You’ve finally made it to Sulani. The sun is setting, the water is a perfect shade of turquoise, and your Sim is living their best life in a stilt house over the lagoon. But then you look at the Conservationist career track or the "Beach Life" aspiration requirements and see that pesky task: survey ocean wildlife in The Sims 4. If you’re like most players, you probably spent twenty minutes clicking on the water only to find... nothing. Just "Swim Here" or "Snorkel." It's frustrating. Honestly, the game doesn't do a great job of explaining that this isn't just about clicking a random spot in the ocean.
You need a specific set of circumstances to make this work. It’s not a bug, though it feels like one sometimes. Most people get stuck because they think they can just dive in anywhere and find data. Nope. Sulani is picky. You’re basically playing a marine biologist, and biologists need more than just a swimsuit; they need the right location and a bit of "Mermadic" luck or high-end gear.
👉 See also: Misko's Treasure of Awakening 2: Tracking Down the Trousers of Awakening in Tears of the Kingdom
Where to Actually Find the Wildlife
Finding the right spot is half the battle. You can’t just survey the water near the Sand Bar bar or the busy docks of Ohan'ali Town. You need to head to the Mua Pel'am neighborhood. This is the "nature" part of Sulani, the place with the volcano and the waterfall. It’s the heart of the conservation gameplay added in the Island Living expansion.
Once you’re in Mua Pel'am, look for those green or colorful patches of coral and seaweed under the surface. You'll often see schools of fish shimmering or even a sea turtle if the island’s ecosystem is healthy enough. These are your "spawn points." If you click on the water near these active areas, the option to Survey Ocean Wildlife should pop up. If it doesn't? You might not be close enough to a "Buoy" or a specific fishing spot that doubles as a survey zone.
It’s worth noting that the state of the island matters immensely. If Sulani is "polluted" (the starting state for most new saves), the wildlife is sparse. You’ll see more trash than fish. As you perform other conservation tasks—like picking up sulfur or chasing away invasive species—the wildlife population booms. Suddenly, surveying becomes way easier because the "active" spots increase.
The Gear and Traits You Actually Need
Can a level 1 Fitness Sim do this? Technically, yes. Is it a nightmare? Absolutely. Your Sim is going to get tired fast. To survey ocean wildlife in The Sims 4 effectively, you really want to grab a snorkel or, better yet, a diving suit from a diving buoy.
Why the Diving Buoy is King
The red and black buoys scattered around the deeper water in Mua Pel'am are your best friends. These aren't just for show. You can buy gear directly from them. If you buy the Snorkel Gear or the Rebreather, your Sim stays underwater longer and builds the relevant hidden "Diving" skill faster.
- Buy the gear from the buoy.
- Click the buoy and select "Survey Ocean Wildlife."
- Watch your Sim disappear for a bit and come back with data.
Sometimes the option is greyed out. Why? Usually, it's because your Sim's energy is too low or they are "Uncomfortable" because they're freezing (yes, even in Sulani) or they just saw a shark. Keep an eye on those moodlets. A stressed Sim is a bad researcher.
The Mermaid Advantage
If you’re playing as a Mermaid, you have a massive leg up. Mermaids don’t need gear. They have a natural connection to the sea, obviously. They can "Call Over" certain sea creatures which makes surveying them a breeze. If you’re struggling with a human Sim, honestly, just eat some Mermadic Kelp and join the fish people. It makes the career grind about 50% faster.
Career Perks and Secret Interactions
If you’re in the Conservationist career, specifically the Marine Biologist branch, you get unique interactions that the average beachcomber doesn't. At higher levels, you can "Survey Biodiversity." This is basically the "pro" version of the standard survey task.
It provides way more "Research Data," which you then have to go home and upload to your computer. Don't forget that step! Surveying gives you the "raw data" in your inventory (it looks like a little thumb drive or folder icon), but you haven't actually finished the job until you sit down at a laptop and "Upload Research Data."
The Dolphin Connection
Did you know dolphins count? If you see a pod of dolphins, click them! If your relationship with a specific dolphin is high enough, you can "Perform Research" on them. This counts toward your survey goals and usually gives you much higher-quality data than just staring at a patch of coral. Plus, it’s just more fun than clicking on a buoy.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Progress
People often complain that their Sim just stands on the shore and won't go into the water when told to survey. This usually happens because of "routing errors." Sulani’s water-to-land transitions are notoriously wonky. If you’re trying to survey a spot that’s too far out, try swimming your Sim out to the general area first, then clicking the "Survey" option once they are already treading water.
Also, check the weather. If there’s a monsoon or a thunderstorm, the "Survey" option often disappears or becomes dangerous. Lighting strikes in the ocean are a real thing in Seasons, and a fried Sim can’t finish their dissertation on sea turtles.
Improving Sulani to Unlock More Wildlife
The island has three "evolution" stages. You start at stage one (Heavy Pollution). At this stage, you might only find common fish and some sad-looking coral. By the time you reach stage three (Thriving Ecosystem), you’ll see glowing night-lights in the water, rare butterfly fish, and massive sea turtles.
- Stage 1: Hard to find anything to survey. Mostly trash.
- Stage 2: Schools of fish return. "Survey" spots appear more frequently near the volcano.
- Stage 3: Rare wildlife spawns. Surveying these gives "Epic" quality data.
To get to Stage 3 quickly, stop focusing only on the survey task. Spend a day just "Scanning for Invasive Species" or "Combating Local Poachers." The faster the island heals, the easier your specific job becomes. It’s a feedback loop.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
If you’re ready to wrap up that promotion or finish your aspiration, do this exactly:
- Travel to the "Admiral's Wreckage" lot in Mua Pel'am. It's the one with the big ship-house.
- Head directly to the water near the base of the volcano.
- Look for a Diving Buoy (the orange/red floating markers).
- If your Sim has the "Child of the Ocean" trait, make sure they are in a good mood first, or they’ll get sad if they see you "harvesting" data.
- Click the buoy and select Survey Ocean Wildlife.
- If the buoy doesn't work, look for the swirling "fishing" ripples in the water—sometimes these allow for a "Survey" interaction even if you aren't fishing.
- Go home immediately after and use a computer to "Upload Research Data" to ensure you get the career credit.
Don't let the lack of a clear tutorial stop you. Sulani is one of the most beautiful worlds in the game, and once you master the locations of those hidden survey spots, the Conservationist career becomes one of the most rewarding (and highest-paying) paths you can take. Grab your fins and get out there.