- See also: Mo'ia Atoll
The Underwater Ruins of Mo'ia Atoll is a sub-stage in Endless Ocean.
During the player's first visit, "Amazing Grace" by Hayley Westenra initially plays in the background, replaced by "Hine E Hine" once the crack in the ceiling has collapsed. Following this, both songs can be selected from a menu during loading screens in order to loop in the background while diving.
In-Game[]
Loading Description[]
"A temple built by the decree of seven ancient kings. It now lies abandoned."
Flora, Fauna, and Geography[]
Local Life[]
The wildlife seen above Central Hall at night.
Larger creatures such as Atlantic tarpon, a lone Asian sheepshead wrasse, a mysterious beluga, Nomura's jellyfish (night only), and a pod of bottlenose dolphins are found exclusively in the Ruins. There are also smaller creatures that can only be found here, such as the horseshoe crab and the elusive isoginpo.
Within this stage, there are also a number of species seen elsewhere across Manoa Lai, including a few green sea turtles that roam some of the halls, patrolling whale sharks (one by day, two at night), and several familiar zoom species. The large flat rocks surrounding the Ruins can have zoom-mode spots that are home to small fish like whitespotted boxfish and red-spotted blennies. The rock walls surrounding the stage are also frequently home to orange skunk clownfish, as well as the occasional Cinderella sea slug.
The Ruins are also home to a healthy array of sea slugs; though many of these species can be found elsewhere, there is an unusually diverse congregation here. These sea slugs include striped white sea slugs found in the hallway structures to the northwest, orange and black sea slugs found upon the large flat rocks on the ocean floor around the Ruins structure itself, and parade-float sea slugs found on those same rocks. Others that seem to be more active here than anywhere else include the spotted white, branched, and luminescent sea slugs, all of which are found on the floors inside of the Ruins.
Location and Geography[]
The Underwater Ruins of Mo'ia Atoll can be accessed by entering Mo'ia Atoll from coordinates D-6 in the southwestern area of the Manoa Lai main stage.
Some of the passageways within the Ruins are blocked by unnaturally strong currents, caused by ancient mechanisms spouting water at a high enough pressure that the player is swept away, and cannot swim against the artificial current. This can make navigating the halls somewhat difficult, if the player does not know their way around.
Six mysterious stone monuments are found scattered across the stage. Upon initially focusing on one, the text written on them is unreadable, but once the player has received an email from Gregor Mueller concerning any given monument, the meaning of said monument is translated.
The fragmented salvages found in the Ruins are the Deity Idol and the Inscribed Nephrite, both of which are in four scattered pieces. As well as these, the Jewel of Life can eventually be unlocked and found here in front of the rocks shaped like faces, which in turn unlocks the orca in Ship's Rest during the daytime.
Spots[]
Inside the Ruins[]
Inside the Ruins.
Inside the Ruins of Mo'ia Atoll lies a mazelike configuration of sprawling hallways and rooms, with small holes in the ceiling shedding sunlight onto the floor of the otherwise dim passageways. Through here, most of the other rooms in the Ruins can be accessed. Multiple stone monuments are scattered throughout here.
There are two one-way hallways, one of which leads into Central Hall and the other of which leads to the room with a hole in the ceiling.
Central Hall[]
Central Hall is, as its name suggests, in the center of the Ruins. This spot is home to several species of smaller fish, but the main attraction here is the only pod of bottlenose dolphins in the game. Along with this, a dead-end tunnel located near the bottom of the Hall leads to one of six stone tablets situated all around the Ruins. One of the Ruins' characteristic one-way hallways leads here.
Room of Oracles[]
The Room of Oracles.
Accessed inside the Ruins, the Room of Oracles is a large empty room lit up by several holes in the ceiling. Members of the pod of bottlenose dolphins found in Central Hall will occasionally come here at night, and a green sea turtle also makes its rounds here, alongside several small reef fish. This is also the location of a stone monument.
Lore Locations[]
Prince's Room[]
Though not officially given a name in-game, this small room is adjacent to the room with the hole in the ceiling, and can only be accessed once said ceiling has been collapsed. Stairs lead downward here towards a stone monument, which a lone beluga swims around once it has been unlocked by collecting the Ancient Bracelet.
Story Significance[]
Strong currents will block the entrance to the Ruins, before the player has received an email requesting they perform some research on whale shark migration routes. This is triggered by exploring The Abyss and discovering Whalebone Chasm. The email in question goes as follows:
| Whale Shark Migratory Routes |
|---|
| From: Alfred Thorman
As such, we would like you to investigate the migratory routes of whale sharks that inhabit the Manoa Lai region. Our research indicates that whale sharks can be found around the sunken reefs in the southwest area of the map, and also near Mo'ia Atoll. Please see what you can find. -Alfred Thorman |
When the player visits Mo'ia Atoll and spots a whale shark, Katherine will suggest grabbing onto the shark to record its migration route. Doing so will result in the player being taken through the strong currents with the shark, accessing the Ruins for the first time.
When the player first discovers the Ruins, Kat will come over the radio after a short pause, astonished:
Katherine: "Oh my gosh... That's amazing! This isn't supposed to be here. There are no reports of ancient ruins in this area... Could this have something to do with Manoa Lai's legendary flood?
Listen, this is a big deal. Let's leave the whale shark research for now. Search this area for as long as you can, then get back to the boat."
After the player explores the area and returns to the boat, Kat will approach the player and say:
Katherine: "That was amazing! I had no idea there were ruins there! It's like you're my good-luck charm or something...
You know, there are lots of myths and legends surrounding Manoa Lai... And the Ruins could be the key to unlocking them. One of the most prominent myths talks about a sunken island kingdom. Oh my gosh... I bet you actually FOUND IT! And my professors told me I was wasting my time out here... Ha! Take that, snotty academic types!
Huh? What? Oh, sorry! Just muttering about the past... Don't mind me."
The player will then receive an email about the Ruins from Alfred Thorman that reads as follows:
| The Ruins |
|---|
| From: Alfred Thorman
We still can't rule out the possibility that the remains you found on the ocean floor are natural formations. Similar topography has been found near Yonakuni, Japan. In any case, further investigation demands the utmost discretion. I shall begin contacting geological and archaeological researchers who can be trusted with discretion. (With the government's funds, of course.) -Alfred Thorman |
When the player returns to this area after having first explored it, the strong current at the opening in the Atoll will have died down, allowing them to enter and leave the Ruins within at their leisure. Kat comments on this, saying:
Katherine: "Hmmm… Remember how the current was so strong before? Now it's calm! I wonder what happened?
Oh well! I won't ask if you don't! I guess we can enter the Ruins now."
Gallery[]
.png "Mo'ia Atoll (Cutscene).png (1.72 MB)")
Notes[]
- This is the only sub-stage in the game to contain more than one befriendable species of dolphin, those being the bottlenose dolphin and the beluga.
The three mysterious face-shaped carvings to the north of the Ruins.
- Though this stage only has three spots, the name of one unused spot, called Face Stone, can be found in the game's files, referring to the set of three large face-shaped rocks found atop the Ruins. Why it was not implemented in the final game is unknown.
- One piece of proof indicating Face Stone's former status as a spot can be found in the Japanese Endless Ocean guidebook, which has text indicating its location on a map of the Ruins, as is the case for all other spots.
Real-World Information[]
- This area seems to be based almost directly off of the Yonaguni Monument, a strange structure off of the coast of Japan. The two areas have much in common, including the obvious visual similarities, disputes as to whether the respective structures are man-made or natural, as well as both being host to strong currents.
[]
Spots:
Inside the Ruins • Central Hall • Room of Oracles • Prince's Room