Whirlpool

Whirlpool
A Whirlpool from Ocarina of Time
First appearance	A Link to the Past (1992)
Appearances	A Link to the Past Ocarina of Time Majora's Mask Oracle of Ages Four Swords The Wind Waker Four Swords Adventures
Found	Bodies of water
Use	Transport Link to other Whirlpools Obstacles

"When you see a whirlpool, dive into it. You never know where you'll surface!"

— Zora

Whirlpools are a recurring feature in the Legend of Zelda series.

Appearances

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Whirlpools are found in rivers and pools. Once Link obtains the Flippers from Zora in Zora's Lake, he can swim into these whirlpools to warp to another location of Hyrule. Whirlpools are most useful before Link allies himself with the Duck; however, even after this, Whirlpools are still helpful when it comes to reaching areas away from one of the Duck's landing spots.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Whirlpools appear inside the Water Temple. If Link comes too close to one, he will be sucked into it and returned to the entrance of the designated chamber and lose one heart, in a sequence similar to falling into a bottomless pit.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

The giant whirlpool in the central hub of the Great Bay Temple

The main hub of the Great Bay Temple holds a giant whirlpool, the direction of which is controlled by an elaborate valve control system. From here, Link can enter small tunnels leading to other areas of the temple; the way the whirlpool spins determines which rooms Link may enter and which he may not.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages

Whirlpools appear around the Sea of Storms preventing entry to it from the surface.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords

Whirlpools appear in various levels. When a Link swims into one, he will return to where he began swimming and lose half a heart.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Giant whirlpools appear whenever Link approaches the location of a Big Octo, when he encounters Cyclos, or upon trying to enter Jabun's cave for the first time. Once Link enters a whirlpool he cannot normally exit. They are designed as a time limit for the tasks Link must perform while trapped in them. If Link fails to complete the task before he reaches the center of the whirlpool, he is sucked into it and awakens at some other area of the Great Sea. Once the task is complete, the whirlpools disappear. Also, entering a whirlpool will instantly cause a storm.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

Whirlpools appear in several stages. If Link swims into one, it brings him to a side-scrolling underwater area.