Quest Overview
- Location: Zora Cove, near Crossflows Plaza, just east of Seesyde Village. (A coastal area in the Jabul Waters region.)
- Quest Giver: A Business Scrub located on the beach at Zora Cove. He runs the local Smoothie Shop but can’t open it yet.
- Objective: Collect 3 pieces of Bubble Kelp from the nearby ocean for the Business Scrub so he can restock his shop.
- Reward: 20 Rupees and the Zora Cove Smoothie Shop opens for business. (The Business Scrub admits he ate his original kelp stock, pays Zelda 20 rupees, and then opens the shop.) Unlocking the shop gives you access to smoothies and ingredients that can help you on your adventure (e.g. drinks that extend your underwater breathing time).
Starting the Quest
To begin “Out of Bubble Kelp,” head to Seesyde Village (a fishing village on the western shore of Zora Cove). From there, go east to the Zora Cove coastline. You’ll find a Business Scrub on the beach near Crossflows Plaza – speak with him to initiate the quest. He’ll explain that his smoothie shop is out of Bubble Kelp and he needs three pieces to reopen. This conversation officially starts the side quest. (Make sure you have reached Seesyde Village in the story, as arriving there is a prerequisite for this quest.)
Steps to Complete
- Talk to the Business Scrub at Zora Cove: Speak with the Business Scrub east of Seesyde Village to accept the quest. He’ll ask for 3 Bubble Kelp. (If by chance you already have 3× Bubble Kelp in your inventory from earlier exploration or quests, you can hand them over immediately to complete the request. Otherwise, proceed to gather them as below.)
- Collect 3 Bubble Kelp: There are two efficient ways to obtain the Bubble Kelp:
- Option A – Dive for Kelp in Zora Cove: Head to the southeastern area of Zora Cove, not far from the Business Scrub. Look for a small island cave in the water (marked by rocks on the shore). Enter the cave and dive into the underwater pool inside
. At the bottom, there’s a treasure chest containing some Bubble Kelp
. Open it to collect enough kelp for the quest (at least 3 pieces). Be mindful of Zelda’s breath meter as you dive – surface if needed and dive again to safely retrieve the kelp. (Having the Zora’s Flippers to swim and the Zora Scale to increase dive time can make this step easier.) - Option B – Complete “Deliver the Grilled Fish!”: An alternative is to finish the Deliver the Grilled Fish! side quest in Seesyde Village (if you haven’t already). This quest’s reward includes 10× Bubble Kelp, plenty to satisfy the Business Scrub’s needs. If you choose this route, talk to the woman in Seesyde Village who gives you a grilled fish to deliver (her quest is a simple delivery task within the area). Completing it will net you the Bubble Kelp without needing to dive. This is a great option if you’re not equipped for underwater exploration or want to collect extra Kelp for crafting.
- Option A – Dive for Kelp in Zora Cove: Head to the southeastern area of Zora Cove, not far from the Business Scrub. Look for a small island cave in the water (marked by rocks on the shore). Enter the cave and dive into the underwater pool inside
- Return to the Business Scrub: Once you have at least three pieces of Bubble Kelp, go back to the Business Scrub at Zora Cove. Talk to him and give him the 3 Bubble Kelps. He will gratefully take them (promising not to snack on his stock this time) and reward you with 20 Rupees. After handing over the kelp, the quest will be marked complete.
- Unlock the Smoothie Shop: With the ingredients in hand, the Business Scrub opens the Zora Cove Smoothie Shop for business. You can now access the shop’s services. (If you don’t see the shop icon on your map immediately, speak to the Business Scrub again to register it.)
Challenges and Solutions
- Finding the Bubble Kelp: The Bubble Kelp is hidden underwater, which can be tricky if you’re not sure where to look. Solution: Head southeast of the Business Scrub’s location – there’s a submerged cave with a chest containing the kelp. Use landmarks: from the scrub’s stall, go east along the shore until you see a small island or rock formation, and dive there. If you’re having trouble locating it, remember you can also get Kelp from the Deliver the Grilled Fish quest as an alternative.
- Limited Underwater Breathing Time: Diving to the chest requires holding your breath. If Zelda’s dive time is short, reaching the chest in one go might be challenging. Solution: Make sure you have the Zora’s Flippers equipped (to swim faster) and ideally the Zora Scale accessory, which lets you stay underwater longer. With these, you’ll have an easier time reaching the chest before running out of air. If you still struggle, surface for air halfway or find an underwater ledge to stand on if available, then dive again. (Later on, you can also brew a Bubble Smoothie once the shop is open, to temporarily extend dive time, but that’s likely only after completing this quest.)
- No Bubble Kelp in Inventory: If you come unprepared and don’t have any Bubble Kelp, you might worry about where to get them. Solution: The quest itself hints that the kelp can be found “in the sea nearby.” Following the hint leads you to the underwater cave method above. Additionally, talk to villagers in Seesyde Village – one of them starts the Deliver the Grilled Fish! quest which conveniently awards plenty of Bubble Kelp. Planning to do that quest first can save you the trouble of diving altogether.
- Underwater Navigation: Swimming and diving in Echoes of Wisdom can be a new mechanic if this is your first water quest. Solution: Practice the controls in shallow water near the shore before diving deep. Use the analog to steer underwater and the action button to dive/resurface. If you have the Spin Attack underwater (as some games allow a spin move while swimming), use it to clear underwater grass; this not only can yield extra Bubble Kelp from the seaweed, but also helps you move around quickly. Clear any hostile fish enemies if present (a quick spin can defeat or fend off small fish). Ensure you’ve got enough hearts in case you start drowning – each heart typically gives a few more seconds of life if you run out of breath.
By anticipating these challenges and using the solutions above, you can collect the Bubble Kelp with minimal hassle and complete the quest efficiently.
Rewards and Benefits
Completing “Out of Bubble Kelp” yields both immediate and long-term rewards:
- 20 Rupees: The Business Scrub pays you for restocking him. While 20 rupees is a modest sum, it’s a nice bonus for a quick side quest, potentially recouping any expenses (like if you bought equipment or fast-traveled to get here).
- Smoothie Shop Unlocked: The real reward is unlocking the Zora Cove Smoothie Shop. Once open, this shop allows Princess Zelda to buy ingredients and blend Smoothies/Potions using collected items. In particular, you can now purchase Bubble Kelp here for future use at 25 Rupees each, in case you need more. The Smoothie Shop is extremely useful: you can combine ingredients (including Bubble Kelp) to mix drinks that grant special effects. For example, Bubble Kelp is used to create “bubble” drinks that extend your underwater breathing time (Dive Time Up effect), which will help in later underwater explorations. You can also make smoothies that restore hearts or grant other buffs. Essentially, unlocking this shop expands your survival toolkit – you’ll have easier access to healing items and stamina buffs whenever you’re near Zora Cove.
- Convenience in Zora Cove: With the shop open, Zora Cove becomes a handy pit-stop. If you’re adventuring around the Jabul Waters or tackling any quests/dungeons nearby, you can swing by the smoothie shop to top off on useful drinks or ingredients. This can make subsequent quests (especially any involving swimming or diving) much easier, since you can grab a Bubble Potion or Smoothie to significantly increase how long you can stay underwater, or other concoctions for different benefits. In short, the quest not only resolves the Scrub’s stock problem but also benefits you as the player by providing access to new items and a new vendor.
Additional Tips
- Complete “Deliver the Grilled Fish!” First: If you haven’t done so, consider completing the Deliver the Grilled Fish! side quest in Seesyde Village before collecting the kelp. It’s a quick quest (deliver a grilled fish to a villager’s son nearby) and rewards you with 10 Bubble Kelp. This is more than enough for the Business Scrub (you’ll even have leftovers for making smoothies). Doing this first can save time and ensure you don’t have to hunt underwater at all.
- Equip Water Gear: By the time you reach Zora Cove, you should have access to water-related gear. The Zora’s Flippers allow Zelda to swim freely, and the Zora Scale increases dive duration. Equip them if you have them to make diving much easier. If you’re missing these, check shops or previous areas (e.g., River Zora Village sells the Flippers). Investing in these items not only helps for this quest but will pay off in all water areas.
- Farming Extra Kelp: Bubble Kelp isn’t just for this quest – it’s a valuable ingredient for recipes. If you want to stock up, you can farm them in the Jabul Waters region. Swim around underwater grassy areas and use a spin attack; sometimes Bubble Kelp will drop from the seaweed. With the Survey Scope/Binoculars (to highlight collectibles) and your Zora gear, you can gather a bunch. This is useful if you plan to brew multiple Bubble Smoothies or just want some spare kelp to sell (though note they only sell for 5 rupees each).
- Marking the Shop on the Map: After completing the quest, talk to the Business Scrub again or enter the shop to ensure it registers on your map. The shop might not appear on the world map immediately upon quest completion; a quick re-talk will update your map so you can easily find it later. This is a small quirk – if you forget this, don’t panic if you don’t see the Smoothie Shop icon; just revisit the scrub and it should pop up.
- Utilize the Smoothies: Now that the Smoothie Shop is open, make use of it! One highly recommended recipe is the Bubble Smoothie or Bubble Potion, which grants the Dive Time Up effect (letting you hold breath longer)– perfect for exploring any sunk wrecks or deep-water treasures in Echoes of Wisdom. Also try mixing Bubble Kelp with other ingredients to discover recipes that might grant swim speed boosts or extra hearts, enhancing your overall exploration capabilities. The quest might be over, but the items it involves can continue to aid you throughout your journey.
By following this guide, you should be able to complete Out of Bubble Kelp smoothly and take full advantage of the new Smoothie Shop. Enjoy your freshly blended rewards and happy adventuring in Echoes of Wisdom!