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. The player's screen becomes wet for a short period when exiting 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.

==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, vehicles, 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]]
{|border="1"cellpadding="3"style="background:#f5f5f5;text-align:left;border-collapse:collapse;margin-bottom:5px;width:60%;"align=center
|-
!width="12%" bgcolor="#dedede" align=center|Track
!width="10%" bgcolor="#dedede" align=center|Games
!width="33%" bgcolor="#dedede" align=center|Description
!width="5%" bgcolor="#dedede" align=center|Optional?
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|SNES|Donut Plains 3}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8''<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
|The lake below the bridges.
|align=center|[[File:Check_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|SNES|Koopa Troopa Beach 2}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart Tour''
|The ocean. Can only be fallen into during a [[Glider Challenge]].<ref name="glider">HalfHydra. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDnu1PoDbL0 Glider Challenge Exploration], ''YouTube'', March 8, 2022.</ref>
|align=center|[[File:Check_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|SNES|Vanilla Lake 2}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart Tour''
|The lake. Can only be fallen into during a [[Glider Challenge]].<ref name="glider"/>
|align=center|[[File:Check_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|N64|Koopa Troopa Beach}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 7''<br>''Mario Kart Tour''
|The ocean off the coast.
|align=center|[[File:Check_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|GBA|Boo Lake}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''<br>''Mario Kart Tour''
|The titular lake below the track, which the track dips into. This lake was not actually present in ''Super Circuit'' despite the course's name.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|GBA|Cheep-Cheep Island}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart Tour''
|The ocean off the coast.
|align=center|[[File:Check_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|GCN|Dry Dry Desert}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8''<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
|The oasis that replaces the wide section at the end.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|GCN|Daisy Cruiser}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 7''<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''<br>''Mario Kart Tour''
|The pool, which can now be driven through.<br>The aquarium that replaces the cellar racers can fall into after the dining hall.
|align=center|[[File:Check_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|GCN|Sherbet Land}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8''<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
|The lakes, which have been made into optional alternate routes.
|align=center|[[File:Check_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|DS|Cheep Cheep Beach}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8''<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
|The shallow parts of the ocean.
|align=center|[[File:Check_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|DS|Wario Stadium}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8''<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
|The final turn is now flooded, in addition to being simplified.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|Wii|Koopa Cape}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 7''<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''<br>''Mario Kart Tour''
|The underwater glass tunnel is no longer enclosed.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|3DS|Cheep Cheep Lagoon}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 7''<br>''Mario Kart Tour''
|The titular lagoon.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|3DS|Piranha Plant Slide}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 7''<br>''Mario Kart 8''<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''<br>''Mario Kart Tour''
|A large area reached by going down a pipe from the underground area.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|3DS|Wario Shipyard}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 7''<br>''Mario Kart Tour''
|Significant portions of the track, although some contain a route above the water.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|[[Maka Wuhu]]
|align=center|''Mario Kart 7''
|Duckling Lake.
|align=center|[[File:Check_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|3DS|DK Jungle}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 7''<br>''Mario Kart 8''<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''<br>''Mario Kart Tour''
|Underneath the glider section when leaving the temple.
|align=center|[[File:Check_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|3DS|Rosalina's Ice World}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 7''<br>''Mario Kart Tour''
|Underneath the icy lake. Optional on the first lap, but not during the second or third.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|3DS|Bowser's Castle}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 7''<br>''Mario Kart Tour''
|The large lake after the [[Turning Floor]].
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|[[Water Park]]
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8''<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
|Significant portions of the track before and after the shuttle loop.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|[[Sweet Sweet Canyon]]
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8''<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
|The sea of orange soda during the antigravity section.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|[[Thwomp Ruins]]
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8''<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
|The pool of water below the split paths.
|align=center|[[File:Check_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|[[Twisted Mansion]]
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8''<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
|The sewers.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|[[Dolphin Shoals]]
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8''<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
|Every part of the track except for a large antigravity curve after the [[Maw-Ray]]. Uniquely, this includes the [[Finish Line (object)|Finish Line]].
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|[[Yoshi's Island (race course)|Yoshi's Island]]
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''<br>''Mario Kart Tour''
|The turn after the [[Stilt Guy|Stilt Guys]] and [[Piranha Plant]].
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|[[Squeaky Clean Sprint]]
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''<br>''Mario Kart Tour''
|The sink and the bathtub.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|Tour|Vancouver Velocity}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
|The {{wp|Lost Lagoon}}, visited in lap 2. Not drivable in ''Tour''.
|align=center|[[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|Tour|Los Angeles Laps}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''<br>''Mario Kart Tour''
|The coast of the beach, seen in the first Los Angeles Laps route in ''Tour'' and the first segment in ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''.
|align=center|[[File:Check mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|{{classic-link|Tour|Amsterdam Drift}}
|align=center|''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''<br>''Mario Kart Tour''
|The canals.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|[[Piranha Plant Cove]]
|align=center|''Mario Kart Tour''
|The entire track.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|[[Piranha Plant Pipeline]]
|align=center|''Mario Kart Tour''
|Before the final turn.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|[[Tropical Coast]]
|align=center|''Mario Kart Arcade GP DX''
|The ocean.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|[[Omatsuri Circuit]]
|align=center|''Mario Kart Arcade GP DX''
|The lake after the temple.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|[[Lightning Lagoon]]
|align=center|''Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit''
|A filter applies over the entire track.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|-
|align=center|[[Cheep Cheep Reef]]
|align=center|''Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit''
|A filter applies over the entire track.
|align=center|[[File:X_mark.svg|17px]]
|}

Additionally, {{classic-link|DS|Palm Shore}} is the only battle course to contain underwater driving.

==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]]
PiranhaPlantCove.jpg|[[Piranha Plant Cove]]
MKL Lightning Lagoon Screenshot.png|[[Lightning Lagoon]]
</gallery>

==Trivia==
*{{classic-link|DS|Palm Shore}} is the only battle course to include underwater driving, Dolphin Shoals and Piranha Plant Cove are the only courses to start underwater, and SNES Donut Plains 3 is the only course to have its underwater section removed in a later installment, in this case ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', though the player's screen does become wet and a propeller will pop out for a short moment when going out of bounds into the lake.
*In ''Mario Kart Tour'', the first variants of [[Tour Singapore Speedway|Singapore Speedway]] and [[Tour Bangkok Rush|Bangkok Rush]] have shallow bodies of water that trigger the underwater propeller, but the player themselves are not usually fully submerged in it. In Singapore Speedway, the propeller appears when a back portion of small kart (such as a [[Pipe Frame]] driven by small and medium drivers) is submerged in the pool of it, while in Bangkok Rush, the propeller appears when the player uses a small driver and a small kart next to the start of the river section. In the courses' appearances in the ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass]]'', these sections affect every player the same way as when driving underwater, but the propeller does not appear. A new shallow body of water is added in {{classic-link|Tour|Vancouver Velocity}} that triggers the underwater propeller, just before the player is respawned by [[Lakitu (Mario Kart referee)|Lakitu]].

==References==
<references/>

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