Diamond locations in Below Zero

Diamonds spawn in three main biome types in Subnautica Below Zero: the Lilypad Islands, the Deep Sparse Reef, and the Thermal Spires. The easiest source for new players is the Lilypad Islands, which you can reach early in the game without specialized equipment. You will find diamond ore deposits on the seafloor around the islands themselves — look for the distinctive blue crystalline formations jutting from the ground.

The Deep Sparse Reef holds more diamonds but requires a vehicle and better depth tolerance. This biome sits at depths between 300 and 600 meters, so you will need either a Seamoth with depth upgrades or a Prawn Suit to explore safely. The Thermal Spires biome, located even deeper, contains the highest concentration of diamonds but is dangerous — bring a fully upgraded Prawn Suit and bring repair materials.

Key Takeaways

  • Lilypad Islands diamonds are the most accessible early source and require only a basic submarine or diving suit to reach.
  • Diamond ore appears as blue crystal formations on the seafloor and must be broken with a drill arm or mining tool.
  • The Deep Sparse Reef and Thermal Spires hold more diamonds but require depth upgrades and better equipment to survive the pressure.
  • You can also find cut diamonds in alien structures and fabricator blueprints, which sometimes drop them as loot.

Mining diamonds at Lilypad Islands

The Lilypad Islands sit in the western part of the map and are one of the first major biomes you will explore. Diamonds here spawn at depths between 50 and 150 meters, making them reachable with a Seamoth or even a diving suit if you have depth upgrades. Swim or drive around the base of the islands and look for the blue ore deposits embedded in rock formations.

To collect diamonds, you need either a Drill Arm (attached to a Prawn Suit) or a Mining Tool (handheld). The Mining Tool is faster to obtain — you can craft it from the Fabricator once you have the blueprint, which you find in the Lifepod wreckage. Each diamond ore deposit yields one raw diamond when broken. Bring a repair tool because the pressure at these depths will slowly damage your equipment.

Deep Sparse Reef diamonds and depth requirements

The Deep Sparse Reef is a larger biome with more ore deposits, but it demands better preparation. This area spans depths of 300 to 600 meters, which means your submarine or suit will take pressure damage if you do not have the right upgrades. A Seamoth needs at least the Depth Mark 2 upgrade (which increases crush depth to 400 meters) before you can safely explore the shallower sections.

A Prawn Suit is more practical here because you can equip it with a Drill Arm and mine while inside the suit, protecting yourself from pressure damage. The Prawn Suit's base crush depth is 500 meters, and you can upgrade it further with the Depth Mark 3 module to reach 700 meters. Diamonds in this biome appear in the same blue crystal formations as Lilypad Islands, but you will find them in higher concentrations around the rocky outcrops and cave entrances.

Thermal Spires diamonds and endgame mining

The Thermal Spires biome contains the densest diamond deposits in the game, but it is also the most dangerous. This area sits at depths between 600 and 1,000 meters, with extreme pressure and heat from thermal vents. You absolutely need a Prawn Suit with the Depth Mark 3 upgrade to reach the deepest sections without taking crush damage.

Bring a Repair Tool and extra materials because the heat will degrade your suit faster than in other biomes. The diamonds here are worth the risk — you will find multiple ore deposits clustered together, allowing you to collect several diamonds in one trip. The Drill Arm is essential here because the handheld Mining Tool is too slow for the amount of ore available, and you want to minimize time spent in this hostile environment.

Alternative sources: alien bases and fabricator drops

If you want diamonds without mining, you can find cut diamonds (the finished product) in alien structures and as loot drops from certain creatures. The Alien Containment facility and the Thermal Plant both contain diamond items in their storage lockers. These are already processed, so you do not need to smelt raw diamonds in the Fabricator.

Some fabricator blueprints also reward diamonds as crafting byproducts or can be deconstructed to yield diamonds. This is not a reliable source early on, but once you have access to multiple alien structures, it becomes a viable supplement to mining. The advantage is that you avoid the pressure damage and equipment wear that comes with deep diving.

Smelting raw diamonds into usable form

Raw diamonds from ore deposits must be processed in a Fabricator before you can use them in crafting. Place the raw diamond in the Fabricator and select the "smelt" option — the process takes about 5 seconds per diamond. One raw diamond yields one processed diamond, so there is no waste or loss in the conversion.

Processed diamonds are used in high-tier equipment blueprints, including the Prawn Suit itself, depth upgrades, and advanced weapons. You will need multiple diamonds for most late-game builds, so plan your mining trips accordingly. A single trip to the Deep Sparse Reef or Thermal Spires can yield 5 to 10 raw diamonds if you spend 10 to 15 minutes mining, which is enough for most crafting needs.

Avoiding common mining mistakes

The most common mistake is diving too deep without the right upgrades and losing your submarine to pressure damage. Check your crush depth limit before you enter a new biome — your HUD displays your current depth and your vehicle's maximum safe depth. If you see the depth number turning red, turn back when ready.

Another mistake is running out of repair materials mid-dive. Bring at least two Repair Tools and extra Titanium and Lithium before you head to the Deep Sparse Reef or Thermal Spires. If your vehicle takes damage and you run out of repair supplies, you will have to abandon it and swim back to your base, losing all the diamonds you collected. Finally, do not mine alone in the Thermal Spires — bring a second vehicle or a friend in multiplayer so you have a backup if something goes wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find diamonds without a submarine?

Yes, you can dive to Lilypad Islands with just a diving suit and collect diamonds from shallow deposits between 50 and 100 meters. You will need a Mining Tool and depth upgrades on your suit, but you do not need a vehicle. This is slower than using a submarine but works for small quantities early in the game.

How many diamonds do I need for a full Prawn Suit?

A Prawn Suit blueprint requires 2 diamonds, and each depth upgrade module requires 1 diamond. If you want a fully upgraded Prawn Suit with all three depth modules, you need 5 diamonds total. Plan your mining trips to collect at least 6 to 8 diamonds so you have extras for other crafting.

What happens if my submarine gets crushed?

If you exceed your crush depth, your vehicle takes damage rapidly and will eventually be destroyed. You will eject into the water and must swim back to your base or another vehicle. Any diamonds in your inventory survive, but any diamonds stored in the vehicle's storage locker are lost permanently.

Is the Thermal Spires worth the risk for diamonds?

The Thermal Spires has the highest diamond concentration, but the danger is real — pressure, heat, and aggressive creatures make it risky. If you already have a fully upgraded Prawn Suit and repair materials, the trip takes about 15 minutes and yields 8 to 12 diamonds. For most players, the Deep Sparse Reef is a better risk-to-reward balance.

Can I respawn diamonds after I mine them?

No, ore deposits do not respawn in Subnautica Below Zero. Once you mine a diamond deposit, it is gone forever. Plan your mining routes carefully and collect from multiple biomes so you do not run out of a single location's resources.