Horizon Forbidden West: How to Get the Diving Mask

The Diving Mask in Horizon Forbidden West is an essential piece of special gear that will allow for underwater breathing, letting you explore some of the game’s most out-of-the-way locations. Early in HFW, it’s likely that you’ll come across Sunken Caverns in The Daunt and elsewhere. But you can’t fully explore them until you obtain this item later in the campaign. 

This short Horizon Forbidden West guide will explain how to get the Diving Mask, as well as why it’s important to pick it up — for more than just underwater breathing. 

Where to Find the Diving Mask for Underwater Breathing in Horizon Forbidden West

Getting the Diving Mask is part of the main story, and it’s unmissable. You’ll get this piece of Legendary Special Gear automatically during The Sea of Sands story quest.

Morlund at the Tower of Tears in Las Vegas will ask you to help modify his breathing apparatus; of course, you should oblige since it ultimately gives you the Diving Mask. You’ll need to get 1 Machine Knee Cap, 1 Synthetic Membrane, and 1 Compressed Air Capsule, all of which are objectives in the mission.

Aside from helping Morlund, you’ll need the Diving Mask to get into the underwater facility and grab the Poseidon subordinate functions for GAIA. It will allow you to breathe without the need for oxygen. 

Not only is the Diving Mask good here, but it will also let you access the deeper portions of the Sunken Caverns found around the world map. These are full of valuable loot and Greenshine Fragments and Greenshine Clusters, important crafting materials used for upgrading weapons and outfits. 

Lastly, having the Diving Mask is required for completing Cauldron Kappa in the northwestern portion of the Forbidden West. Sure, you don’t have to complete this Cauldron, but you’ll get some neat machine overrides, tons of rare, very rare, and legendary crafting mats, and progress toward a silver trophy (if that’s your thing). 

A final note: The Diving Mask works automatically for underwater breathing. You don’t have to equip it after you’ve crafted it, and you don’t have to press any buttons to get it to work. Just dive in, swim, and explore. Now that you know how to get it, you’ll be plundering caves all over the world map. For more tips, head over to our Horizon Forbidden West guides hub right here.