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While exploring the vast open world of Horizon 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 of Horizon Forbidden West unimpeded.

How to Unlock the Diving Mask

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Much like the vine cutter tool that is used to destroy Metal Flowers, the Diving Mask can only be obtained after the player has completed 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. In order to obtain the Diving Mask, the player must complete 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)

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‘The Sea of Sands’ takes Aloy to the relic filled ruins of The Stillsands, which is in the desert far to the southwest of ‘The Base’ and unlocked after completing ‘The Eye of the Earth’. When players arrive at the sand-smothered city, they should head to the stark pagoda-like building in the middle which is called 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 will enter to investigate. After a cutscene and an optional conversation with an Oseram delver named Morlund, the player will be tasked with recovering a Compressed Air Capsule and gathering some Machine Parts to make the Diving Mask that Aloy needs to continue on with her quest.

Where to Find the Compressed Air Capsule

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The Compressed Air Capsule is easily found in the sunken elevator shaft that the Oseram were seen running out of. Simply jump in and swim down to the quest marker, finding the Capsule on a yellow elevator counterweight about halfway down the 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

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The Machine Parts are a little harder to find. Players should leave the building and follow the marker south of the breathtaking Las Vegas ruins to the tracks of a machine heard. If they use Aloy’s focus, they'll then be able to follow 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 should find 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 damage and 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 ammo and 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 Shock and, 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 to loot their remains for the Machine Knee Cap and Synthetic Membrane and then take the materials back to the Tower. There, they'll need to speak with Morlund again, and he will direct Aloy to the workbench where she can craft the Diving Mask under the 'Special Gear' tab.

With the diving mask now crafted, Aloy is free to explore the Metroidvania-like depths of the Forbidden West without 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 West is available now for PS4 and PS5.

MORE: Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Guide & Walkthrough