I pretty much clarified it a few posts up:

No, I know. But based on testing, it doesn't seem to work that way at all. Even so, being under water while searching for loot just slows me down. And given that the way to loot is to move from area to area. I see way more loot spawn buy just swimming down the various canals. Going under water doesn't seem to yield more spawn points in any way. Perhaps the goggles need to be tweaked in some way?

I'd encourage you to test this for yourself, as I'm definitely not seeing increased loot spawn points whilst swimming under water.

It's not going to make stuff suddenly appear, and it's not going to yield double the spawn rate either if that's what you're expecting. Spawn rates depend on a host of factors, the goggle bonus gives it a slight boost.

I don't really need to test it because I'm looking right at the code that determines spawn rates.

I actually seem to find loot spawn close to me in the direction I am facing while under water.

Things that determine the rate of loot spawning:
1) Whether you are diving and have the goggles.
2) Areas with a lot of water lowers the chance slightly(such as sitting in the York Town Bay)
3) Having already obtained an item in that surrounding area slightly decreases the rate
4) Being in a new area increases the rate
5) Spawn spots already existing decreases the rate slightly
6) The more to items you have found in a specific area, the less likely you are to find more items in that area.

All in all, diving was designed to encourage movement, and it was designed to punish those who sat in one spot looting over and over. To increase your chances the best thing you can do is create a route in which you loot a specific area for a little while, then move on to the next area and repeat.

What about vip island?theres a ****load of loot and water

Well they paid 7500 gralats for VIP, since VIP is actually useless, I guess they found a way to make it more profitable.

Actually, VIP island is arguably the best place for both looting and bug catching (for agrias and blue morpho butterflies, anyway).

Though I do kind of wish they'd add some content to all those buildings that seem to serve no purpose.

Ok just want to clear this up for the billionth time. Thanks for bearing with us players, as we are not looking right at the code :)
Relating to your post's numbered bullet points, I have these questions:

1.) Having the goggles, as well as 'diving' and swimming underwater increases spawn rate? (I would ask by how much, but I feel that's pushing it)

2.) Does the spawn rate get applied to each tile of water? For example, on average would one expect to find more loot in york bay after looting for an hour, or would they get more loot from swimming in the pond by stefan's house? Just unclear how the spawn rate is applied.

3.) Is this decrease in rate relative to the current play session, a certain amount of time, or the character's overall looting 'history?'

4.) Traveling seems to halt spawns altogether - does moving to a different map/level determine a new 'area' or is it indicated by bodies of water? Or is the intended effect that while you are moving the chance of a loot spawn is increased?

5.) I have never seen more than 2 loot dots at one time present on the screen, and that, very rarely. Do the loot dots spawn independently of each other, and, if so, is it possible to get more than 2 to appear at a time?

6.) Is this the same statement as #3, or more so to say that this effect gets applied cumulatively for every item you manage to loot in a specific area?


Also - do the loot related hats have any effect on loot spawns? The zorbi hat and the new Narwhal horn?

Thanks again!

I'm curious about this as well

Here are some things i can answer a little about.

1. I am not aware of anything about this question,but it is probably enabled once you gain the item,but its my guess.

2.I think that there is a area of which is around you that follows you everywhere and if your near the area that senses water it makes a dot.The area might be the range that you can see.

3.JVKEKEKVEFKFEKGEKF NOONONONONONNOIDKDKDKDKDK

4.-^^im pretty sure you get the same amount of loot either way,if it gets more loot i guess that it gets loot based off of the player and area of water.
5.Possibility may be that it wont let you have more than two dots,but i cant tell u since im not much of a diver anymore.

7. The hats don't do anything special,u just wear them.

so if I understand right you are tracking how much of each loot was sold, are you going to change the selling prices of a specific loot if this one won't be sold like supply and demand?

I'm not sure how I'll balance it yet.

I didn't take the time to read all the thread comments but in case it wasn't already said, i believe the NPC "Jack the pyrat" should take gold, normal and black pearls, as well as gold nuggets. I find it odd that he takes helms and anchors, yet he doesn't take ACTUAL treasure aside from doubloons. Just food for thought.

Gold nuggets are taken by the miner in the caves, near where you get
the mine worker's hard hat.