Bulb Zone

"Detecting volcanic activity, and several unusual electromagnetic signatures in the region. Exercise caution when diving deeper." ― PDA, Dialogue

The Bulb Zone is a unique biome bordering the Northeastern Mushroom Forest, the Crash Zone, the Mountains, and the Crater Edge.

Description

The Bulb Zone is characterized by small crevices and overhangs in a vast, sandy dune-like area. It is also abundant with small brown algae, and a large variety of plants with blueish-purple hues, the most notable of which being the various sized Bulb Bushes. A deep blue hue shrouds the biome which may make hazards difficult to spot.

The Bulb Zone is deep and home to certain dangerous fauna. Notable predators, such as Bonesharks and Ampeels, can be found scattered throughout the Bulb Zone. Occasionally, Mesmers can also be found.

Pods of Reefback Leviathans can be found above the Bulb Zone.

Due to its proximity to the Crash Zone, the southern half of the Bulb Zone is subject to Radiation. If the player has not repaired the Aurora's drive core, a Radiation Suit is strongly advised to explore the southern region.

There is a cave system located below the Bulb Zone, known as the Bulb Zone Caves. These caves are accessible via any of the three entrances located within the biome. One of the caves links to the Mushroom Forest Caves. Rubies can occasionally be found in the caves.

Several Lava Geysers can be found in this biome. This, together with the Bulb Zone Caves, suggests a small amount of volcanic activity. According to the PDA Dialogue, there are strange electrical signatures in the Bulb Zone, which likely originate from Ampeels.

Two large Wrecks are located within the Bulb Zone, containing several fragments.

Two Sea Crowns can be found here.

A single Supply Crate is found along the Crash Zone border. The only other ones are found in the two wrecks.

Story Elements

An Alien Arch Cache is found in the Bulb Zone, linking to the Primary Containment Facility.

An entrance to the Lost River is found on the Bulb Zone's border with the Mountains.

The following Data Boxes are found in Bulb Zone Wrecks and Destroyed Lifepods:

• Alien Containment
• Cyclops Sonar Upgrade
• Lightweight High Capacity Tank
• Reinforced Dive Suit
• Repulsion Cannon
• Water Filtration Suit

The following Harvesting Nodes are found in the Bulb Zone:

• Ampeel Egg
• Boneshark Egg
• Bulb Bush Sample
• Coral Tube Sample
• Diamond
• Ghost Weed Seed
• Gold
• Large Gold Deposit
• Large Lithium Deposit
• Large Titanium Deposit
• Lead
• Lithium
• Mesmer Egg
• Metal Salvage
• Ruby
• Salt Deposit
• Sea Crown Seed
• Table Coral Sample

The following Fragments are found in Bulb Zone Wrecks:

• Light Stick Fragment
• Modification Station Fragment
• Power Transmitter Fragment
• Scanner Room Fragment
• Stasis Rifle Fragment

The following Miscellaneous Fragments are found in Bulb Zone Wrecks:

• Bar Table
• Basic Plant Pot
• Bench
• Chic Plant Pot
• Command Chair
• Desk
• Exterior Growbed
• Floodlight
• Interior Growbed
• Office Chair
• Single Wall Shelf
• Swivel Chair
• Vending Machine
• Wall Shelves
• Water Filtration Machine

Fauna native to the Bulb Zone

• Ampeel
• Boneshark
• Boomerang
• Eyeye
• Hoopfish
• Mesmer (Rare.)
• Peeper
• Reaper Leviathan (Southernmost areas, near the Aurora.)
• Reefback Leviathan (In the waters above the Bulb Zone.)
• Shoal of Fish
• Shuttlebug
• Warper

Flora native to the Bulb Zone

• Bulb Bush
• Cave Bush
• Ghost Weed
• Pygmy Fan
• Redwort
• Rouge Cradle
• Sea Crown
• Spotted Dockleaf
• Spotted Reeds
• Violet Beau
• Writhing Weed

Coral native to the Bulb Zone

• Brain Coral
• Coral Shell Plate
• Slanted Shell Plate
• Table Coral
• Veined Shell Plate

Placeable Items

The following Placeable Items are found in Bulb Zone Wrecks:

• Carry-all

Gallery

Overview

Another view

Bulb Zone Bioluminescence at night

A rare type of seaweed, found only in the Bulb Zone

The Bulb Zone features a large variety of Flora and Coral

The area in which the Alien Cache can be found

A Giant Bulb Bush

A small cluster of Bulb Bushes

A Lava Geyser in the Bulb Zone

The border between the Mountains and the Bulb Zone

A small trench within the Bulb Zone

An immense bridge-like structure in the deeper part of the Bulb Zone

A small cluster of Flora, including the only Redwort and Violet Beau found in the Bulb Zone

A large dune, the border with the Crash Zone

A Lithium Deposit in the Bulb Zone

The border bridge between the Mushroom Forest and the Bulb Zone

The Supply Crate in the Bulb Zone

The tunnel leading to the Lost River and Inactive Lava Zone

Ampeels in the Bulb Zone

One of the Wrecks near a Lava Geyser

Concept art

Bulb Zone at night Concept Art

Trivia

The Bulb Zone was originally named the Koosh Zone, but it was renamed to prevent potential copyright infringements.

In early versions of the game, the ambience for this biome on the surface contained a strange horn that could be heard in the distance. This ambience was shared with the unused Arctic biome. It is likely these were placeholders for these biomes.