Angler's Tunnel

The Angler's Tunnel is the fourth dungeon in Link's Awakening. The entrance to this tunnel is behind a raging waterfall on the base of Tal Tal Heights, just north of Animal Village. Much like Tail Cave and Key Cavern, the dungeons before it, Angler's Tunnel also requires a key. The Angler Key is in the Yarna Desert, south-east of Animal Village. But a sleeping walrus blocks Link's path, and thus he must return to Mabe Village and ask for Marin's assistance. When taken to the walrus, she will sing the Ballad of the Wind Fish and the walrus will wake up and leave. The key is being held by a Lanmolas who will drop the key once defeated. With the key in hand, Link needs to reach the keyhole by traveling to north-west Ukuku Prairie and continue to go east until he finds the keyhole. Upon inserting the key into its keyhole, the waterfall will stop and will reveal a riverside tunnel in the shape of a large fish. To actually get into the dungeon, Link must climb the Tal Tal Mountain Range and drop down from a cliff. The interior of this dungeon is mostly gray flooring with blue-green walls. This dungeon also has a few blue-green tiles and is flooded in a few areas.

The main tool of this dungeon are the Flippers, which are obviously necessary to swim to new rooms and is a must to defeat the dungeon's boss. The boss of this dungeon is the Angler Fish, and is the only boss in Link's Awakening that challenges Link to a side-view battle underwater. The Angler Fish guards the fourth Instrument of the Siren, the Surf Harp.

When looked on a map, the dungeon is in the shape of either a small fish or a fishing hook. This dungeon is probably a reference to the boss's name, Angler Fish and may suggest that this dungeon belongs to it, or a possible reference to the dungeon's shape - an angler is another word for a fisherman.

Trivia
It is the first time that a fish-like creature has been the final boss of a dungeon.

See also: Angler Key