The Weddell Sea is a stage in Endless Ocean 2, and the second cold-water region that the player will unlock access to. The player is not introduced to any new mechanics in this area, though after completing the story mission, they will unlock the AAP Wax, which will let them dive in cold waters the same way they do elsewhere.
This stage distinguishes itself from the game's other cold-water stage, the North Coast of Canada, with its more densely populated waters and massive looming icebergs that hold small caves and caverns.
In-Game[]
Loading Description[]
"Located between the Antarctic Peninsula and the Coats Land, this unique region is still relatively unknown, with new species being discovered every year. The currents bring a plentiful supply of plankton, and whales are known to come here to feed."
Notebook Description[]
“The Weddell Sea lies between the Antarctic Peninsula and Coats Land, and at 1.7 million square miles, it is the largest body of water in the Antarctic.
A huge number of icebergs float around the region, the most impressive being Special Iceberg A-sm16p. Also known as the Iceberg Cavern, it is over 150 feet in diameter.
Chilling sounds described as a whistle or a roar have been reported there, leading to rumors among workers station on Antarctic bases of terrifying ghostly happenings in the area.”
Flora, Fauna, and Geography[]
The Weddell Sea is most geographically notable for its various large icebergs, the most important of which is Special Iceberg A sm-16p. Inside this iceberg is the aptly-named Iceberg Cavern, the entrance to which is found in Lower Ice Cave 3, one of the various ice caves that dot this landmark.
This stage is home to a diverse group of creatures, nearly all of which have some kind of special adaptation that allows them to resist the extreme cold both in the water and on the ice. Animals that can be found here include Southern bottlenose whales, orcas, cape fur seals, Antarctic toothfish (night only), and emperor penguins. A lone blue whale briefly appears here during the main storyline, but no other specimens appear in this stage.
Dive Points[]
The locations from which the player can enter the water from the boat in this area are:
Spots[]
Special Iceberg A-sm16p[]
The fissure in Special Iceberg A-sm16p, leading down to Lower Ice Cave 3.
The largest iceberg in the area by far, this spot sits directly in the center of the Weddell Sea. It has a large fissure running down its side, which leads to Lower Ice Cave 3. Because of its sheer size, almost all external wildlife within the Weddell Sea can be found in close proximity to this iceberg. The area around it is home to a diverse group of animals, including southern bottlenose whales, spectacled porpoises, and Antarctic toothfish, among others.
Small Iceberg A-s1289[]
Located to the northwest, the waters around this iceberg tend to contain colonies of Antarctic minke whales, South American sea lions (with their young only appearing on top of the iceberg), and Antarctic fur seals. South polar skuas can also be found on top.
Small Icebergs A-s2230, A-s2231[]
The waters around here contain more or less the same sea life as the icebergs further to the east. However, Antarctic krill can be found under zoom-mode spots in this area, as well as the legendary Big Bobby. A lone great white shark can be found near the bottom of these icebergs, but only during the "Ancient Ice" mission.
Small Iceberg A-s2813[]
Around here, chinstrap and rockhopper penguins can be found both on top and in the surrounding waters, with Snowball joining them on land during stormy weather. The waters are also filled with Southern bottlenose whales, adélie and African penguins. A flock of emperor penguins can also be seen hunting nearby.
Lower Ice Cave 3[]
A small tunnel found under a large fissure on the side of Special Iceberg A-sm16p, Lower Ice Cave 3 is used to access Iceberg Cavern. It has very little in terms of local life, aside from a handful of zoom glows.
Landmarks[]
This stage's landmarks are all small ice caves, found bored into the sides of various icebergs. They are:
Other Icebergs[]
These have the same properties as the other small icebergs in the game, but are not given any official names. One is located in the northeast, right by that area's diving spot, and is often seen swarming with cape fur seals and Antarctic silverfish. A small pod of orcas can also be seen nearby, but at a considerably lower depth. On shore, the player can find Southern elephant seal and even the Blue Bird, though the latter only appears once and only during snowstorms.
Meanwhile, the other unnamed iceberg is in the center of the map, practically attached to the western side of the Special Iceberg. It is frequented most notably by leopard seals. On land, the player can find a couple of cutscenes pertaining to the early lives of penguins.
Animal and Event Scenes[]
When diving in this stage with Hayako Sakurai, the player has the option to replay previously viewed scenes by talking her. The scenes available for the Weddell Sea are as follows:
Animal[]
- Southern bottlenose whale
- Antarctic minke whale
Event[]
- Emperor of the Antarctic: Viewed by surfacing at coordinates D-1 for the first time.
- World's toughest birth: Unlocked after viewing Scene 1; the player must go ashore at coordinates B-3.
- Emperor penguin chicks: Go ashore at coordinates B-3 after viewing Scene 2.
- Attackers from the sky: Go ashore at coordinates B-3 after viewing Scene 3. This scene can only be viewed if the weather is clear.
- Orcas hunting: Unlocked the first time the player surfaces at coordinates A-4.
Story Significance[]
After returning from the North Coast of Canada to give Hayako Sakurai the polar bear data L&L Diving Service had just collected, the team discuss the contents of the newly translated Okeanos Tablet, initially found in Valka Castle. Hayako believes the tablet to be proof of the ancient Okeanide civilization's existance, and mentions increasing reports of the Song of Dragons being heard, namely in the Weddell Sea near an iceberg known as Special Iceberg A-sm16p.
Before anybody else can say anything, Jean-Eric interrupts. He is angry over the idea of pursuing the song, because his son Matthias was killed in pursuit of the song's mystery as well as the Pacifica Treasure. The player and Oceana convince him to help find the truth, though, and Hayako joins the team to help search for the truth behind the Song of Dragons. With that, the team sets off for the Weddell Sea.
Upon arriving in the Weddell Sea, Jean-Eric mentions that hypothermia may be an issue, but Hayako presents a solution: AAP Wax, which helps prevent hypothermia when applied before diving, even in sub-zero temperatures. Starting from the northeast, the player travels southwest with Hayako towards the Special Iceberg, where the main source of noise is reported. Upon discovering Lower Ice Cave 3, a loud noise is heard -- a sort of wailing/grinding noise coming from within the iceberg. Hayako says that the cave must go deep into the iceberg to produce such reverberations and you travel inside, where you are taken to the Iceberg Cavern.
At the end of the ice cave is the Crystal Globe, a small room containing a leopard seal and a closed-off entrance to a greater area. With the aid of the sea whistle, you anger the leopard seal and cause it to ram into the blockade stopping you from accessing the rest of the Cavern. You discover the beautiful, serene Hall of Radiance, a chamber filled with tiny ice formations, leopard seals, schools of fish and gleaming ice stalagmites. Within, you notice a spectacled porpoise crying for help, presumably having been trapped within by accident. It can then be surmised that the ear-splitting noise heard earlier was not the Song of Dragons as previously presumed, but the cries of the porpoise amplified and distorted by the unique structure of the Iceberg Cavern.
Hayako suggests using the Pulsar on the porpoise to calm it down, and upon doing so, it warms up to the player, becoming a partner. Suddenly, a noise is heard, not like the previous screech, but more of a definite song, with a familiar melody and tune -- could this be the Song of Dragons?
After rushing out of the cavern with Hayako, ready to face the unknown, out of the blue appears a blue whale -- a rare sight, according to Hayako. The Song stops after meeting the whale, and you're left perplexed as to what happened at all. Yet another surprise when Oceana radioes you urgently, saying that conditions have severely worsened above water, and the radio cuts out with one final, eerie message:
"It's all... white... lost..."
You and Hayako return to the boat as quickly as you can, and discover the source of the trouble: an immense blizzard has come over the Antarctic, reducing visibility to essentially nothing and causing danger, as the boat could capsize and leave them stranded. All hope seems lost, with no chance of truly safe escape, when suddenly, the spectacled porpoise you befriended in the cavern pops out of the water, chirping. Oceana asks if it's trying to help them, to which it nods fervently. It goes off in one direction and you follow suit, keeping a careful eye out for the porpoise as it leads you through the twisting maze of icebergs. Eventually, it leads you out of the iceberg zone and into clearer waters, where you are safe.
You all discuss what happened down in the Cavern, with the conclusion being that the sound was the Song of Dragons. Oceana mentions that she and you heard it in Valka Castle, too, just before you were locked in, and Jean-Eric panics, having not heard of this before. Jean-Eric forces you to stop chasing the Song of Dragons, believing it will bring nothing but bad luck. You return to Nineball Island, feeling that Jean-Eric is hiding something...
Gallery[]
Notes[]
- Whenever the player dives in this region, the creatures they can see on the loading screens include Antarctic fur seals, Weddell seals, cape fur seals, Antarctic silverfish, and adélie penguins.
- Despite not having an ocean floor, the Weddell Sea still contains constellation coins, although it has the smallest number out of all the game's maps, at a total of three.
- The Weddell Sea is the only area in the game in which no dangerous creatures can be found in both the main and sub areas. The player is confronted by a hostile leopard seal during the main story, but it isn't actually capable of harming the player and the species is ordinarily peaceful.
- The naming of icebergs depends on the Axis of which the iceberg originated and the series of numbers after are the longitude and latitude.
- For example: Small Iceberg A-s2813 breaks down as A-s (south) 28 (longitude) 13 (latitude).
Dive Points:
Northeast Area • Special Iceberg A-sm16p
Spots:
Special Iceberg A-sm16p • Small Iceberg A-s1289 • Small Icebergs A-s2230, A-s2231 • Small Iceberg A-s2813 • Lower Ice Cave 3
Landmarks:
Higher Ice Cave 1 • Higher Ice Cave 2 • Higher Ice Cave 3 • Lower Ice Cave 1 • Lower Ice Cave 2
Spots:
Hall of Radiance • Lower Ice Cave 3
Landmarks:
Crystal Globe