Swimming in San Andreas isn't exactly what I’d call "peak gameplay." It’s slow, CJ breathes like he’s got the lungs of a chain-smoking hamster at the start, and the murky water of the 1992-era Pacific is mostly just shades of depressing grey. But if you’re chasing that legendary 100% completion stat, you’ve got no choice. You’re going diving.
There are 50 of these things. Scattered from the posh swimming pools of Mulholland to the toxic-looking sludge under the Easter Basin Naval Base. Finding every single gta sa oyster locations is a rite of passage. Honestly, it’s also one of the most rewarding grinds in the game once you realize what it does to CJ’s social life.
What's the Point of Finding Every Oyster?
Most people think it’s just for the $100,000 bonus or the "maximum lung capacity" perk. Sure, those are great. Being able to swim from San Fierro to Bayside without drowning is a vibe. But the real "holy grail" reward is much weirder: it fixes CJ’s dating life.
Basically, once you bag all 50, the game stops caring about your stats when you talk to girlfriends. Want to date Helena Wankstein but don't want to spend three hours eating Cluckin' Bell to get "fat" enough for her? Oysters. Want to keep Michelle Cannes happy without constantly hitting the gym? Oysters. It even lets you re-date girlfriends who have dumped you or—let’s be real—"accidentally" died. It’s essentially a "handsome pass" for the entire state.
The Rewards Broken Down
- $100 per oyster (instantly).
- $100,000 lump sum after the 50th one.
- Infinite Lung Capacity.
- Dating Freedom: You ignore all physical requirements for girlfriends.
Los Santos and Red County Spots
You'll usually start your hunt here. Most of these are under bridges. Rockstar really loved hiding things under bridges.
Glen Park is the easiest one to grab early. It’s right in the middle of Ballas territory, sitting under the bridge in the pond. It’s a nice "starter" oyster. After that, head south to the Ocean Docks. There are several tucked around the massive cargo ships and the southern inlets. One is specifically on the stairway of that giant ship in the docks—you can't miss it if you're actually looking, but it's easy to sail past if you're in a hurry.
Don't forget the Verona Beach pier. There are two bridges there, and the oyster is tucked right between them. If you’re near the lighthouse at Santa Maria, keep swimming west. It’s out there in the deep water.
The Red County "Hiker" Oysters
Red County is a bit more annoying because the water is narrower and more "stream-like."
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- Fisher's Lagoon: Check the end of the wooden dock—the one with the creepy abandoned wheelchair that fueled a thousand creepypasta videos.
- Blueberry: Under the wooden bridge on the beach northeast of the town.
- The Panopticon: There’s one in a small pool of water in the middle of the logging area.
- Frederick Bridge: It’s halfway up the bridge in the water.
San Fierro: The Naval Base Headache
San Fierro is where the hunt gets dangerous. Specifically Oyster #29 and #30. These are located inside or near the Easter Basin Naval Base.
The moment you swim into that water, you get a 5-star wanted level. The military does not play around. If you’re doing this early in the game, you're going to have Hydras and police boats raining hell on you. My advice? Grab a SeaSparrow or just be prepared to dive deep and stay there until you can reach the shore and find a Pay 'n' Spray.
Other San Fierro spots are much chillier. There’s one under the Garver Bridge (the big red one) and another sitting right at the end of the Easter Bay Airport runway. If you find yourself at the San Fierro 69 (the aircraft carrier), check the tip of the ship.
Las Venturas and the Desert Pools
By the time you hit the desert, you're probably tired of the water. Good news: many of these aren't in the ocean. They’re in hotel pools.
The Come-A-Lot hotel has one right in the moat-like entrance. The Visage has one in the waterfall feature out front. Even Madd Dogg’s Mansion back in Los Santos (technically Vinewood) has one in the swimming pool.
One of the most famous "wait, where is it?" spots is the heart-shaped pool in Las Venturas. It’s in a backyard in the Pilgrim district. It’s small, square, and feels totally random compared to the ocean-based ones.
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The Sherman Dam
There’s a cluster of oysters around the Sherman Dam. One is near the westernmost towers, and another is under the bridge nearby. The water here is deep, so make sure your lung capacity isn't at zero before you try to bottom-feed for these.
The Infamous "49/50" Glitch
Nothing ruins a Saturday like being stuck at 49 oysters. In the Definitive Edition, there’s a known bug where an oyster—often the one near the Panopticon or under the bridge near the San Fierro airport—simply doesn't show up visually.
If this happens, you have to "blind-collect" it. This means looking at a map, finding the exact coordinates, and swimming through that space even if you don't see the spinning shell. Usually, the game will still register the hit.
Another tip: Don't collect oysters during missions. Specifically, the mission "Amphibious Assault" for Woozie. Collecting an oyster while the mission script is running can sometimes "break" the counter, leaving you permanently stuck. Save the shell hunting for free-roam.
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Actionable Next Steps for Your Hunt
If you're ready to clear the map, don't just wing it.
- Get a SeaSparrow: This is the goat of collectible hunting. It lands on water, it’s fast, and it has a minigun to deal with those pesky police boats in the Naval Base.
- Check them off physically: Use a digital map where you can actually click "Found." Memories lie. You will swear you got the one under the Frederick Bridge, but you probably didn't.
- Level Lung Capacity first: Go to a shallow shore, dive until the breath bar is almost empty, surface, and repeat. Do this for 10 minutes. It makes the actual oyster hunt 50% faster because you aren't constantly surfacing for air.
Once you’ve got all 50, go visit Katie Zhan or Helena. It’s pretty satisfying to walk up to them in your worst outfit, looking like a total mess, and having them still think you're the most charming guy in San Andreas.