Super Mario 64/Dire, Dire Docks

Location: Basement, in the door with the big star on it.

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 opens. 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. Then jump between poles for the eight red coins.

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.

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: The Manta Ray's Reward (DS version)
From where you start, swim down and you will see a manta ray. Its tail makes circles. Swim through 5 consecutive rings to make the star appear. The rings seem to provide air, so don't panic.

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)