Surviving the Abyss Exploration Guide

Last Update: January 17, 2023 11:24 AM /

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Surviving the Abyss Exploration Guide - cover

Our Surviving the Abyss Exploration will tell you how to launch an Expedition to unlock new Biomes and what you can find at Points of Interest.

How Surviving the Abyss Exploration Works

Surviving the Abyss Exploration is critical for your grand mission of perfecting human Cloning. While the Aquatic Life in the Seagrass Dunes Biome is enough to kickstart your Cloning efforts, you won't really be able to perfect the process until you start exploring a wider area of the ocean floor.

Exploration requires an Exploration Sub, and that Sub will need Food, Coal, and a Crew to launch an Expedition. Expeditions are the first step for Building an Outpost in a new Biome, so you'll need to have all of the infrastructure in place before you can even think about expanding beyond your starter base.

Surviving the Abyss Exploration Guide - Flare
Expeditions will leave Flares, giving you a short window to set up an Outpost if you feel it's worth the resources.

How to Set Up an Expedition in Surviving the Abyss, Step By Step

Here's how to set up an Expedition with the Surviving the Abyss Exploration System:

  1. Unlock Tier II of the Technology Tree.
  2. Research the Submarine Command Building.
  3. Build a Submarine Factory.
  4. Build an Exploration Sub at the Submarine Factory.
  5. Build a Submarine Command.
  6. Click on the Submarine Information button on the bottom of the UI.
  7. Click on a Biome or a Point of Interest on the map.
  8. Assign Crew to the Expedition on the right side of the map. Ensure that you have enough Coal and Fuel for the trip.
  9. Launch the Expedition.
  10. The Expedition will drop a Flare once it arrives at its destination, providing temporary light that allows you to Build an Outpost at that location if you want to.
  11. Wait for the Exploration Sub to return to base.

Surviving the Abyss Exploration Guide - Submarine Command

Surviving the Abyss Point of Interest List

Every Surviving the Abyss Point of Interest provides a different choice for players. Some Points of Interest are fairly straightforward, but others may require you to make a more difficult decision.

Points of Interest have varying requirements that appear to be based on their distance from the center of the map. Failing to meet the requirements (such as with the Crew) can result in the destruction of the Exploration Sub.

While we've explored these events multiple times, bear in mind that these results may change in future updates. There may also be alternative results (which could be negative) that we did not encounter in our testing. Make sure to save before attempting an Expedition to a Point of Interest!


Brine Pool

Brine Pools provide an opportunity to find something interesting.

  • Gather Research Data.
    • Result - Gain a small amount of Research Data Points.
  • Ignore It.
    • Result - Exploration Sub returns home.

Selecting "Gather Research Data" will get you a small amount of Research Data Points.


Cave System

A Cave System requires some exploration.

  • Investigate it for wildlife.
    • Result - Genomes added to Cloning Lab.
  • Ignore it.
    • Result - Exploration Sub returns home.

Exploring the Cave System will get you some new genomes that you can use for Cloning.


Decimated Whale

The Decimated Whale is a long-dead animal that can serve as a source of some Research Data Points.

  • Gather Research Data
    • Result - Gain a small amount of Research Data Points.
  • Ignore it.
    • Result - Exploration Sub returns home.

Distress Signal

The Distress Signal is a long-abandoned Research Lab. You have three options:

  • Investigate it for wildlife.
    • Result - Genomes added to Cloning Lab.
  • Gather Research Data
    • Result - Gain a small amount of Research Data Points.
  • Ignore it.
    • Result - Exploration Sub returns home.

Extracted Coordinates

The Extracted Coordinates reveal a "lower deep" -- a part of the ocean floor even deeper than the surrounding area.

  • Exploit it for resources.
    • Result 1 - Gain Aluminum and Copper.
    • Result 2 - Sub destroyed.
  • Ignore It.
    • Result - Exploration Sub returns home.

Take care with this Point of Interest -- it's possible for the Exploration Sub to be destroyed if you select "Exploit it for resources."


Giant Coral

Giant Coral is a simple opportunity to gain some Research Data Points.

  • Gather Research Data.
    • Result - Gain a small amount of Research Data Points.
  • Ignore It.
    • Result - Exploration Sub returns home.

The Habitat

This Point of Interest appears to be non-functional in the pre-release Early Access version of Surviving the Abyss.


Oil Rig

An abandoned Oil Rig presents an opportunity to get some Research Data Points.

  • Gather Research Data.
    • Result - Gain a small amount of Research Data Points.
  • Ignore It.
    • Result - Exploration Sub returns home.

Sea Mine

Deadly explosive mines have been discovered.

  • Exploit it for resources.
    • Result - Gain Steel.
  • Ignore It.
    • Result - Exploration Sub returns home.

While we did not encounter any negative results in our testing, it's probably a good idea to assume that there's a chance they can blow up and destroy the Exploration Sub.


Shipwreck

An ancient Shipwreck resting on the sea floor.

  • Exploit it for resources.
    • Result - Genomes added to Cloning Lab.
  • Ignore It.
    • Result - Exploration Sub returns home.

Sunken Missile Cruiser

An advanced

  • Gather Research Data.
    • Result - Gain Steel.
  • Ignore It.
    • Result - Exploration Sub returns home.

Sunken Plane

A WW2-era fighter plane.

  • Exploit it for resources
    • Result - Gain Aluminum.
  • Gather Research Data
    • Result - Gain Research Data Points.
  • Ignore it
    • Result - Exploration Sub returns home.

Sunken Submarine

A recently-destroyed submarine.

  • Exploit it for resources
    • Result - Gain Steel.
  • Gather Research Data
    • Result - Gain Research Data Points.
  • Ignore it
    • Result - Exploration Sub returns home.

Toxic Carcass

The Toxic Carcass is a dead animal that is, for some reason, toxic.

  • Gather Research Data
    • Result - Gain a small amount of Research Data Points.
  • Investigate it for wildlife.
    • Result - Genomes added to Cloning Lab.
    • Ignore it.
      • Result - Exploration Sub returns home.

    We're at the end of the Surviving the Abyss Exploration Guide, but there's lots more to learn about the game -- check out our other guides below!

    Have a tip, or want to point out something we missed? Leave a Comment or e-mail us at tips@techraptor.net


    A photograph of TechRaptor Senior Writer Robert N. Adams.
    | Senior Writer

    One of my earliest memories is playing Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System. I've had a controller in my hand since I was 4 and I… More about Robert N

    More Info About This Game
    Learn more about Surviving the Abyss
    Publisher
    Paradox Arc
    Platforms
    PC
    Release Date
    January 17, 2023 (Calendar)
    Genre
    Exploration
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