If your Tadpole suddenly teleports back to its moonpool while you are exploring in Subnautica 2, you are not imagining things. A growing number of players have encountered a strange Tadpole teleport bug that instantly sends the vehicle back to its dock or moonpool from surprisingly far away.
The issue has become one of the more talked-about vehicle glitches in Subnautica 2 Early Access, especially among players traveling between the second area and their main base. In most cases, the bug happens without warning and can feel extremely disorienting the first time it triggers.
Here is what players currently know about the Subnautica 2 Tadpole dock glitch, possible causes, and a few temporary fixes that may help reduce the problem.
According to community reports across Reddit, Steam forums, and Discord discussions, the bug usually happens when players are returning home from long exploration runs.
Many players say the teleportation occurs roughly 200 to 300 meters away from their base, often while driving directly toward the moonpool. Instead of smoothly approaching the dock, the Tadpole suddenly snaps back into place as if the auto-docking system activated too early.
Some players have also linked the issue to the Unstuck feature, reporting delayed teleportation several minutes after using it.
Multiplayer sessions may increase the chances of the bug as well due to possible desync problems between the vehicle and docking system.
For now, slowing down near your base, avoiding direct approaches to the dock, and restarting multiplayer sessions are the most common temporary workarounds players are using until an official fix arrives.
Read Also: How to Fix the Tadpole Visibility Problem in Subnautica 2
What Is the Subnautica 2 Tadpole Teleport Bug?
The Subnautica 2 Tadpole teleport bug causes the vehicle to instantly snap back to the nearest or most recently used Tadpole dock or moonpool.
Players report:
- randomly teleporting while driving home
- instant auto-docking from 200–300 meters away
- the Tadpole disappearing and reappearing at base
- delayed teleportation after using the Unstuck feature
- multiplayer desync issues causing strange vehicle behavior
For many players, the issue usually happens while approaching their base directly from open water.
One Reddit player described the bug as:
“VWOOSH i just teleport back to my tadpole dock.”
Another player said the bug made them feel like they “lost memory” because of how sudden the teleportation looked during gameplay.
Why the Tadpole Randomly Teleports to the Dock
Right now, the exact cause has not been officially confirmed, but the community believes the issue is connected to the Tadpole’s auto-docking system.
According to player testing and reports:
- the moonpool docking trigger may activate too early
- the game may falsely detect docking alignment
- loading zones near bases may bug out
- multiplayer synchronization can break vehicle positioning
- the Unstuck feature may activate with a delay
Some players noticed the bug happens more often when:
- driving straight toward the moonpool
- approaching the dock at high speed
- returning from distant biomes
- playing co-op multiplayer sessions
Several players also report that the Tadpole teleport bug tends to occur while their base is still loading in. Because of this, many fans believe the game accidentally recognizes the vehicle as already docked before the player actually reaches the moonpool. In multiplayer sessions, desync between players and vehicles may make the issue even more noticeable, especially during long-distance travel.
The strange part is how sudden the glitch feels during gameplay. One moment you are cruising normally through open water, and the next your vehicle instantly snaps back into the dock without any animation or warning. Some players initially thought their game froze or skipped time because of how abrupt the teleportation looks.
At the moment, the issue appears to be a genuine Early Access bug rather than a corrupted save file. Fortunately, most reports suggest the bug is annoying but not permanently damaging to the Tadpole or the player’s world save.
Read Also: Subnautica 2 Stacked Rooms Not Connecting? How to Fix Ladder and Vertical Base Building Problems
How to Fix the Subnautica 2 Tadpole Teleport Bug
There is currently no permanent fix for the Tadpole auto-docking glitch, but players have found several temporary workarounds that can reduce how often it happens.
Slow Down Near Your Base
Many players report the teleport bug triggers while approaching the moonpool too quickly. Slowing down before reaching your base may help prevent the auto-docking system from bugging out.
Some players also recommend briefly stopping outside the base area for a few seconds to let structures and docking zones fully load before moving closer with the Tadpole.
Avoid Driving Directly Into the Dock
Instead of approaching the Tadpole dock head-on from long distance, try approaching from the side or at a slight angle.
This seems to reduce accidental instant docking triggers. Several players believe the game incorrectly detects perfect docking alignment too early when approaching in a straight line.
Use the Unstuck Feature Carefully
Some players noticed delayed teleportation after using the Unstuck feature. Even if nothing happens immediately, the game may still process the command later.
If possible, avoid repeatedly using Unstuck during long exploration runs. A few players recommend saving and restarting the session after using the feature to reduce the chances of delayed vehicle teleportation.
Rebuild or Reposition the Moonpool
A few players reported fewer docking problems after rebuilding or slightly repositioning their Tadpole dock or moonpool.
This does not work for everyone, but it may help reset bugged docking detection. Moving the moonpool farther away from crowded base structures may also improve vehicle behavior in some saves.
Restart Multiplayer Sessions
If you are playing co-op, restarting the host session may temporarily fix multiplayer desync issues tied to vehicles and docking.
Many multiplayer bugs in Subnautica 2 Early Access appear connected to synchronization problems, and restarting the lobby can sometimes refresh vehicle positioning properly.
For now, these fixes are only temporary workarounds, but they can make the Tadpole teleport bug much less frustrating until Unknown Worlds releases future stability patches for the game.
Is Unknown Worlds Aware of the Bug?
While there is no official permanent fix yet, the Subnautica 2 community has widely documented the issue across Reddit, Steam discussions, Discord servers, and Early Access feedback threads.
The Tadpole teleport bug appears to be part of the broader group of vehicle, moonpool, and docking glitches currently affecting Subnautica 2 Early Access. Multiple players have reported nearly identical problems, including instant auto-docking, random vehicle teleportation, delayed Unstuck effects, and strange multiplayer desync behavior near bases.
Because so many reports share the same symptoms, most players believe the issue is already on the developers’ radar even if Unknown Worlds has not publicly addressed it in patch notes yet. Early Access games frequently experience physics and synchronization problems like this, especially when vehicles, multiplayer systems, and loading zones interact at the same time.
Fortunately, most players report that:
- saves are usually safe
- the Tadpole is not permanently lost
- the issue is annoying but rarely game-breaking
In most cases, the vehicle simply snaps back into the moonpool instead of disappearing entirely. While the bug can interrupt exploration and feel incredibly confusing during long trips, it does not appear to permanently corrupt progression for the majority of players.
So if your submarine suddenly gets pulled back into the moonpool like some invisible sci-fi tractor beam, you are definitely not the only one dealing with it right now.
FAQ
Why does my Tadpole keep teleporting back to the dock in Subnautica 2?
The issue is likely caused by a bugged auto-docking system, loading zone problem, or multiplayer desync issue in Subnautica 2 Early Access. Many players report the Tadpole randomly snapping back to the moonpool while approaching their base from long distance.
Can the Unstuck feature cause the Tadpole teleport bug?
Possibly. Some players report delayed teleportation after using the Unstuck command. Even if nothing happens immediately, the game may still process the feature later and force the vehicle back toward the dock or moonpool.
Is the Tadpole dock glitch happening in multiplayer?
Yes. Many community reports suggest multiplayer sessions increase the chances of vehicle teleportation, docking glitches, and synchronization bugs. Co-op play appears to make Tadpole positioning issues more common during long exploration trips.
Is there an official fix for the Subnautica 2 teleport bug?
Not yet. Players are currently relying on temporary workarounds like slowing down near the moonpool, avoiding direct docking approaches, rebuilding the dock, and restarting multiplayer sessions while waiting for future Early Access patches.
Can the Tadpole teleport bug corrupt your save file?
So far, most players report their saves remain safe even after experiencing the glitch multiple times. The bug is frustrating and immersion-breaking, but it does not appear to permanently damage progression in most cases.
Does rebuilding the moonpool fix the teleport issue?
For some players, yes. Rebuilding or repositioning the Tadpole dock may help reset bugged docking detection, although results vary depending on the save and multiplayer conditions.