The Into the Abyss update finally opens Brookhollow Park’s pond, turning Skunk Pond into a full end-game region with underwater progression, new resources, and its own set of predators. Getting there is not a single swim to the bottom. The pond sits behind a chain of connected land zones, and reaching its deepest parts also depends on the right diving gear and the amphibious Toe Biter Buggy.
Quick answer: Head southeast from the Ice Cream Cart Ranger Outpost to unlock the Gnarly Bark zone and the Toe Biter Buggy, then move through the central Pergola area and drop into the Bridge area below the Pumpkin Patch. Both connect straight to Skunk Pond’s shore, and from there you dive into the Pond Zone.
What you need before entering Skunk Pond
You can reach the shoreline and the shallow banks with almost nothing, but exploring the pond properly requires basic underwater gear. The two early pieces are the Gill Tube, which extends how long you can stay submerged, and Fin Flops, which speed up your swimming. Both come from analyzing pond materials you can gather once you have the right tool.
The deepest sections and the Diving Station route add two more requirements. You need the full three-piece Diving Suit, unlocked through Aquatic Optical Disks, and the Toe Biter Buggy, which travels across both land and water. Without them, adult Toe Biters and the darker, colder depths will end most trips quickly.
| Requirement | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| Gill Tube | Adds oxygen for the first pond and Diving Station route |
| Fin Flops | Improves swim speed while crossing and descending the pond |
| Toe Biter Buggy | Amphibious mount for crossing land and water and reaching deep spots |
| Full Diving Suit | Required for the deepest sections and the Abyss scanner |
Reach the Gnarly Bark area first
Gnarly Bark is the first zone worth visiting, because it unlocks one of the most important pieces of progression in the update, the Toe Biter Buggy. To get there, start at the Ice Cream Cart Ranger Outpost and travel southeast, then keep pushing south until you find the new Ranger Station.
Activate the Gnarly Bark Ranger Station to enable its PTS Fast Travel System, which needs Raw Science to unlock before it works. From there you can explore the rotten tree at your own pace. Expect heavy resistance from Striped Bark Scorpions, O.R.K. enemies, Bees, Ants, Ladybugs, and Orb Weavers strung across the bark.
Inside the Memorial POI you will face the Papa Toe Biter boss and its Nymphs, which are dangerous even without the boss present. The zone is also rich in materials, including Chocolate Chunks, Golden Foil, and the new Bug Parts used to craft the fresh armor sets.
Cross through the Pergola area
The Pergola area sits right in the middle of the map, east of the Ice Cream Cart zone, with a northern route through the Sinkhole Anthill that connects to the Pumpkin Patch. Reaching it and activating Ranger Outpost: Pergola gives you another fast travel point and puts you within reach of the pond’s northern shore.
This zone holds two standout points of interest. The Crow’s Nest is an elevated maze reached by following a treacherous path up a gnarling vine, and it hides the Optical Disk that unlocks the Zipline. Watch for the discovery prompt when you first climb into the nest.
The Pergola connects directly to the northern shore of Skunk Pond and gives you a reliable entry point for the update’s new materials. From the Monster Barn POI you can dive straight in to fish out Koi Fish Scales and collect Phantom Quartz and Eelgrass Strands.
Drop into the Bridge area for the smoothest pond entry
Located right below the Pumpkin Patch, the Bridge area is the easiest place to ease into pond swimming. Its banks give you quick access to basic pond materials such as Pond Boatman Fins and Eelgrass Strands, and the water here is calmer because it lacks the violent water Nymphs found in Skunk Pond itself.
It still has its own hazards. You will run into Tiger Mosquitoes, Green Shield Beetles, Water Fleas, and Diver Bell Spiders, along with an Infected (Woozy) zone that needs special gear to avoid collapsing on the spot. Treat this area as a testing ground for the new Harpoon weapon before you commit to the deeper pond.
There are collectibles and Mollars to grab here too, plus landmarks like the Princess Blizz muddy tomb and the Bridge Gnome, both packed with loot. From the Bridge, the transition into Skunk Pond is the smoothest in the whole update.
Enter the Skunk Pond zone
Skunk Pond is the end-game region of Into the Abyss, and the Bridge connects directly to it. Diving and swimming gear plus the Toe Biter Buggy are mandatory here if you want to reach the deepest spots. The surface alone is a threat, filled with Water Lilies guarded by Tiger Mosquitoes and other aggressive bugs.
Below the surface you will meet adult Toe Biters, Tadpoles, Diver Bell Spiders, and the massive Koi Carps that dominate the pond. This is where the update’s best scenery and rarest resources sit, so preparation matters more than aggression.
One of the first targets should be the Diving Station. It holds the Pond Aquatic Optical Disk, unlocks more functions of your SCA.B 2K, and lets you start building underwater bases. Diving to the depths rewards you with Phantom Quartz, Koi Fish Scales, Rust, and Golden Foil, the materials behind Tier 4 gear needed to fight The Stranger and her O.R.C. minions.
Zone access summary
| Zone | How to reach it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Gnarly Bark | Southeast from Ice Cream Cart Ranger Outpost, then south to the Ranger Station | Unlocks the Toe Biter Buggy and Papa Toe Biter boss |
| Pergola | Center of the map, east of Ice Cream Cart, with northern Sinkhole Anthill access | Connects to the northern shore of Skunk Pond and the Zipline disk |
| Bridge | Directly below the Pumpkin Patch | Easiest, safest transition into Skunk Pond |
| Skunk Pond | Dive in from the Bridge or Pergola shore | End-game Pond Zone with the Diving Station and Tier 4 materials |
You will know the pond is fully open to you once the Toe Biter Buggy carries you across the water, the Diving Station gives you the Pond Aquatic Optical Disk, and your Diving Suit lets you stay under long enough to reach the depths. From that point, every dive into Skunk Pond becomes a source of new resources rather than a quick trip to the respawn screen.
