Underwater Labs Guide

Underwater Labs are procedurally generated monuments located on the ocean floor around the map. Unlike surface monuments, their locations are not marked on the map, making them harder to find but also less contested by other players.

Locating methods: 1. Look for bubbles rising to the ocean surface. Underwater Labs produce visible bubble columns that can be spotted from a boat. Drive along the coastline in a motorboat and scan the water for these telltale signs. 2. Use a submarine with the built-in sonar display. The sonar pings show large structures on the ocean floor, making it easy to identify lab locations. 3. Check the CCTV camera codes. Some Underwater Labs have cameras that can be viewed from a Computer Station in your base. Codes like YOURLAB1 through YOURLAB4 may reveal active labs. 4. Dive with a Diving Tank and fins along the continental shelf. Labs spawn at moderate depths (20-60 meters), usually within 2-3 grid squares of the coastline.

Each server generates 2-4 Underwater Labs at map creation. Their locations remain fixed for the entire wipe cycle. Once you find one, mark its coordinates on your map for repeated visits. Labs are spread around the map perimeter, so check all coastlines.

Approach strategy: Use a submarine for the safest approach. Park the sub near the lab entrance and enter through the moonpool (an open water entry point at the bottom of the lab). If using diving equipment instead, park your boat on the surface above the lab and dive straight down. Always bring a spare Diving Tank in case your primary runs low.

Surviving underwater requires proper equipment. Without it, you take drowning damage and die within 30-40 seconds of submersion.

Diving Tank: Provides approximately 10 minutes of underwater breathing. Found in fishing village loot, underwater loot crates, or craftable at Workbench Level 1 (requires 200 metal fragments, 50 HQM). Equip it in your chest armor slot. Monitor the oxygen meter on your HUD -- when it approaches zero, surface immediately or enter a lab moonpool.

Diving Fins: Increase swimming speed by approximately 50 percent. Found at fishing villages or craftable. Equip in the boot slot. Without fins, underwater movement is painfully slow and burns more oxygen due to longer travel times.

Diving Mask: Improves underwater visibility significantly. Without a mask, everything is blurry and dark below 10 meters. Found at fishing villages or craftable.

Wetsuit: Provides minor cold protection underwater. Not essential but prevents comfort loss in cold ocean biomes.

Oxygen management tips: 1. Always bring two Diving Tanks. Swap to the second when the first is depleted. 2. Inside Underwater Labs, some rooms have air pockets where you can breathe without consuming tank oxygen. Use these to extend your dive time. 3. The moonpool entry points are always breathable. Return to these between room clears to top off your oxygen. 4. If your tank runs out mid-dive in the open ocean, swim upward immediately. You have about 10-15 seconds of breath-holding before drowning damage begins. 5. Submarines have internal oxygen, so sitting inside a sub counts as breathing. Use this as a mobile air supply.

Underwater Labs are built from modular sections that connect together in a randomized layout. Each lab consists of 8-15 modules connected by corridors and airlocks.

Module types: - Moonpool Module: The entry and exit point. Contains an open pool of water that connects to the ocean. Always has breathable air. Your first priority upon entering is to find and memorize the moonpool locations for emergency oxygen. - Corridor Module: Simple hallways connecting other modules. May contain barrels and small crates. Scientists occasionally patrol corridors. - Living Quarters: Contains food crates, sleeping bags (NPC), and small loot boxes. Low-value loot but useful for finding keycards. - Laboratory Module: Contains research equipment, medical crates, and tech components. Medium-value loot with chances for tech trash and CCTV cameras. - Security Module: Heavily guarded by scientists. Contains military crates and sometimes blue or red keycards. Expect 3-4 scientists in a single security module. - Keycard Module: Locked rooms requiring green, blue, or red keycards. These contain the highest-value loot: Elite Crates, military crates, and rare components.

Navigation tips: Labs can be disorienting because the modules look similar and there are no windows for orientation. Move methodically through each module, clearing scientists and looting as you go. Mark cleared modules mentally by noting unique features (equipment placement, crate positions). The layout is linear with occasional branches, so you generally cannot get lost if you follow the main corridor.

Airlock doors: Some modules are separated by airlock doors that must be opened manually. These create chokepoints where scientists can ambush you. Open doors cautiously and check corners before proceeding.

Underwater Lab scientists are more dangerous than surface monument scientists due to the confined spaces and limited retreat options.

Scientist types in labs: - Blue Scientists (standard): 150 HP, armed with pistols or SMGs. Found in corridors and living quarters. Easy to handle with any mid-tier weapon. - Heavy Scientists: 300 HP, armed with LR-300s or M249s. Guard security modules and keycard rooms. Require focused fire and good positioning to defeat.

Combat tactics: 1. Use close-range weapons. The narrow corridors favor shotguns (Pump Shotgun, Spas-12) and SMGs (Thompson, MP5). Long-range weapons like the Bolt Action are wasted in tight spaces. 2. Corner-peek aggressively. Scientists have predictable patrol routes within their modules. Wait at doorways and peek-shoot as they walk into your sightline. 3. Bring ample medical supplies. In confined spaces, you will take more hits than in open monument fights. Pack at least 10 medical syringes and 15 bandages for a full lab clear. 4. Watch for flanking scientists. Some modules have two entrances, and scientists can approach from behind while you are engaged with enemies ahead. Check your rear periodically. 5. Use the airlock doors as chokepoints. Open a door, shoot the scientists in the next module, then retreat through the airlock if overwhelmed. The door creates a natural barrier.

Ammunition considerations: Bring at least 200 rounds for your primary weapon. A full lab clear involves killing 15-25 scientists, and each heavy scientist absorbs 10-15 rounds from mid-tier weapons. Running out of ammo deep inside the lab is a death sentence since you cannot farm more underwater.

The keycard rooms in Underwater Labs contain some of the best loot in Rust, comparable to Launch Site and Large Oil Rig.

Green keycard room: Contains 1-2 military crates and typically spawns a blue keycard for further progression. Green keycards can be found on tables in the living quarters modules or purchased at Outpost for 40 scrap.

Blue keycard room: Contains 2-3 military crates, an Elite Crate, and sometimes a red keycard. The blue card room is guarded by 2-3 heavy scientists. This is the primary loot target for most lab runs.

Red keycard room: The highest-value room in the lab. Contains 2 Elite Crates and multiple military crates. Guarded by 4+ heavy scientists with heavy weapons. The loot rivals Large Oil Rig locked crates: AK-47s, LR-300s, C4, rockets, and rare components.

Rare items found in Underwater Labs: - CCTV Cameras (valuable for recycling: 15 scrap + 2 HQM + tech trash) - Tech Trash (20 scrap each when recycled) - Weapon attachments (4x Scope, Holosight, Laser Sight) - High-tier weapons (AK-47, LR-300, M249 from Elite Crates) - Explosives (C4, Rockets from Elite Crates) - Medical supplies (Large Medkit, Medical Syringe stacks)

Total loot value: A complete lab clear with all keycard rooms yields approximately 400-800 scrap in direct loot plus recycled components. The time investment is 20-40 minutes depending on lab size and your combat efficiency. This makes Underwater Labs one of the best scrap-per-hour monuments, especially since they are less contested than surface Tier 3 monuments.

Choosing between a submarine and diving gear affects your lab approach, carrying capacity, and escape options.

Submarine approach: Pros: Faster travel to and from the lab, built-in sonar for finding labs, internal oxygen supply, torpedo capability for self-defense, and a storage container for extra loot capacity. Cons: Submarines cost 200 scrap at Fishing Villages, require Low Grade Fuel, and are noisy (other players can hear them). Parking a sub near a lab entrance is visible to any diver or submarine passing by.

Diving gear approach: Pros: Silent approach (other players cannot detect you), cheaper overall cost, and you can surface anywhere if threatened. Cons: Slower travel, limited by Diving Tank oxygen (10 minutes per tank), no storage capacity beyond your inventory, and vulnerable while swimming in open water.

Recommended approach by team size: - Solo: Use diving gear. The stealth advantage is critical when you cannot afford to lose a fight. Bring two Diving Tanks and a wetsuit. Park a boat on the surface above the lab (anchored with a lock) and dive straight down. - Duo: One player in a submarine, one diving. The sub player provides security and extra storage while the diver clears the lab. Rendezvous at the moonpool. - Group (3+): Use a submarine for the main team and have one player stay on the surface in a boat as a lookout. The sub parks at the moonpool while the team clears the lab together.

Escape strategies: If you encounter enemy players while inside the lab, retreat to the moonpool and escape through the ocean. Swim laterally underwater rather than surfacing directly above the lab, since enemies may be watching the surface. If using a sub, drive it away at maximum depth to avoid detection. Keep your most valuable loot on your person (not in the sub) so that if the sub is destroyed, you can still swim to shore with the best items.