Ocean Treasure Guide: Explorer Maps, Shipwrecks & Conduits

Getting Explorer Maps

Every ocean expedition starts with an Ocean Explorer Map: trade with a cartographer villager (Apprentice or higher) for 12-16 emeralds plus a compass. The white marker on the map points to buried treasure or an ocean monument area — walk there and match terrain to lock it in. Money-saving tip: cycle villager trades until your cartographer is Apprentice before buying, cutting the price under 8 emeralds.

Shipwrecks & Ruins

Two underwater structures matter: shipwrecks and ocean ruins. Shipwreck loot chests spawn in one of three hull sections (bow, body, stern) and the key drop is a Treasure Map pointing to exact Buried Treasure coordinates — whose chest always contains a Heart of the Sea. Ruins yield pottery sherds (archaeology) and iron gear. Both get buried under seagrass and sand; bring Night Vision and Water Breathing potions to double your clearing speed.

Heart of the Sea & Conduits

The Heart of the Sea has exactly one use: the Conduit (8 nautilus shells + 1 heart). A conduit needs a 'frame' of at least 16 any-ocean blocks in a plus-shape (bigger frames extend the range, up to a 42-block radius) and full submersion to activate. Once online it grants Conduit Power to nearby players: underwater breathing, night vision, Haste II, and resistance — turning the ocean floor into home turf for exploring, building, and raiding ocean monuments.

Gear & Route Planning

Standard dive kit: a stack each of Water Breathing and Night Vision potions, turtle helmet or Respiration boots, a trident (or spare boat), bed and food. Recommended route: clear shallow shipwrecks for treasure maps → dig buried treasure for the Heart of the Sea → collect nautilus shells (fishing, drowned drops, and treasure chests) → craft the conduit → then hit the ocean monument. This order minimizes resource bottlenecks and suits solo progression.