Editing Underwater driving

[[File:Mariounderwaterartworqc8pr.png|thumb|250px|Artwork for ''Mario Kart 7'' depicting  Mario driving underwater]]

'''Underwater driving''' is a game mechanic in the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series. It was first introduced in ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', and has appeared in all later games since. When drivers are underwater, a small propeller will pop out from the back of the kart, and some of the driver's statistics are changed. 

Underwater driving is implemented on [[new course]]s, [[classic course]]s and battle courses. Various other mechanics such as [[anti-gravity]] and [[Jump Boost]]s also appear in underwater sections, though gliding is automatically canceled when entering the water. Various underwater enemies such as [[Cheep Cheep]]s and [[Sidestepper]]s can also be found in the water. Prior to the introduction of underwater driving, entering deep water will usually respawn or slow down the player. When the player is underwater, the music is slightly altered, though there are courses that have their own arrangements for underwater sections.

Although the mechanic was introduced in ''Mario Kart 7'', ''[[Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast]]'' features a similar mechanic, where the players could race underwater by riding on [[Enguarde the Swordfish]] or via their barrels. It is featured in [[Salty Sea (race course)|Salty Sea]], [[Shimmering Sea]] and [[Open Ocean]].

In ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', if a driver goes into the water, they can drive underwater for about four seconds until [[Lakitu]] pulls them out. This allows them to potentially get back onto the racecourse without needing Lakitu.
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==In-game statistics==
{{main|Mario Kart 7 in-game statistics|Mario Kart 8 in-game statistics|Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in-game statistics}}
In ''Mario Kart 7'', ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'', and ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'', when driving underwater, the handling, speed, and drifting of most [[driver]]s, [[vehicle]]s, and [[tire]]s are different than usual. For some examples from ''Mario Kart 7'', the [[Egg 1]] would become faster, while the [[Barrel Train]] would become slower. In ''Mario Kart 8'', the [[Badwagon]] strongly excels while underwater, but it has among the worst underwater statistics in ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''.

It is worth noting, however, that if a vehicle is using [[anti-gravity]] while underwater, the anti-gravity stats will take higher priority than the underwater stats.

''Mario Kart Tour'' and ''Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit'' do not use different stats while driving underwater.

==Courses with underwater segments==
[[File:Larry Lightweights MK8.png|250px|thumb|Lemmy driving underwater on Water Park]]
[[File:MKT Undersea Pipe Drivers.png|250px|thumb|Drivers tricking underwater on 3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon]]
Courses with normally optional segments are marked with an asterisk (*).

*{{classic-link|SNES|Donut Plains 3}}*
*{{classic-link|N64|Koopa Troopa Beach}}*
*{{classic-link|GBA|Boo Lake}}
*{{classic-link|GBA|Cheep-Cheep Island}}*
*{{classic-link|GCN|Dry Dry Desert}}
*{{classic-link|GCN|Daisy Cruiser}}*
*{{classic-link|GCN|Sherbet Land}}*
*{{classic-link|DS|Cheep Cheep Beach}}*
*{{classic-link|DS|Wario Stadium}}
*{{classic-link|Wii|Koopa Cape}}
*{{classic-link|3DS|Cheep Cheep Lagoon}}
*{{classic-link|3DS|Piranha Plant Slide}}
*{{classic-link|3DS|Wario Shipyard}}
*[[Maka Wuhu]]*
*{{classic-link|3DS|DK Jungle}}*
*{{classic-link|3DS|Rosalina's Ice World}}
*{{classic-link|3DS|Bowser's Castle}}
*[[Water Park]]
*[[Sweet Sweet Canyon]]
*[[Thwomp Ruins]]*
*[[Twisted Mansion]]
*[[Dolphin Shoals]]
*[[Los Angeles Laps]]*
*[[Amsterdam Drift]] (T, R/T, all versions of 2 and 3)
*[[Tropical Coast]]
*[[Omatsuri Circuit]]
*[[Lightning Lagoon]]
*[[Cheep Cheep Reef]]

{{classic-link|DS|Palm Shore}} is the only battle course to include underwater driving, while Dolphin Shoals is the only course to start underwater.

In ''Mario Kart Tour'', [[SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 2]] and [[SNES Vanilla Lake 2]] have unaccessible underwater areas. Both areas can only be entered by falling into them during [[Glider Challenge]]s.<ref>HalfHydra. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDnu1PoDbL0 Glider Challenge Exploration], ''Youtube'', March 8, 2022.</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
MK3DS-Underwater.png|[[3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon|Cheep Cheep Lagoon]]
Piranhaslider.png|[[3DS Piranha Plant Slide|Piranha Plant Slide]]
MK7-4.jpg|[[3DS Wario Shipyard|Wario Shipyard]]
MakaWuhuUnderwaterSection.png|[[Maka Wuhu]]
RosalinaIceWorldUnderwater.jpg|[[3DS Rosalina's Ice World|Rosalina's Ice World]]
DaisyCruiserMK7Aquarium.jpg|{{classic-link|GCN|Daisy Cruiser}}
Bowser'sCastle7Underwater.jpg|[[3DS Bowser's Castle|Bowser's Castle]]
BabyMarioinMarioKart8.png|[[Sweet Sweet Canyon]]
TwistedMansionUnderwater.jpg|[[Twisted Mansion]]
Mega Unagi MK8.jpg|[[Dolphin Shoals]]
DryDryDesert Underwater.png|{{classic-link|GCN|Dry Dry Desert}}
GCN Sherbet Land Underwater.png|{{classic-link|GCN|Sherbet Land}}
MK8DBooLake3.jpg|{{classic-link|GBA|Boo Lake}}
Los Angeles Laps Underwater.jpg|[[Los Angeles Laps]]
MKL Lightning Lagoon Screenshot.png|[[Lightning Lagoon]]
</gallery>

==References==
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[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Game mechanics]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 7]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 8]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Tour]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit]]