
3. Improved Fins — Upgrade from Basic Fins once the blueprint is available.
4. Passive Speed Biomods — Unlock with Adaptation Points earned through scanning biomes and creatures.
5. Dash Active Biomod — Unlock for burst movement and predator escape.

Quick Tips for Moving Faster in Subnautica 2

• Always have fins equipped. They only help if they are actually in your equipment slot, not sitting in your inventory.
• Carry spare Basic Batteries for the Wakemaker. Running out of charge mid-dive slows you right back down to default speed.
• Use underwater currents. These visible blue flowing tunnels naturally push you faster. Swim with them, not against them, when traveling long distances.
• Scan everything to earn Adaptation Points. More AP means more Biomed unlocks, which means better passive speed over time.
• Craft the Air Bladder early too. It does not increase swim speed, but it rapidly gets you to the surface when oxygen runs low, which matters just as much for survival.

More Early Game Guides for Subnautica 2

Moving faster is one piece of the puzzle. Here is what else to work on early:

• Best early food sources in Subnautica 2 — Stay fed without wasting inventory space.
• How to craft the Scanner — Your most important early tool for unlocking blueprints.
• How to unlock blueprints and crafting recipes — Everything about the progression system.
• Best early upgrades and progression path — What to prioritize as you move through the game.
• How to get the Flashlight blueprint — Essential for caves and dark water.
• Where to find Copper in Subnautica 2 — A key resource for batteries and wiring.
• How to make water in Subnautica 2 — Stay hydrated on long dives.
• Subnautica 2 multiplayer co-op guide — Explore with up to three other players.
• Subnautica 2 beginner tips and tricks — A full survival guide for new players.
• Subnautica 2 PC requirements — Check if your setup is ready.
• Subnautica 2 release date, platforms, and price — Everything about where to play.

Pick up Subnautica 2 on Steam or through Xbox Game Preview to jump in during Early Access.