Swim, collect sea creatures, and build mermaid decor with the ACNH update

The water's fine in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Dive on in and see what new things there are to explore.

Since swimming and diving was something that could be done in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, we've long suspected that these aquatic activities would be coming to New Horizons. Finally, three months after the game's release, players will be able to jump into the big blue and take part in several new oceanic activities.

Whether you're trading scallops with Pascal for Mermiad DIY recipes or looking for new creatures to take to Blather's museum, there are plenty of fun new experiences to discover. Here's how to unlock swimming in Animal Crossing: New Horizons along with a list of all the water activities that come with it.

• How to download the Summer Update
• How to swim & dive
• How to get a wet suit
• Sea creature museum donations
• Pascal, scallops, and mermaid DIY recipes
• Gullivarr (Pirate Gulliver)

How to download the Summer Update Wave 1

If, for some reason, the new swimming festivities don't seem to have appeared in your game come July 3, then maybe you need to make sure your Switch downloaded the Summer update.

1. From the Nintendo Switch's Home menu, hover over the Animal Crossing: New Horizons icon.
2. Press + and the game information will display.
3. Scroll down to Software Update.
4. Select Via the Internet. The Switch will check for any new versions and will download them if necessary.
5. Select OK.

Once these steps have been taken, your Switch will search for any Animal Crossing: New Horizons updates it might not have already. Hopefully that solves the issue and allows you to take part in the summer festivities.

How to unlock swimming & diving

In order to go swimming, players can either acquire a wet suit from the Nook Miles Kiosk or from the cabinet at Nook's Cranny.

How to Swim & Dive

1. Equipped the wet suit.
2. Run up to the ocean and Press A to jump in. Note that you cannot go swimming in ponds or rivers.
3. Press A repeatedly to swim forward.
4. Rising bubbles indicate the presence of a sea creature. Hold down the Y button when you're above bubbles to dive.
5. Now move the joystick until you touch the creature. You'll automatically surface once you've acquired the creature or you've run out of air.

How to get a wet suit

The new swimming gear looks super cool and it's just fun dressing up your avatar for various activities. Here's what you need to do to get the one of the wet suits, the snorkel, and a pair of water shoes:

*You will need to wait overnight for the wet suit to arrive in your mailbox.

Sea Creature museum donations

Upon jumping into the sea, players can dive and collect various critters hiding beneath the waves. You'll definitely want to take them to Blathers to complete the aquarium section of your museum. Of the creatures that can be collected, so far we know of the following:

Pascal, scallops, and mermaid DIY recipes

After collecting your first scallop, Pascal the otter, will swim up to you and will offer to give you mermaid-themed DIY recipes in exchange for the scallops you collect. These recipes will often require pearls, coral, sand dollars, iron nuggets, and giant clams for crafting. For more detail about how to craft these items go here. Here are all of the recipes we know of so far:

• Mermaid Bed
• Mermaid Dresser
• Mermaid Chair
• Mermaid Sofa
• Mermaid Table
• Mermaid Wall Clock
• Mermaid Shelf
• Mermaid Flooring
• Mermaid Lamp
• Mermaid Screen
• Mermaid Clock
• Mermaid Rug
• Mermaid Vanity
• Mermaid Wall

Gullivarr (Pirate Gulliver)

In addition to the other watery festivities, players will encounter Gulliver, although, he'll look a little different. The chronic castaway will wash ashore as usual, but while dressed as a pirate. Players who interact with him will see him babble incoherently about buccaneer life.

After waking him, he'll ask you to gather a communicator part, only this time, it will be at the bottom of the sea. The rewards for helping him are special pirate-themed decor or clothing. Here's a list of all the rewards we've discovered so far:

Pirate Clothes

• Pirate Bandanna
• Pirate's Hat
• Pirate-Treasure Crown
• Pirate Eye Patch
• Pirate Beard
• Pirate-Treasure Robe
• Pirate Dress
• Pirate Outfit
• Pirate Coat
• Pirate Pants
• Pirate Boots

Pirate Decor

• Pirate Cannon
• Treasure Chest
• Horizontal Barrel
• Pirate Wheel
• Pirate Barrel
• Pirate Rug
• Pirate Wall
• Pirate Flooring

Dive in!

That's all there is to know about the Summer Update Wave 1. There are plenty of new creatures to collect, a new character to interact with, and plenty of new ways to have fun with your friends. Have fun diving into the depths around your island. I hope you can find all of the creatures you're looking for to fill out Blathers' museum.

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