You’re staring at the Pacific Ocean in Los Santos and thinking about money. It’s the classic GTA V dilemma. Maybe you've finished the main story, or maybe you're just bored of Franklin's aunt screaming at him. You buy the Sonar Collections Dock for $250,000. Suddenly, Michael or Trevor is stuck in a Dinghy with a trackify app blinking at them. This is the start of the hunt for gta v submarine pieces, a collectible quest that feels like a chore until you realize it’s basically a guided tour of the most hauntingly detailed underwater map ever built in a video game.
It’s easy to dismiss these thirty scraps of metal as busywork. Some players do. But if you want that 100% completion stat, or if you’re genuinely curious about the lore surrounding Abigail Mathers and the "accidental" death of her husband Frank, you have to go down there.
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Where to Find the GTA V Submarine Pieces Without Losing Your Mind
First off, don't just dive in. That’s a rookie move. You need the Submersible or the Kraken, but honestly, the Dinghy that spawns at the docks is your best friend because it gives you scuba gear automatically when you hop out.
The gta v submarine pieces are scattered primarily along the western and northern coasts of San Andreas. You'll find the first few clusters near Paleto Cove. The radar is helpful, but it doesn't account for verticality. Some pieces are tucked inside the rusted skeletons of sunken cargo ships. Others are resting on rock shelves that look exactly like the seafloor until you’re three inches away from them.
One of the trickiest ones is located near the North Chumash coastline. It’s deep. Like, "the screen starts to turn blue-black and you worry about giant squids" deep. You'll find it sitting near a downed airplane wing. Rockstar Games really leaned into the eerie atmosphere here. The sound design underwater is muffled, rhythmic, and slightly claustrophobic. It's a massive contrast to the chaotic sirens and gunfire of downtown Los Santos.
The Weird Lore Behind the Scraps
Why are we even doing this? Abigail Mathers claims her husband was a visionary who died because of a submarine malfunction. She wants the pieces to prove it wasn't her fault—or maybe to collect the insurance money.
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If you pay attention to the dialogue, it’s pretty clear Abigail isn't exactly a grieving widow in the traditional sense. She’s frantic. She’s calculated. Once you bring her all thirty gta v submarine pieces, the "What Lies Beneath" mission concludes in a way that feels very "GTA." You get a measly $10 reward and a signed photo. That’s it. Unless, of course, you decide Michael shouldn’t take that disrespect lying down. Most players end up chasing her down the pier. It’s a choice. A dark one, but a choice nonetheless.
Navigation Tips for the Deep Sea
Speed is everything. The Submersible is slow. It turns like a bloated whale. If you're trying to speedrun the collection of gta v submarine pieces, use the Dinghy to reach the general radius of the blip on your sonar.
Once the blip starts pulsing fast, dive.
- Watch your oxygen if you aren't wearing the scuba suit.
- Sharks are real. They show up as red dots on your mini-map.
- If a Great White starts circling, stay in the sub.
- Use the "first-person" camera mode while underwater to spot the subtle white glow of the pieces; the third-person camera often gets snagged on seaweed or ship debris.
There is a specific piece near the Zancudo River mouth that always trips people up. It’s hidden inside a pipe. You can’t see it from the surface, and if you’re using the submarine, you might actually get stuck trying to wedge the craft into the opening. It’s better to swim for that one.
The Hidden Benefits of the Underwater Grind
Is it just about the pieces? Not really. While you’re scouring the ocean floor for gta v submarine pieces, you’re going to stumble across much better loot. We’re talking about the hidden packages.
There are briefcases filled with cash—anywhere from $7,000 to $25,000—scattered near several submarine piece locations. Specifically, near the wreck of the large cargo ship on the east side of the map, there’s a briefcase that respawns if you switch characters and switch back. It’s an old-school exploit, but it still works in many versions of the game.
You also find weapons. RPGs, sticky bombs, and sniper rifles are just sitting there on the ocean floor like some kind of maritime armory. It makes the world feel lived-in. Like Los Santos isn't just a city, but a place where people have been dumping evidence and cargo for decades.
Dealing with the "What Lies Beneath" Glitch
Sometimes, the game forgets how to count. It sucks. You might find 29 pieces and the 30th just... isn't there. Usually, this happens because the game registered you picking it up but didn't update the mission counter.
The fix is usually simple: leave the area, save your game in a new slot, restart the console or PC, and come back. The piece usually respawns. Also, make sure you aren't looking for the gta v submarine pieces during a high-wanted level. The police boats will drop depth charges, and while it looks cool, it’ll blow you right out of the water and reset your progress for that specific dive.
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Why This Quest Still Matters Years Later
In a world of flying motorcycles and orbital cannons in GTA Online, the single-player submarine hunt feels quaint. But it’s a masterclass in environmental storytelling. You see the ruins of a plane crash and you wonder what happened. You see the radioactive waste barrels—another collectible—and you realize how corrupt the city actually is.
It’s a slow burn.
Most people hate it because it’s not fast-paced. But if you’re looking to actually see the map Rockstar spent hundreds of millions of dollars creating, you have to go under. The kelp forests sway with the current. The light filters down in "God rays" that look incredible even by 2026 standards. It's a vibe.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
If you’re ready to knock this out, don’t do it all at once. You’ll get burnt out.
- Buy the Sonar Collections Dock in Paleto Cove using Michael. He feels the most "right" for this mission given his mid-life crisis vibes.
- Focus on the Western coastline first. It’s a straight shot and has the highest density of pieces.
- Keep an eye out for the "Hidden Packages" while diving. The money you find will more than pay for the $250,000 cost of the dock.
- Use a checklist or an interactive map on your second monitor. The in-game sonar is okay, but it won't tell you if you've already visited a spot.
- Once you have all 30, head back to Abigail. Decide then and there if you're going to let her walk away or if you want "justice" for Frank.
The hunt for gta v submarine pieces is a test of patience. It’s for the completionists, the lore hunters, and the people who just want to spend a quiet hour away from the explosions of Vinewood. Grab your scuba gear and get moving. The ocean is bigger than you think.