If you are trying to increase your inventory space early in Subnautica 2, tracking down the Colonist Bunker in Anita’s Garden is definitely worth the effort. Just like the Unauthorized NOA Modification bunker, this location contains a Biobed that permanently increases your inventory capacity by three slots, which becomes incredibly useful once you start gathering larger amounts of resources and crafting materials.
That said, this bunker is a little trickier to reach.
The good news is that it is much closer to your Lifepod than some other bunker locations. The bad news is that getting there involves navigating an underwater cave system, and caves in Subnautica can quickly become dangerous if you lose your sense of direction or run low on oxygen.
Thankfully, the game gives you several ways to stay alive during the trip if you know where to look. There are oxygen-producing plants, air pockets, and safe stopping points throughout the cave, so even newer players can make this journey without needing advanced gear.
How to Reach Anita’s Garden
From your Lifepod, start swimming east toward a large Coral Dome biome. Once you reach the Coral Dome, swim directly through it instead of stopping there.
After exiting the first dome, continue northeast and look for another cluster of Coral Domes near the surface of the water. Some of these formations even break above the ocean surface, making them fairly easy to spot from a distance.
Between these domes you will notice a deep pit with a strong current pulling downward. This is the entrance you are looking for.
At first glance it can feel a little intimidating because the current drags you deep into an underground cave system, but do not panic. This area is actually designed to give players several opportunities to recover oxygen.
Once the current pulls you down into the cavern, you will enter a larger chamber with multiple paths branching outward.
Oxygen Sources Inside the Cave
One of the biggest concerns during this trip is oxygen management, especially if you are still using basic equipment. Fortunately, the cave contains several natural air sources that make exploration much safer than it first appears.
You will find Oxygen Tunics throughout the cavern releasing bubbles that replenish your oxygen supply. These are extremely useful if your oxygen starts running low while exploring deeper sections of the cave.
There is also a Coral Dome nearby with a small air pocket at the surface inside the cavern. This gives you a completely safe place to refill oxygen without needing to return all the way to the ocean surface.
If you are a newer player who gets nervous exploring caves, this area is actually a great place to practice underwater navigation because the game provides several recovery points along the route.
Optional Loot Near the Entrance
Shortly after entering the cave system, swim northeast toward a nearby platform sitting inside the cavern.
This platform contains several useful items and scans that are worth grabbing before continuing toward the bunker. Depending on what you have already unlocked, you may find things like:
- Wakemaker Fragment
- Flashlight scan
- Sophie – Jubilee Data Download
Even if some of the loot changes slightly between playthroughs, the area usually contains helpful early-game resources and blueprint progress.
Since oxygen sources are nearby, this is a safe opportunity to slow down and explore instead of rushing straight to the bunker.
Finding the Correct Passage
After looting the platform, continue swimming north or northeast deeper into the cave system.
This is where many players get turned around because there are multiple passages branching through the cavern. The easiest way to identify the correct route is by looking for red Feather Kelp.
On the right side of the cavern you should spot a passage partially covered by red Feather Kelp growing both outside and inside the entrance. That detail is important because several other tunnels nearby do not lead to the bunker.
Once you find the correct passage, swim through it and follow the downward slope until you eventually reach a T-intersection.
At the intersection, turn right.
A short distance ahead you will finally find the Hatch leading into the Colonist Bunker (Anita’s Garden).
Just like the other bunker, the inside contains breathable air, so once you safely enter you can relax and explore without worrying about oxygen.
What You Get Inside the Bunker
Compared to the Unauthorized NOA Modification bunker, this one is smaller and contains less valuable loot overall. Still, the main reward makes the entire trip worthwhile.
Inside the bunker you can scan:
- Biobed
- Stool
- Single Bed
- Trashcan
Most importantly, interacting with the Biobed permanently increases your inventory space by three slots.
That upgrade alone is incredibly valuable during the early and mid-game. More inventory space means longer exploration trips, fewer return journeys to base, and more freedom to collect crafting materials without constantly throwing items away.
You can also pick up the Anita – Zip is Dead Data Download, which adds more lore and story details to the world.
Even though the bunker itself is not packed with rare materials, the permanent inventory increase makes it one of the best early progression stops in the game.
How to Leave the Cave Safely
Getting into the cave is usually easier than getting out, especially for first-time players. Fortunately, there is a fairly simple route back to the surface.
After exiting the bunker hatch, stick to the right side at the first major intersection. Continue swimming past more red Feather Kelp until you reach another intersection with an additional air pocket nearby.
At this second intersection, turn right again and continue swimming upward through the tunnel system.
This route eventually leads out of the cave at only around 30 meters below the surface, making the final swim upward very safe and manageable even with starter oxygen equipment.
If you try to leave by randomly guessing directions instead, it is very easy to waste oxygen and become lost inside the tunnels, so remembering the “turn right” route helps a lot.
The Colonist Bunker in Anita’s Garden is one of those locations that feels much scarier than it actually is. While the cave system can seem confusing at first, the area is filled with oxygen sources and safe spots that make exploration far more forgiving than deeper late-game zones.
The bunker itself may not contain the same amount of loot as some other locations, but the permanent inventory upgrade from the Biobed makes the trip absolutely worth doing early on.
If you prepare properly, bring a Scanner, and take your time following the red Feather Kelp path, this becomes a very manageable and rewarding expedition for newer players.