You're staring at the vast, murky Pacific Ocean in Los Santos and thinking about money. Specifically, you're thinking about those glowing yellow barrels. Collecting GTA 5 nuclear waste is one of those tasks that sounds easy on paper but becomes a test of patience the moment you actually dive in.
It’s tedious. Honestly, it’s probably the most boring thing you can do in a game that lets you hijack fighter jets. But if you want that 100% completion trophy or just need to pad Trevor’s bank account, you’re going to have to get wet.
Most players stumble into this side quest after buying the Sonar Collections Dock in Paleto Cove. It costs $250,000. That’s a decent chunk of change, especially early on. Once you own the shack, a Submersible spawns at the end of the pier. That’s your ticket to the bottom of the sea.
Why Bother With the Underwater Grind?
There are 30 barrels of GTA 5 nuclear waste scattered around the coastline. Each one pays out $23,000. Do the math. If you find all of them, you’re looking at $690,000. Subtract the initial $250,000 investment for the dock, and you walk away with a $440,000 profit. Plus, there’s a $250,000 bonus waiting for you once the final barrel is secured.
It's a million-dollar payday.
Is it fast? No. The Submersible moves with the urgency of a submerged brick. You’ll spend a good hour or two circling the entire map. But it’s safe money. No cops, no shootout, just you and the crushing pressure of the ocean.
🔗 Read more: Why Seto Kaiba Calling Someone a Third Rate Duelist with a Fourth Rate Deck is the Ultimate Yu-Gi-Oh Burn
The Right Way to Track the Barrels
Don't just drive aimlessly.
When you hop into the sub, the game gives you a digital app on your phone called Trackify. It’s a basic sonar. It points a red blip in the direction of the nearest barrel. It doesn't tell you depth, though. You’ve got to keep an eye on your radar to make sure you aren’t about to crush your hull.
The Submersible has a crush depth. Go too deep—usually around 500 feet—and you’ll start hearing the metal groan. Keep going, and the screen flickers red. Then you’re dead. Most GTA 5 nuclear waste sits well above the danger zone, but a few barrels near the northern edge of the map get uncomfortably close to the floor.
Pro Tip: Switch Your Characters
You don't have to do this as Michael. In fact, most people use Trevor because he’s usually the one with the extra cash to buy the docks after the "Merryweather Heist" setup. However, any character can buy the property. Just keep in mind that the money earned from the waste goes directly to the character who bought the dock.
If Franklin is broke, let him be the garbage man.
Navigating the Map Efficiently
Most players make the mistake of starting at the dock and just picking a direction.
If you go clockwise (heading east toward Mount Gordo), the terrain is a bit more jagged. The east coast of San Andreas is rocky. You’ll find barrels tucked into underwater ravines and hidden behind rock formations.
The west coast is much smoother. It's a straight shot down past Fort Zancudo and toward the Port of Los Santos. If you want to get the hard part out of the way first, go east. If you want a relaxing start, go west.
✨ Don't miss: Match 3 Free Download: Why Most People Still Get the Classics Wrong
The Problem With the Submersible
It’s slow. God, it’s slow.
One trick people try is using the Kraken if they have it unlocked from the "Wildlife Photography Challenge." It’s slightly more maneuverable, but honestly, the difference is marginal. The real bottleneck is the Trackify app. You can only track one at a time, and the game forces a specific order based on proximity.
You might see a barrel on a guide map that’s "closer," but if Trackify is locked onto one half a mile away, follow the app. It prevents you from missing one and having to circle the entire continent again because you skipped #14 in the sequence.
Dealing With "Waste Management" Achievements
For the completionists, finding all the GTA 5 nuclear waste triggers the "Waste Management" Achievement or Trophy.
If you’re going for the Platinum, this isn't optional.
A lot of players report a glitch where the trophy doesn't pop. Usually, this happens if you're playing offline or if the Rockstar Social Club servers are acting up. To be safe, save your game manually when you have 29 barrels. Grab the 30th. If it doesn't trigger, reload.
Realities of the Deep Sea
The ocean floor in GTA 5 is surprisingly detailed. You’ll find crashed planes, sunken ships, and even a UFO if you know where to look. But when you’re hunting GTA 5 nuclear waste, these sights are distractions.
- Visibility: It gets dark. Use the sub's headlights.
- Wildlife: Sharks are a thing. They won't bite through the metal of a Submersible, but if you decide to jump out of the hatch to grab a hidden letter scrap or spaceship part, you’re fair game.
- The Sound: It’s quiet. Maybe put on a podcast. The hum of the engine and the ping of the sonar can get hypnotic in a bad way.
Why This Quest Still Frustrates People
The main gripe isn't the difficulty. It's the "Empty World" feeling.
Rockstar built this massive, beautiful underwater ecosystem, but they didn't give you much to do in it besides this and the submarine pieces. There are no enemies. No underwater combat. It’s just a steady crawl through the blue.
Yet, there is a certain zen to it.
Watching the light filter down through the kelp forests off the coast of Palomino Highlands is actually pretty stunning. If you stop looking at it as a chore and start looking at it as a tour of the map’s borders, it’s much more tolerable.
Step-by-Step Action Plan
If you’re ready to clear this off your checklist, here is exactly how to handle it without wasting time.
- Check your bank balance. You need $250,000. If you don't have it, go finish the "Lifeinvader" mission or do some Lester assassinations.
- Drive to Paleto Cove. It’s on the west side of the map, north of the bridge. Look for the "Sonars Collection Dock" icon.
- Buy the property. Only one character can own it. Choose wisely based on who needs the cash injection.
- Enter the Submersible. It’ll be bobbing right there at the dock.
- Pull out the phone. The Trackify app should open automatically. If not, open your phone and select it.
- Follow the red dot. Don't try to be a hero. Just follow the ping.
- Watch your depth meter. Don't go below 500 feet. If the barrel is deeper, you might be at the wrong angle. Look for a shelf or a ledge.
- Manual Save at 29. Seriously. Don't risk the trophy glitch.
Once you pick up that 30th barrel, the screen will flash, the money hits your account, and you never have to see that yellow Submersible again. Unless, of course, you’re going after those submarine pieces for Abigail, but that’s a headache for another day.
Grab a drink, put on some Vinewood Boulevard Radio, and start diving. The ocean isn't going to clean itself.