While exploring the vast open world ofHorizon Forbidden West, players may come across the quest ‘Drowned Hope’ at the Carja Camp in the canyons southwest of Barren Light, or the many Sunken Caverns marked by white waves on the map. Unfortunately, however, players will need to wait a while before they can do anything with them.
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Neither can the quest be completed nor the caverns fully explored until Aloy has the Diving Mask in her inventory; a special device that allows her to swim underwater indefinitely without needing to resurface for air. This guide will help players to obtain the mask so that they can complete the quest and explore the many underwater regions ofHorizon Forbidden Westunimpeded.
How to Unlock the Diving Mask
Much likethe vine cutter tool that is used to destroy Metal Flowers, the Diving Mask can only be obtained after the player hascompleted the main story quest ‘The Eye of the Earth’, which gives them access to the westernmost part of the map.
Once they have done so, they will be given three more main quests to pursue which they’ll be able to tackle in any order they choose. to obtain the Diving Mask, the player mustcomplete the second most difficult of the three, a level 22 quest called ‘The Sea of Sands’.
How to Craft the Diving Mask (Mild Location Spoilers Ahead)
‘The Sea of Sands’ takes Aloy tothe relic filled ruins ofThe Stillsands, which is in the desertfar to the southwest of ‘The Base’and unlocked after completing ‘The Eye of the Earth’. When players arrive at the sand-smothered city, they shouldhead to the stark pagoda-like buildingin the middle which iscalled the ‘Tower of Tears’and is initially marked on the map with a question mark.
Aloy will notice water pouring out from the tower and willenter to investigate. After a cutscene and an optional conversation with an Oseram delver named Morlund, the player will be tasked withrecovering a Compressed Air Capsule and gathering some Machine Partsto make the Diving Mask that Aloy needs to continue on with her quest.
Where to Find the Compressed Air Capsule
The Compressed Air Capsule is easily foundin the sunken elevator shaftthat the Oseram were seen running out of.Simply jump in and swim downto the quest marker,finding the Capsule on a yellow elevator counterweight about halfway downthe shaft. The oxygen meter is more than generous and even extends a good few seconds after it runs out, giving Aloy plenty of time to grab the gear and swim back up.
Where to Find the Machine Parts for the Diving Mask
The Machine Parts are a little harder to find. Players shouldleave the building and follow the marker southofthe breathtaking Las Vegas ruinsto the tracks of a machine heard. If they use Aloy’s focus, they’ll then be able tofollow the tracks further south to some Burrowers. Beyond the machines is a Bellowback Convoy consisting of two Leaplashers, a Longleg and a Frost Bellowback.
Players can ignore the Burrowers if they’re stealthy enough, though they may want to take them out to avoid getting overwhelmed. Once they’re dealt with,players shouldfind the Convoy and kill the machines. If the player loses them, they can always find their tracks again using Aloy’s focus.
The Frost Bellowback is weak to Fire damageand has three Spark Canisters on its underbelly that will explode when shot with Shock ammo. Dealing enough damage to the Sacs on their back and neck will also cause an elemental explosion which may help take out the other machines.
Leaplashers are weak to Purgewater ammoand have a Powercell above their tail that will explode when hit with Shock ammo. They also have two Acid Canisters on their back that will do the same when shot with the corresponding ammo type.
Finally,the Longleg is weak to Shockand, similarly, has Shock Canisters behind its wings that are vulnerable to attack. It also has components that will detach for massive damage when targeted on its chest, head, and wings. As always, players can make use of Aloy’s (no doubt sweat-soaked) focus and her notebook to examine any weaknesses if they get stuck.
After downing all of the machines, players will need toloot their remainsfor the Machine Knee Cap and Synthetic Membrane and thentake the materials back to the Tower. There, they’ll need to speak with Morlund again, and he willdirect Aloy to the workbench where she can craft the Diving Maskunder the ‘Special Gear’ tab.
With the diving mask now crafted, Aloy is free to explorethe Metroidvania-like depths of the Forbidden Westwithout worrying about running out of oxygen, enabling the player to complete ‘Drowned Hope’ quest and harvest any Greenshine in the Sunken Caverns that are scattered around the map.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available now for PS4 and PS5.
