Noki Bay



Noki Bay is one of the areas of Isle Delfino, the main setting of the GameCube game Super Mario Sunshine. Noki Bay is located at the north behind the islands "dorsal fin". The Noki live here in the platforms floating in the bay. The structures have shells on them, possibly because the Noki's carry shells on their backs. Many small square pictures on the cliffs can be pushed in when sprayed, revealing a secret alcove. They are actually switches hiding several hidden tunnels and Blue Coins. The picture switches have six different designs on them, the blank ones making the total number of designs seven.

An old Noki fisherman and his grandson will help Mario throughout the levels, giving him a diving helmet and tips. Gooper Blooper makes a return here at one of the cliffs peaks. He blocks a hole to a room for the ancient Noki King's tomb. Several Noki shells are on the walls, as are two large jugs that hold a Blue Coin each.

Noki Bay is one of the most beautiful locations on the island, with crystal clear water and mysterious, old ruins. It is here that Eely Mouth's gingivitis has polluted the waters. The eel is in a huge underwater chamber that can be reached by a large waterfall.

Mario must collect at least 20 Shine Sprites to enter this level.

Episodes
Episode 1: Uncork the Waterfall

The Noki fisherman thinks that the corked waterfall is the reason for the bay's pollution. Mario needs to ascend the rocks and cliffs to defeat the Monty Mole and free the waterfall.

Episode 2: The Boss of Tricky Ruins

Gooper Blooper makes a return appearance here. Mario has to find his way into the ancient Noki King's tomb where the Shine Sprite is.

Episode 3: Red Coins in a Bottle

The Noki fisherman has figured out what's polluting the bay, but he makes Mario practice diving deep under the surface by telling him to collect 8 Red Coins in a bottle full of water.

Episode 4: Eely-Mouth's Dentist

Mario dives to the bottom of the sea floor using the waterfall. There, a giant eel called Eely-Mouth needs his teeth to be cleaned. Once Mario does, his gold tooth becomes a Shine Sprite.

Episode 5: Il Piantissimo's Surf Swim

Mario needs to beat Il Piantissimo in a swimming race across the bay.

Episode 6: The Shell's Secret

Mario has to climb to the shell tower and enter the maze to retrieve the Shine Sprite.

Episode 7: Hold It, Shadow Mario!

Another appearance of Shadow Mario. Mario needs to disable him.

Episode 8: The Red Coin Fish

Mario needs to dive down to the bottom of the sea to claim the Nokis' gift for him: a group of Coins and Red Coins swimming in the shape of a fish.

Trivia

 * Noki is Italian for "shell", so the Noki Bay translates to "Shell Bay".
 * Noki Bay's way of entrance (it is accessed by viewing the sun in Mario Cam mode while placing Mario inside a strip of light on Delfino Plaza) is rather ironic if one remembers the age-old safety rule that the sun should never be directly gazed upon. The method is probably a reference to the entrance to the Wing Cap switch level in Super Mario 64.
 * Episode 3 of Noki Bay takes a shrunken Mario to the innards of a bottle in which he can find an old stone setup. Inside parts of this stone ruin are two doors, only one of which can be opened. However, correct aiming with the Mario Cam will allow Mario to see through the door, revealing a small, closed book in a long corridor beyond it. As the door cannot be opened, the book cannot be read or collected and the long hallway cannot be explored; although the purpose of this book is unknown, some have thought that, during the production of Super Mario Sunshine, retrieving this book was the goal of Episode 3 rather than collecting Red Coins.
 * It is possible to go to the other half of the main cliff Noki Bay is on, where you can see many platforms