The Mermaid's Cave is the sixth Dungeon in Oracle of Ages.[1] It is found at the base of Rolling Ridge and exists in both the past and the present.
Entrance to the Cave[]
The entrance to the dungeon is found behind a waterfall at the base of Rolling Ridge. However, the waterfall seems to have dried up in the present, in which case the entrance is simply built into the cliff wall. The Mermaid Key and Old Mermaid Key are required to enter the dungeon in the past and the present, respectively.
[]
The Mermaid's Cave is a water-themed dungeon. Unlike other dungeons in Oracle of Ages, Link visits this dungeon twice in both the present and past. In order to complete the dungeon in its entirety, Link must travel back and forth through the present and past forms of the dungeon. The dungeon's layout and color scheme differs between the two time periods. During the present, the entire first floor of the Cave somewhat resembles the shape of a Mermaid, hence the name of the dungeon. During the past, the layout only partly resembles the makings of the future layout. Both versions of the Dungeon use Dials as a means of progression.
In the present time of Mermaid's Cave, Link finds the mini-boss, Vire, along with the Boss Key. There he also finds the Mermaid Suit, which is required to explore the submerged section of the dungeon in the past. The boss of the dungeon, Octogon, and the Essence of Time it is guarding, are found in the past. After defeating Octogon, Link will receive a Heart Container and the Lonely Peak, his sixth Essence of Time.
Minor Traps and Enemies[]
- OoA Water Tektite Sprite.png
- OoA Bubble Sprite.png
- OoA Wizzrobe Sprite.png
Trivia[]
- Vire, the dungeon's mini-boss, bears some similarity to Swoop, the mini-boss of the Wing Dungeon. Vire also appears in Oracle of Seasons and Link's Awakening.
- If the floors of this dungeon in the past are combined, they make the shape of the dungeon in the present. This means that between the two ages, something may have caused the floors to drain and merge together.
- The fewest number of sword slashes to defeat Vire in this dungeon is 2. One must play Oracle of Seasons first and beat that, and then link it up with Oracle of Ages. One then must use secrets to obtain the Master Sword and equip the Red Ring.
Nomenclature[]
 Names in Other Regions 
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Name | Meaning | |
 |
Japanese | 人魚の洞窟 (Ningyo no Dōkutsu) | Same as English. |
 |
FrenchEU | Grotte Sirènes | Same as English. |
 |
German | Nixenhöhle | Same as English. |
 |
Italian | Grotta Sirena | Same as English. |
 |
SpanishEU | Cueva de la Sirena | Same as English. |
Gallery[]
The Mermaid's Cave in the Past
Entrance to Mermaid's Cave in the present
Entrance to Mermaid's Cave in the past
Map of the dungeon in the present
Map of the dungeon in the past
Dungeons in The Legend of Zelda series
Parapa Palace · Midoro Palace · Island Palace · Maze Island Palace
Palace on the Sea · Three-Eye Rock Palace 
· Great Palace
Light World
Sewer Passageway · Eastern Palace · Desert Palace · Tower of Hera · Hyrule Castle Tower
Dark World
Palace of Darkness · Swamp Palace · Skull Woods · Thieves' Town (Dungeon) · Ice Palace · Misery Mire (Dungeon) · Turtle Rock · Ganon's Tower
Palace of the Four Sword
Main Dungeons
Tail Cave · Bottle Grotto · Key Cavern · Angler's Tunnel · Catfish's Maw · Face Shrine · Eagle's Tower · Turtle Rock · Wind Fish's Egg
Mini-Dungeons
Moblin Cave · Kanalet Castle · Ancient Ruins
Optional Dungeons
Color Dungeon (LADX | LANS) · Chamber Dungeon (LANS)
Child Dungeons
Inside the Deku Tree · Dodongo's Cavern · Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly
Adult Dungeons'
Forest Temple · Fire Temple · Water Temple · Shadow Temple · Spirit Temple · Ganon's Castle
Mini-Dungeons
Main Dungeons
Woodfall Temple · Snowhead Temple · Great Bay Temple · Stone Tower Temple
Mini-Dungeons
Swamp Spider House · Pirates' Fortress · Oceanside Spider House · Beneath the Well · Ancient Castle of Ikana
Moon Dungeons
Main Dungeons
Spirit's Grave · Wing Dungeon · Moonlit Grotto · Skull Dungeon · Crown Dungeon · Mermaid's Cave · Jabu-Jabu's Belly · Ancient Tomb · Black Tower (Turret) · Room of Rites(OoS | OoA)
Mini-Dungeons
Maku Road · Great Moblin's Keep · Ambi's Palace · Black Tower (Rescue Zelda) · Hero's Cave
Main Dungeons
Gnarled Root Dungeon · Snake's Remains · Poison Moth's Lair · Dancing Dragon Dungeon · Unicorn's Cave · Ancient Ruins · Explorer's Crypt · Sword & Shield Maze · Onox's Castle · Room of Rites(OoS | OoA)
Mini-Dungeons
Chambers of Insight · Sea of Trees · Talus Cave · Death Mountain · Vaati's Palace
Anniversary Edition
Main Dungeons
Forsaken Fortress · Dragon Roost Cavern · Forbidden Woods · Tower of the Gods
Earth Temple · Wind Temple · Ganon's Tower
Mini-Dungeons
Whereabouts of the Wind — Lake Hylia · Cave of No Return · Hyrule Castle
Eastern Hyrule — The Coast · Village of the Blue Maiden · Eastern Temple
Death Mountain — Death Mountain Foothills · The Mountain Path · Tower of Flames
Near the Fields — The Field · The Swamp · Infiltration of Hyrule Castle
The Dark World — Lost Woods · Kakariko Village (Four Swords Adventures) · Temple of Darkness
Desert of Doubt — Desert of Doubt · Desert Temple · Pyramid
Frozen Hyrule — Frozen Hyrule · Temple of Ice · Tower of Winds
Realm of the Heavens — Realm of the Heavens · The Dark Cloud · Palace of Winds
Main Dungeons
Deepwood Shrine · Cave of Flames · Fortress of Winds · Temple of Droplets · Palace of Winds · Dark Hyrule Castle
Mini-Dungeons
Main Dungeons
Forest Temple · Goron Mines · Lakebed Temple · Arbiter's Grounds · Snowpeak Ruins
Temple of Time · City in the Sky · Palace of Twilight · Hyrule Castle
Mini-Dungeons
Lantern Caverns · Cave of Ordeals · Cave of Shadows (TPHD)
Dungeons
Temple of Fire · Temple of Wind · Temple of Courage · Ghost Ship · Goron Temple · Temple of Ice · Mutoh's Temple
Master Dungeon
Dungeons
Forest Temple · Snow Temple · Ocean Temple · Fire Temple · Sand Temple
Master Dungeon
Mini-Dungeon
Lost at Sea Station · Tunnel to the Tower · Take 'Em All On!
Main Dungeons
Skyview Temple · Earth Temple · Lanayru Mining Facility · Ancient Cistern · Sandship · Fire Sanctuary · Sky Keep
Mini-Dungeons
Hyrule
Eastern Palace · Tower of Hera · House of Gales · Inside Hyrule Castle
Desert Palace
Lorule
Ice Ruins · Swamp Palace · Thieves' Hideout · Dark Palace
Skull Woods · Turtle Rock · Lorule Castle
Woodlands — Deku Forest (Level) · Buzz Blob Cave · Moblin Base · Forest Temple
Riverside — Secret Fortress · Abyss of Agony · Cove of Transition · Water Temple
Volcano — Blazing Trail · Hinox Mine · Den of Flames · Fire Temple
Ice Cavern — Frozen Plateau · Snowball Ravine · Silver Shrine · Ice Temple
Fortress — Sealed Gateway · Bomb Storage · Training Ground · The Lady's Lair
The Dunes — Infinity Dunes · Stone Corridors · Gibdo Mausoleum · Desert Temple
The Ruins — Illusory Mansion · Palace Noir · Lone Labyrinth · Grim Temple
Sky Realm — Floating Garden · Deception Castle · Dragon Citadel · Sky Temple
Forest Zone · Flooded Zone · Scorching Zone · Frozen Zone · Fortified Zone · Desert Zone · Shadow Zone · Baneful Zone
Main Dungeons
Divine Beast Vah Ruta · Divine Beast Vah Rudania · Divine Beast Vah Medoh · Divine Beast Vah Naboris · Hyrule Castle · Final Trial (TCB)
Mini-Dungeons
Trial of the Sword (TMT ) · Yiga Clan Hideout
Ancient Shrines
Akh Va'quot ·
Bosh Kala ·
Chaas Qeta ·
Daag Chokah ·
Dagah Keek ·
Dah Kaso ·
Dah Hesho ·
Daka Tuss ·
Dako Tah ·
Daqa Koh ·
Daqo Chisay ·
Dila Maag ·
Dow Na'eh ·
Dunba Taag ·
Gee Ha'rah ·
Gorae Torr ·
Ha Dahamar ·
Hawa Koth ·
Hia Miu ·
Hila Rao ·
Ishto Soh ·
Ja Baij ·
Jee Noh ·
Jitan Sa'mi ·
Joloo Nah ·
Ka'o Makagh ·
Kaam Ya'tak ·
Kah Mael Shrine ·
Kah Okeo Shrine ·
Kah Yah Shrine ·
Kam Urog Shrine ·
Katah Chuki ·
Katosa Aug ·
Kay Noh ·
Kaya Wan ·
Kayra Mah ·
Ke'nai Shakah ·
Keeha Yoog ·
Keh Namut ·
Kema Kosassa ·
Kema Zoos ·
Keo Ruug ·
Ketoh Wawai ·
Korgu Chideh ·
Korsh O'hu ·
Kuh Takkar ·
Kuhn Sidajj ·
Lakna Rokee ·
Lanno Kooh ·
Maag Halan ·
Maag No'rah ·
Maka Rah ·
Mezza Lo ·
Mijah Rokee ·
Mirro Shaz ·
Misae Suma ·
Mo'a Keet ·
Mogg Latan ·
Monya Toma ·
Mozo Shenno ·
Muwo Jeem ·
Myahm Agana ·
Namika Ozz ·
Ne'ez Yohma ·
Noya Neha ·
Oman Au ·
Owa Daim ·
Pumaag Nitae ·
Qua Raym ·
Qaza Tokki ·
Qukah Nata ·
Raqa Zunzo ·
Ree Dahee ·
Rin Oyaa ·
Ritaag Zumo ·
Rok Uwog ·
Rona Kachta ·
Rota Ooh ·
Rucco Maag ·
Saas Ko'sah ·
Sah Dahaj ·
Sasa Kai ·
Sha Gehma ·
Sha Warvo ·
Shada Naw ·
Shae Katha ·
Shae Loya ·
Shae Mo'sah ·
Shai Utoh ·
Shai Yota ·
Shee Vaneer ·
Shee Venath ·
Sheem Dagoze ·
Sheh Rata ·
Sho Dantu ·
Shoda Sah ·
Shoqa Tatone ·
Shora Hah ·
Soh Kofi ·
Suma Sahma ·
Ta'loh Naeg ·
Tah Muhl ·
Tahno O'ah ·
Tawa Jinn ·
Tena Ko'sah ·
Tho Kayu ·
To Quomo ·
Toh Yahsa ·
Toto Sah ·
Tu Ka'loh ·
Tutsuwa Nima ·
Voo Lota ·
Wahgo Katta ·
Ya Naga ·
Yah Rin ·
Zalta Wa ·
Ze Kahso ·
Zuna Kai
Ancient Shrines (TCB)
Etsu Korima · Kamia Omuna · Kee Dafunia · Keive Tala · Kiah Toza · Kihiro Moh · Mah Eliya · Noe Rajee · Rinu Honika · Rohta Chigah · Ruvo Korbah · Sato Koda · Sharo Lun · Shira Gomar · Takama Shiri · Yowaka Ita
Main Dungeons
Wind Temple · Fire Temple · Water Temple · Lightning Temple · Hyrule Castle · Spirit Temple · Gloom's Lair
Mini-Dungeons
Level 1 — Ordon Target Practice · Gerudo Stalfos: Defender · Arbiter's Grounds: Ranger
Level 2 — Goron Target Practice · Zora River: Defender · Skull Shooting
Level 3 — Kakariko Target Practice · Fruit Balloons · The Great Bridge: Defender
Level 4 — Zora River Target Practice · Hyrule Castle: Defender · Skulltula Forest: Ranger
Level 5 — Oocca Target Practice · Gerudo Moldorm: Defender · The Shootout
Level 6 — Ordon Target Practice 2 · Bridge of Eldin: Defender · Snowpeak Ruins: Ranger
Level 7 — Underground Target Practice · City in the Sky: Defender · Temple of Time: Ranger
Level 8 — Horseback Target Practice · Snowpeak Ruins: Defender · Darknut Battle
Finale — Ranch Target Practice · Sacred Grove: Defender · Fossil Stallord Battle
- ↑ Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 152