Super Mario 64/Dire, Dire Docks


 * Location: Basement. Enter the Star Door and jump into the portal.
 * Description: Water level with Bowser's sub, a bunch of sharks, and a whirlpool.

Dire, Dire Docks is the ninth stage in Super Mario 64. 30 stars are required to access it. It is found in the room with the Bowser in the Lava Sea stage, but the portal is blocking the Bowser stage. This area is known as Dire, Dire Docks. After you clear the first level of it, the portal will move to the back of the room. After completing Bowser in the Fire Sea, Bowser's Sub will disappear, moving poles will appear in the framework of the docks, and the gate blocking the passageway to the pond outside Princess Peach's Castle will open. In Super Mario 64 DS, there are Bill Blasters in the dock area, which will also disappear.

Star 1: Board Bowser's Sub
Swim straight down and you'll see a hole. Go through it and get in to the second cavern. When you do, find the switch on the floor by the edge of the dock, which will create a block that will let you get onto the sub. The star is on there, out in the open. (Note that the submarine disappears permanently after completing Bowser in the Fire Sea.)

Star 2: Chests In The Current
There are four chests at the base of the whirlpool. Open them in this order: (1) near the clamshell, (2) near the tunnel, (3) near the seaweed on the ocean floor, (4) next to the whirlpool.

The star will then appear by the wall, but don't swim directly to it -- the shark will likely hit you in the back if you try doing this. To counteract this, swim against the shark to get there, avoiding it each time it comes by.

Star 3: Pole Jumping For Red Coins
Note: You have to defeat Bowser in the Fire Sea (30 stars and one from Dire, Dire Docks) for the poles to appear.

Get all 8 red coins. They are all in the second cavern. You have to hit the same switch as star 1, but climb the other steps.
 * 1) The first coin is right in front of you on the same platform as you're currently on.
 * 2) The next three coins are all to the left of you. Wait until the pole comes over to you, then grab onto it and slide up and down it as necessary to grab the three coins. Keep holding on so you can get back.
 * 3) Once you're on the first platform, grab onto the other pole. Hold onto it until you get to the platform where the star will appear, at which point let go and grab onto the next pole in the same direction. This is where it gets difficult, as you have to jump off your pole and land on the other one right next to it when it stops. If you fall, climb back up to where you were and try again.
 * 4) Keep holding onto that pole past the platform and into the fifth red coin. Once you're back over the platform you passed by, drop down onto it.
 * 5) Move to the other side of the platform and grab onto the pole on that side. The sixth and seventh red coins are in the way.
 * 6) Head back to the platform where the star will appear, but instead of continuing back to where you started, grab onto the other pole off to the side, which will take you to a platform with a blue coin block. Once there, grab onto the other pole and ride it over to the final red coin.

Backtrack two poles, and there's the star.

Star 4: Through The Jet Stream
There is a stream much like the one in Jolly Roger Bay where the sunken ship was, except there are rings coming from it. Go through five rings in a row, and the star will appear in the stream. Use the metal cap to get it, just as before.

Star 5: The Manta Ray's Reward
In the first cavern, there is a Manta Ray swimming around. There are rings coming out behind it. Swim through five consecutive rings to get the star. It will appear just above the whirlpool. Go from above, and be careful.

This was moved to Star 7 in Super Mario 64 DS.

Star 5: Koopa Surfin' Switch Star (Nintendo DS)
As Wario, swim over to one of the sandy areas in the first cavern. You will find three Black Bricks and a yellow ! Block. Punch the brick in the middle, and hit the ! Block containing a Koopa Shell. Now step on the Star Switch, and get on the Koopa Shell. You don't have much time to get to the Star, so move quickly.

Star 6: Collect The Caps...
Go to the second cavern to where the green cap is. Get both the green and blue caps and go down through the underwater cage where the star is. You can also get the star by just getting the blue cap and swimming down to the cage.

Star 7: 100 Coins
You have to search very carefully for the coins. There are no coins from enemies. There are only 106 coins in this level, so search carefully! It is very difficult to find them.

Make sure you collect all 42 coins in the area where you start which includes the start of the tunnel. Then, collect all eight red coins. There is a blue coin switch where you pole-vault, so hit it for six blue coins to appear. (You will use the poles to reach the blue box)