Follow this guide to collect all 8 Red Coins in Dire, Dire Docks for Star 3 in Super Mario 64. Learn how to navigate the moving poles and platforms to find each coin.
To access this star, you must first defeat Bowser in the Fire Sea. This is located in a small hole near the water wall that leads to Dire, Dire Docks. You can enter this area after obtaining the first star in Dire, Dire Docks.
Once you have beaten Bowser and returned, you will start in the water. Swim down and find the tunnel in the wall, then swim through it. Follow the arrow signs until you reach the large open area where the submarine used to be.
Swim to the ledge with the '!' blocks and the '!' switch. Jump on the '!' switch to make the brown stone stairs reappear. Instead of climbing these stairs to reach the top of the submarine, go to the left of the switch. You'll find a ramp leading from the water to a floating platform. Here's how to collect the Red Coins:
- Coin 1: On the ledge where you just climbed using the brown stone blocks that appeared near the '!' switch.
- Coin 2: Stand on the part of the ledge that sticks out the most, facing left. Wait for the yellow-and-black striped pole moving along the ceiling. It passes three red coins. This first one is at about the top of the pole's height.
- Coin 3: After getting Red Coin #2, slide down the pole a small amount to collect this coin as you move along.
- Coin 4: On the ledge that the pole takes you to, immediately after collecting Red Coin #3.
- Coin 5: Return to the platform where Coin #1 was. This time, jump onto the pole that moves in the other direction, towards the platform across from you. From that platform, jump onto the next platform that arrives to your left. Let it take you along until it stops next to another pole. Jump onto this new pole when it stops. It moves a short distance and stops next to another pole. Jump onto this one, and let it take you to the platform with the blue coin switch. Another pole then appears to the right. Jump on this pole and let it take you to the platform with the cage around it. This coin is on this platform.
- Coin 6: Go back to the platform with the blue coin switch when the pole re-arrives. Then, return to the platform you were on before this one by using the moving poles you have to jump across. Stand on the very small part of the platform that sticks out next to the star marker and wait for the pole to arrive. Grab it and let it take you near the red cage. You will need to jump to the pole that appears nearby and goes to the left. Let it take you all the way across its path and collect the coin (slide down to its level to grab it).
- Coin 7: Let the pole take you across. When you see the opening in the cage, jump across and grab the pole on the other side that is moving in the opposite direction. Let it take you to one side and collect the floating coin.
- Coin 8: Located on the opposite side of where Coin #7 is.
Once you have all eight Red Coins, make your way back to the last platform to collect the Star, which has appeared above the Star Marker.
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