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Air Bladder (Subnautica)

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The Air Bladder is a crafted flotation device in Subnautica that allows players to ascend rapidly to the surface. It serves as an emergency tool for escaping drowning or dangerous creatures and can briefly replenish oxygen.

Last refreshed May 18, 2026

Air Bladder (Subnautica)

Air Bladder

PropertyValue
CategoryTools
DescriptionEmergency flotation device. Chemical reaction produces lighter-than air gas for fast personal buoyancy.
Acquired FromFabricator
Build Time3 seconds
Size1
Debug Spawnairbladder

The Air Bladder is a tool crafted with the Fabricator. It is a flotation device that allows the player to reach the surface of the water faster than simply swimming to the surface.

Uses

Controls

ActionMouse & KeyboardXbox OnePlayStation 4Nintendo Switch
Inflating and DeflatingRMBRight TriggerR2ZR

The player cannot swim down into the ocean with the Air Bladder equipped and inflated.

The Air Bladder is especially useful in situations where the player is in danger of drowning or needs to escape dangerous creatures. Once inflated, the player only needs to press the correct button to deflate the Air Bladder.

The Air Bladder can also be used to replenish 15 seconds of oxygen by pressing F. This will deflate the Air Bladder, and the player must swim to the surface or enter a seabase to inflate it.

Speed

A number of tests were run from the depth of 50 meters to determine the speed of swimming to the surface with Fins versus using the Air Bladder.

  • With fins, players will average 4.16 m/s (12 seconds to ascend from a depth of 50 meters).
  • With the Air Bladder, players will average 20.52 m/s (3 seconds to ascend from a depth of 50 meters).

Recipe

BladderfishFabricatorAir Bladder

The Air Bladder in the Player's hand The Air Bladder in the Player's hand

The Air Bladder inflating The Air Bladder inflating

The Air Bladder deflating The Air Bladder deflating

The Air Bladder’s In-Game Model The Air Bladder’s In-Game Model

An uninflated Air Bladder (Old Model) An uninflated Air Bladder (Old Model)

An Air Bladder undergoing inflation (Old Model) An Air Bladder undergoing inflation (Old Model)

A full Air Bladder (Old Model) A full Air Bladder (Old Model)

An Air Bladder undergoing deflation (Old Model) An Air Bladder undergoing deflation (Old Model)

The new Air Bladder model, screenshot by a developer The new Air Bladder model, screenshot by a developer

Developer screenshotcomic while doing some animations Developer screenshotcomic while doing some animations

Model from Sketchfab Model from Sketchfab

Trivia

  • The player can inflate the Air Bladder and then unequip it, and when re-equipped the Air Bladder will still be inflated, cheating the loss of 3 oxygen.
  • The Air Bladder is the only non-sustenance item in the game crafted using a fish.

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