Most players treat the ocean like it's just map filler, but if you're messing around with GTA 5 Modded Accounts or running a clean save, it's still worth dipping under the surface because Rockstar actually hid a full-on collectible hunt down there. The Submarine Parts side quest is one of those odd little detours that feels quiet in a game that's usually loud. It's only meant to pay off with Michael, so don't expect the proper story beats to fire if you stick with Trevor or Franklin. It's 30 metal fragments, all scattered across the seabed, and it turns Los Santos into a slow, methodical scavenger run.

How to unlock the hunt

You can't trigger it right away. First, you need to be past "The Merryweather Heist" in the main story. After that, head up the west coast to Paleto Cove and buy the Sonar Collections Dock. It's $250,000, which feels like a lot if you've been wasting money on rims and paint, but it's the key that opens everything. Any character can purchase the dock, but you'll want to switch to Michael to kick off "Death at Sea." Abigail Mathers will be waiting there, stressed out and pushy, and she'll point you at the wrecked sub and the "parts" she wants pulled up.

Gear, tools, and the basic loop

Once it starts, the game basically hands you your routine. You get access to a dinghy with sonar, and you'll auto-equip scuba gear when you hop in the water, so you're not fighting the oxygen meter every ten seconds. Use the sonar to get into the right patch of water, because the target area is big. Then swap to your in-game phone and open Trackify. That app is the real workhorse here. It'll pulse and point you toward the nearest fragment, which matters because some pieces blend into the junk on the seafloor until you're right on top of them.

What makes it fun (and what gets annoying)

A few parts are close to shore and feel like freebies. Others are deep, tucked beside wreckage, or sitting under awkward metal frames that make you circle around like an idiot before you spot the pickup prompt. Visibility can be rough in kelp beds, and the lighting down there gets eerie fast. You'll also run into wildlife now and then, and even if you're not terrified of sharks, it's still a jump when something big slides past your shoulder. My advice is simple: don't rush it, surface often to reorient, and use the minimap plus Trackify instead of trusting your eyes.

Finishing the set and the payoff

Once you've grabbed all 30 fragments, the trip back to Abigail is what makes the whole thing feel like more than a checklist. It's a small story, but it's got that GTA vibe where you're never totally sure who's being honest. If you're trying to wrap it up efficiently, plan a route and knock out clusters in the same stretch of coastline, then come up for air and reset your bearings before the next dive, especially if you're also juggling other grinds and thinking about how people buy GTA 5 Accounts to skip the slow parts and get straight to the fun.