Aquatic Research Area - Opening the Exit (with Chum Distraction)

NOTES: If you're attempting the "Short Ration" achievement/trophy, without using the chum to distract the Leviathan, follow the alternate guide here. If you're having trouble holding your breath during the swim to the exit, and you happen to have extra respirators in your inventory, left over from the Louvre levels, you can use one here.

After lowering the chum bucket into the water, as described in the previous section, return to the main area through the large, rectangular door. Turn right and drop down to the walkway below the broken ladder. (Or, just dive into the pool from above, if you prefer. This is another opportunity to get the "Into the Hellmouth" achievement/trophy if you haven't already done so. See the main walkthrough for swan-diving tips.)

Swim across the pool and pull lever #1, which is just below the entrance and power-monitoring panel.

Using this lever...

...opens the first of two trapdoors on the bottom of the pool, as well as another underwater door on the opposite wall.

Swim across the pool, past the trapdoor.

If you need air, head for the surface. Then swim through the door below the "2" sign, directly opposite the first lever.

Follow the passageway to a vertical shaft and continue upward to the surface.

Cutscene: Lara climbs out of the pool, changes into a wetsuit, and presses a button to raise the water level.

Surface to breathe.

Then pull lever #2, which is just below the waterline in this room.

This opens the second trapdoor at the bottom of the main pool.

Get air again if necessary, then swim back down to the main room...

...

...through the two open trapdoors in the middle of the pool...

...and on to the next level.

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