Secret Cave

In The Wind Waker, a Secret Cave is similar to Ocarina of Time's Secret Grotto. A secret cave is a cavern under the earth that can be accessed by falling into holes on the ground, and it usually contains large amounts of Rupees, Treasure Charts, Pieces of Heart, spoils or important items as rewards. There are a total of twenty secret caves in the Great Sea. Most secret caves are constructed in two standard forms.

Forms of Secret Caves
The first common form is a large, pillared, central room surrounded by four rooms full of enemies. Each time Link completes a room by killing the enemies within, a candle is lit above its door. Lighting all four candles will make Link have to fight a group of powerful enemies in the central room. This unlocks a back room containing a chest of some sort. This format is used for some Triforce Charts, and other assorted caves throughout the game.

The second common form is a large central room surrounded by three high perches from which enemies enter. Usually Link will have to systematically defeat the enemies in order to make a chest appear in the center of the room. An exception is the secret cave on Angular Isles, where Link has to build a tall block tower to reflect light.

Secret Caves are not limited to these two forms; numerous other unique caves exist. Notable examples include Outset Island's Savage Labyrinth, which is a 51-story-deep monster melée, the two secret caves on Fire Mountain and Ice Ring Isle, and Pawprint Isle's winding cavern filled with ChuChus.