So you finally reached Stormblood's Ruby Sea and are simply itching to explore the depths. However, when you try to descend underwater the way they showed us during the pre-release reveals, you'll find the surface of the water rather impenetrable. So how do you actually dive underwater? And what does that entail once you can?
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Short answer: you unlock diving during Final Fantasy XIV's MSQ (Main Scenario Questline). Just keep chipping away at it and you'll get there eventually.
Unsatisfied with short answers? Well good, so am I. Let's jump into it, shall we?
How to Unlock Diving in FFXIV: Stormblood
You unlock diving via the level 63 MSQ 'In Soroban We Trust', which rather ironically starts in a town situated at the bottom of the ocean called Tamamizu. You'll make your way there via an underwater cavern during a level 62 MSQ called 'Under the Sea'.
After rendezvousing with Alisaie on the western island of the Ruby Sea, round the bend to find a cave entrance surrounded by green lights. Enter the cave and drop down into the water below. Follow the path forward and you'll come out in the underwater village of Tamamizu.
Once you find your way to the town under the sea and reach the MSQ 'In Soroban We Trust', you'll finally unlock the ability to dive underwater.
How Diving Works
Now you can explore under the sea by either walking out of one of the portals in the underwater towns or by using the Flying/Diving - Descend key (Default: Ctrl + Spacebar). If you happen to be flying, you can even dive straight into the water if you hit it at a certain angle.
There is no breath meter, so feel free to swim around and explore the depths for as long as you like. Additionally, when you learn how to dive, all of your flying mounts gain the ability to swim underwater as well. You could even throw all logic out the window and ride your Flying Cumulus cloud underwater.
You may even start to prefer diving with your trusty steed around the Ruby Sea until you gain the ability to fly in that zone. Swimming on a mount is just as fast as flying, which makes getting around the map far easier.
Now get out there and explore the waters of FFXIV with your newfound diving ability! And be sure to check out the rest of our Stormblood guides to get the most out of this new expansion.
There are six brand new expansive maps to explore in Final Fantasy XIV's new 'Stormblood' expansion, which means the infamous Aether Current collect-a-thon is back for those of us that hope to earn the ability to fly across these new areas. But who really wants to stare at coordinates and try to find their way from point to point?
Whether you lost your Aether Compass or simply don't know how to get started, we're here to show you how to unlock all of the Aether Currents in FFXIV by only the tools the game gives to you -- that way you don't have to waste your time Alt-Tabbing to figure out where everything is.
First thing's first, though: you're going to need an Aether Compass to find the stray currents. If you've lost or discarded the Aether Compass (found in your Key Items Inventory), you'll need to pick up a new one.
How to get a new Aether Compass in 'Stormblood'
If you've already sunk your teeth into 'Stormblood', there's no reason to trek all the way back to Ishgard. After the level 60 MSQ (Main Scenario Quest) called 'A Bargain Struck', you can go to Gaufrid in Rhalgr's Reach (x14.3,y9.6) to get a new Aether Compass.
Alternatively, if you're a bit earlier in the MSQ (or are simply in the area), you can head to the Forgotten Knights tavern in Ishgard - Foundation (x13,y11) and speak to Gibrillont for a new Aether Compass.
How to Unlock Aether Currents in FFXIV
Once you have your Aether Compass, open up the Key Items tab and drag that puppy onto a hotbar. You're going to be using it a lot and you don't want to have to open your inventory and go through a selection menu every time you pop it.
I prefer to search for Aether Currents only after uncovering a sizable chunk of the map to make it easier to predict where they'll be. Follow the MSQ around for a while, since not only will it send you on expeditions across the map, but it'll also unlock the four Aether Current side quests in each area, which are marked by a quest icon with a '+' and a blue background, like the one on the right.
Once you're ready to catch the stray Aether Currents, position yourself in any corner of the map and follow these simple steps:
- Pop your Aether Compass to discover how far away the nearest current is and in which direction it's found.
- Examine the map and make an educated guess on its location before heading off in its direction.
- Continue to pop your compass when it's off cooldown and adjust your heading if need be. When you get within 70-50 yalms, it should be easily visible. Keep in mind that they're normally found in high up or unique places.
- Attune to the Aether Current and repeat from step 1 until you've hit every current on the map. (You can check your progress from the Travel menu.)
Note that you won't be able to reach every Aether Current on your first visit to either The Fringes or The Peaks, so it may be worth waiting on those maps until later in the MSQ.
You'll gain the ability to fly on a map after attuning to its 10 stray Aether Currents and completing the five quests that unlock them on that map (four side quests and one MSQ). Remember, the key to unlocking the side quests is to simply continue on the MSQ until they pop up.
Oh, and now that you can fly on these new maps, why not try that fancy aerial diving maneuver? For more FFXIV 'Stormblood' guides, look no further: