Underwater driving

Artwork for Mario Kart 7 depicting Mario driving underwater

Underwater driving is a game mechanic introduced in Mario Kart 7. When drivers are underwater, a small propeller will pop out from the back of the kart. The mechanic returns in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, Mario Kart 8, its Nintendo Switch port, Mario Kart Tour and Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit. The game mechanic is implemented on both new courses and classic courses. Underwater sections can also be found on battle courses. Ramps, Dash Panels, Antigravity Panels and water-based enemies such as Cheep Cheeps and Sidesteppers can also be found underwater. Some courses have optional underwater sections, such as the lake in GCN Sherbet Land. 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 different.

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, Shimmering Sea and Open Ocean.

In-game statistics

Main articles: 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 drivers, karts and tires are different than usual. Karts such as the Biddybuggy will become faster underwater while karts such as the Gold Standard will be slowed down. The mechanic is not featured in Mario Kart Tour and Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit.

Courses with underwater segments

Lemmy driving underwater on Water Park

Drivers tricking underwater on 3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon

Courses with optional segments are marked with an asterisk (*).

• 3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon
  
• 3DS Piranha Plant Slide
  
• 3DS Wario Shipyard
  
• Maka Wuhu*
  
• 3DS DK Jungle*
  
• 3DS Rosalina's Ice World
  
• 3DS Bowser's Castle
  
• N64 Koopa Troopa Beach*
  
• GCN Daisy Cruiser
  
• Wii Koopa Cape
  
• Water Park
  
• Sweet Sweet Canyon
  
• Thwomp Ruins*
  
• Twisted Mansion
  
• Dolphin Shoals
  
• DS Cheep Cheep Beach*
  
• GCN Dry Dry Desert
  
• SNES Donut Plains 3*
  
• DS Wario Stadium
  
• GCN Sherbet Land*
  
• Tropical Coast
  
• Los Angeles Laps*
  
• GBA Cheep-Cheep Island*
  
• Singapore Speedway*
  
• Amsterdam Drift T, R/T
  
• Lightning Lagoon
  
• Cheep Cheep Reef

DS Palm Shore is the only battle course to include underwater driving, while Dolphin Shoals and the R/T variant of Singapore Speedway are the only courses to start underwater.

Gallery

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  Cheep Cheep Lagoon

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  Piranha Plant Slide

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  Wario Shipyard

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  Rosalina's Ice World

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  Daisy Cruiser

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  Bowser's Castle

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  Sweet Sweet Canyon

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  Twisted Mansion

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  Dolphin Shoals

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  Dry Dry Desert

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  Sherbet Land

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  Los Angeles Laps

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  Lightning Lagoon