If you’ve spent the last few nights diving through the frozen alien oceans of Subnautica Below Zero for your 2026 replay, you’ve probably come across vague mentions of the crashed Mercury 2 shuttle. Wondering where is Mercury 2 in Subnautica Below Zero? You’re not alone. This small, heavily damaged craft holds some of the most useful early-to-mid game loot in the entire game, but it’s tucked away in a spot most players accidentally glide past without noticing. I’ve put together this full guide after three separate playthroughs this year to make your search as painless as possible.
Exact Coordinates for Where is Mercury 2 in Subnautica Below Zero (2026 Updated)
The Mercury 2 wreck is located in a small cave system on the border of the Arctic Kelp Forest and Twisty Bridges biomes, with the exact coordinates of -309, -118, 742. If you’re starting from the default drop pod, head southwest for roughly 800 meters, staying between 100 and 150 meters of depth as you go. You’ll see a break in the tall kelp stalks leading to a narrow, dark cave mouth partially hidden by coral growths. Note that the coordinates are the same across all 2026 game patches, so you don’t have to worry about them shifting if you’re playing on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox.
It’s easy to miss the cave entrance if you’re moving too fast, so slow down once you see groups of Arctic Peeper and Bladderfish swimming near rocky outcroppings. If you hit the Glacial Basin edge or drop below 200 meters, you’ve gone too far, so turn back and adjust your depth slightly higher. The cave opens up quickly after you swim 5 meters inside, so you don’t have to worry about getting stuck in tight spaces.
Gear You’ll Need to Safely Reach Mercury 2 in 2026 Playthroughs
You don’t need high-tier late-game gear to reach the Mercury 2 wreck, which is part of why it’s such a valuable stop early in your run. I first reached it just three hours into my first 2026 playthrough with only basic equipment, and I didn’t run into any major issues. The only items you’ll need to bring are:
You can skip bringing a Stun Rifle if you don’t have one yet, but keep an eye out for the two Crash Fish that nest just inside the cave entrance. They’ll only charge if you get within 3 meters of their nests, so you can easily swim around them if you stay alert. Once you have all that gear, you’re ready to head straight for Mercury 2 without any unnecessary detours.
All Loot and Resources You Can Collect From Mercury 2
Mercury 2 is one of the few early-game wrecks that gives you high-tier resources without forcing you to fight dangerous creatures, which makes it well worth the trip. The most valuable item you’ll find here is the Parallel Processing Unit blueprint, which you need to build the Seatruck later in the game. Grabbing this blueprint early will save you from having to search other more dangerous wrecks later on.
Other useful items you’ll find scattered around the wreck include 3 fully charged batteries, 2 titanium ingots, a first aid kit, and four nutrient blocks if you’re running low on food. There’s also a data log on the pilot’s seat that gives more backstory on the Alterra missions that took place on 4546B before your arrival, if you’re interested in the game’s lore. Make sure you scan every part of the wreck before you leave, there are a few small debris pieces that give you extra blueprints for interior decor if you’re building a base nearby. If you brought the repair tool to fix the side panel, you’ll also find a spare Thermal Blade in the hidden storage compartment, which is perfect for melting ice blocks in later Glacial Basin exploration.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Searching for Mercury 2
I made almost every possible mistake when I first searched for this wreck in my 2026 playthrough, so I’ve narrowed down the most common issues players run into to save you the hassle. First, don’t go too deep. A lot of players assume the wreck is in a deeper cave system, but if you drop below 200 meters you’re already past the correct location. Don’t confuse the Mercury 2 wreck with the smaller scattered shuttle debris you find in the Twisty Bridges, those are just small parts that don’t have any of the high-tier loot or blueprints.
Another common mistake is forgetting to bring a scanner. I did this on my first run and had to swim all the way back to my base to grab it, wasting almost 20 minutes of playtime. If you’re still stuck figuring out where is mercury 2 in subnautica below zero after following the coordinate guide, try pulling up your in-game map and looking for the small dark spot on the edge of the Arctic Kelp Forest biome, that’s the cave entrance. Always mark the wreck’s location with a beacon once you find it, you’ll likely come back a few times to grab any leftover resources, or use it as a fast travel point if you have a beacon mod installed.
By now you should have all the info you need to track down the wreck without wasting hours of aimless searching. Whether you’re playing through Subnautica Below Zero for the first time in 2026 or doing a 100% completion run, knowing where is Mercury 2 in Subnautica Below Zero will give you a huge leg up on your early game progression. Don’t forget to grab that Parallel Processing Unit before you leave, it will save you from having to hunt for other blueprints later on. If you find any extra hidden loot spots around the wreck that I missed, drop a comment below to let other readers know.
