Old School RuneScape's next big Sailing expansion is going underwater, and players have until Monday morning to decide how much of it gets built. Jagex's Deep Sea Diving & Burial at Sea Lock-in Poll is live until Monday, November 16 at 6 AM CT (12:00 UTC). It covers seven questions: a new Experienced quest called Burial at Sea, which concludes the Pandemonium story and unlocks Deep Sea Diving, and six diving sites and rewards that would only be added if the quest passes.
The full proposal is in the Deep Sea Diving Expansion blog, which the team revised on November 9 with a set of changes based on the first week of feedback. The ballot itself is on the Old School poll page. This guide explains every question, what changed in the revision and what each area would mean for your account if it passes.
How the Poll Works
This is a lock-in poll, so anything that passes is committed for development. Under the Old School polling charter, a feature poll succeeds when it reaches over 70% yes votes when it closes. To vote, you need to be a member with at least 300 total level and 25 hours of total play time.
The poll opened on November 9 at 10 AM CT (16:00 UTC) and closes on November 16 at 6 AM CT (12:00 UTC). Voting happens in-game at any poll booth.
The structure matters. Question 1 is the quest itself. Questions 2 to 5 and 7 each begin with "If Burial at Sea and the ability to go deep sea diving are added," so they depend on the quest passing. Question 6 depends on the Abyssal Arbalest from Question 5. There is also a final text-entry question where you can explain your votes. Those answers are not shown publicly, and the team has invited players to use it for detailed feedback they might not want to post in public.
No release date has been announced for any part of the expansion.
Burial at Sea: The Quest (Question 1)
Burial at Sea is the second and final part of the story that began in Pandemonium, the quest where Will and Anne threw you overboard when Sailing launched. Nearly a year later, the expansion gives you a chance at revenge, "or at least a stern talking to." The Diving Expansion first appeared at the bottom of this year's RuneFest roadmap, and this is the first detailed look at it.
It is an Experienced tier quest, started by speaking to 'Squawking' Steve Beanie at the pub on the Pandemonium.
Requirements
- 42 Sailing
- 38 Smithing
- 32 Construction
- Completion of Pandemonium
- Completion of Recipe for Disaster: Freeing Pirate Pete
Rewards
- 3 Quest points
- 10,000 Sailing XP
- 2,500 Smithing XP
- 10,000 Coins
- Deep Sea Diving Gear
- Diving Bell
- The ability to go Deep Sea Diving
What Deep Sea Diving Is
Using the equipment from the quest, you would be able to dive at diving sites beneath Gielinor's oceans. The blog compares them to small islands, except you are in a high-pressure environment far below the waves. Each site would have its own Sailing level requirement and its own activities. Some would be rich in a skilling resource, some would hold familiar monsters as new Slayer locations, and others would have new enemies or resources.
The team plans to start with a small set of sites to establish the tone and learn what works, then add more over time like any other content area. The specific Sailing level for each site has not been published.
The November 9 revision addressed a fair criticism directly. Several proposed activities do not feel like something you could only do underwater, and some are fairly safe. Jagex agreed, and described these sites as a framework: if players like the atmosphere, future additions can feel more like true diving activities. Every area will be visually distinct, with a different ambience from land-based content. Players also asked about making the behavior of existing underwater areas consistent. That is not part of this update, though it may come later as a Sweep-Up or quality of life change.
Jewellery Production Areas (Question 2)
Two diving sites would sit next to hydrothermal vents, mineral-rich spots where jewellery can be smelted efficiently.
What Changed in the Revision
The original proposal included a magical furnace that would automatically bank your smelted jewellery using teleportation. Players were not keen on auto-banking, so it has been replaced with a mermaid courier who will carry your items to the bank for a small fee. The fee has not been decided. It could be a simple gold cost, or "perhaps the occasional piece of jewellery for their own collection."
Gem Rock Levels and Shilo Village
Some players questioned why the exotic gem rocks need a higher Mining level (75) than the precious gem rocks (65), since opal, jade and red topaz are worth less than diamonds. The answer is intentional. In-world, the softer gems are harder to mine safely from a rock. In gameplay terms, many loot tables already hand out large amounts of precious gems, which puts the semi-precious ones at a premium, particularly for anyone stocking up on Silver jewellery.
There was also concern that this would make the Shilo Village gem mine obsolete. Jagex does not think so. Shilo remains the far better option for mining full inventories of gems or for maximizing Mining XP. The underwater sites are aimed at a different player: someone who is tired of making a few Burning Amulets, running out of materials and repeating the trip. The idea is a spot where you can settle in and make jewellery in bulk, even if it is slower than gathering your own gems and using ores and bars obtained passively through PvM.
Underwater Farming Area (Question 3)
One site leads to a cave that is not flooded. It sits in an air pocket lit by a strange Sunstone totem, and inside you will find a Farmer and a Tool Leprechaun who can explain why they are in an underwater cave. The area would add four new patches:
- A Spirit Tree patch, giving you an easy way back to the site.
- A Celastrus Tree patch.
- A Mushroom patch.
- A Hardwood Tree patch.
Some players asked for Coral or Seaweed patches in the cave instead. The team is not adding them in this update. New Coral patches in particular would have a significant effect on the Herblore meta, and the concern is that even one or two extra patches could have large knock-on effects. Jagex has not ruled out adding more Coral or Seaweed patches elsewhere in the future.
Low and Mid-Level Slayer Areas (Question 4)
One diving site is a large multi-combat area for Slayer, aimed at players working through tasks from Mortimer. It would contain:
- Depth Crawlers: higher-level variants of Cave Crawlers at around level 60, with their own superior version and loot table.
- Drowned Mages: higher-level variants of Infernal Mages at around level 85, with their own superior version and loot table.
- Jellies: regular Jellies. After a suggestion from Reddit user Maxwell_Lord, the revision gives these Jellies the appearance of the jelly-fish, an idea the team called classic OSRS humour.
Abyssal Slayer Area (Questions 5 and 6)
The most significant site sits near an abyssal portal that carries creatures from the Abyss into Gielinor's oceans. It would hold three monsters:
- Abyssal Demons: the familiar Slayer staple, here in a single-combat area where they are always aggressive, which suits a relaxed, low-attention task.
- Abyssal Rock Slugs: higher-level Rock Slugs at around level 70, with their own superior version and loot table. They do not need salt to finish off, since you are already underwater.
- Abyssal Arbalests: a new type of Abyssal monster that attacks with Heavy Ranged and teleports to keep a comfortable distance from you.
Abyssal Arbalests
Arbalests are positioned as a relaxed Slayer task with a solid regular loot table. The original proposal required 79 Slayer. The revision lowers that to 73 Slayer, so players can get the Abyssal Gland earlier in their progression. Jagex points out that players often reach 79 Slayer long before they get an Abyssal Lantern from Guardians of the Rift, but the team was still content to lower the requirement.
They would be added to the core Slayer masters, including Nieve and Duradel, with a medium weighting but low quantity. That combination means they would come up reasonably often, but players who dislike them could finish the task quickly. An extension unlock would be added for anyone who enjoys the task or wants to chase the Gland.
The Teleport Anchoring Scroll will not work on them. That scroll stops monsters teleporting you away, while Arbalests teleport themselves backward.
The Abyssal Gland (Question 6)
The Gland is a new untradeable drop that only comes from Abyssal Arbalests. The name is a placeholder. Show it to the Dark Mage inside the Abyss and he will permanently triple (3x) the durability of your Runecraft pouches.
The aim is a Runecraft quality of life upgrade with far less randomness than getting an Abyssal Lantern from Guardians of the Rift. It would also make Arbalest tasks more attractive on top of their regular loot. For anyone who crafts runes through the Abyss or with large pouches, fewer repairs mean fewer interruptions on every trip.
The revision adds a use for duplicate Glands. You will be able to give them to Hagus in the Scar Essence Mine, which requires partial completion of Desert Treasure II, in exchange for Scarred Extracts. The exact number has not been decided. Jagex values one Extract at roughly 24,000 GP in savings if you use it to craft runes, and Hagus buys Extracts back at 90% of their cost if you already have plenty.
Konar Tasks
The team was initially undecided about Konar, but has now confirmed that the new areas will be added to Konar's list of locations, as long as the monster there is already on her task list. Abyssal Demons get a new option in a single-combat, always-aggressive area, and Jellies get a new multi-combat option.
Omnivorous Clams (Question 7)
The final diving site is a hybrid Magic and Thieving activity. You use Thieving to coax the clams open, then cast a binding spell to keep the clam open while you take its valuables for Thieving XP. The loot tables are designed around stackable items so you can stay for long sessions, with occasional "jackpot" treasures that make good High Alchemy fuel. There is also a rare chance at new sail cosmetics.
Each tier pairs a Thieving requirement with the matching binding spell: Bind for the Crab-eater Clam, Snare for the Man-eater Clam and Entangle for the Shark-eater Clam. The pearl values give a clear sense of the money each tier is aimed at, and the three sails are cosmetics for your ship. The blog also mentions additional charting tasks and environmental storytelling for anyone who likes exploring the lore of new areas.
What the Expansion Would Mean for Your Account
If the full ballot passes, Burial at Sea becomes a quest with wide reach. It unlocks gem mining and jewellery crafting sites, extra Farming patches, two Slayer sites with six monsters between them and a hybrid skilling activity, all behind the same requirements.
To get ready, check these first:
- Finish Pandemonium if you have not already.
- Complete Recipe for Disaster: Freeing Pirate Pete. It needs its own requirements, and the diving gear from that chapter matters to the new quest.
- Train Sailing to 42, Smithing to 38 and Construction to 32. The individual diving sites will have their own Sailing requirements on top of this, and those levels have not been published.
- Push Slayer toward 73 if you want Abyssal Arbalests and the Gland.
- Look at the clam Thieving levels (46, 63 and 83) alongside the matching Magic levels (20, 50 and 79) if the Omnivorous Clams appeal to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the OSRS Deep Sea Diving poll close?
The Deep Sea Diving & Burial at Sea Lock-in Poll closes on Monday, November 16, 2026 at 6 AM CT (12:00 UTC). It opened on November 9 at 10 AM CT (16:00 UTC).
Who can vote in the OSRS Deep Sea Diving poll?
You need to be a member with at least 300 total level and at least 25 hours of total play time. Votes are cast in-game at a poll booth.
What percentage does an OSRS poll question need to pass?
Under the Old School polling charter, a feature poll question passes when it reaches over 70% yes votes when the poll closes.
What are the requirements for Burial at Sea?
Burial at Sea requires 42 Sailing, 38 Smithing and 32 Construction, plus completion of Pandemonium and Recipe for Disaster: Freeing Pirate Pete. It is an Experienced tier quest started by talking to 'Squawking' Steve Beanie at the pub on the Pandemonium.
What are the rewards for Burial at Sea?
The proposed rewards are 3 Quest points, 10,000 Sailing XP, 2,500 Smithing XP, 10,000 coins, Deep Sea Diving Gear, a Diving Bell and the ability to go Deep Sea Diving.
What does the Abyssal Gland do in OSRS?
The proposed Abyssal Gland is an untradeable drop from Abyssal Arbalests. Showing it to the Dark Mage in the Abyss permanently triples the durability of your Runecraft pouches. Duplicate Glands could be exchanged with Hagus in the Scar Essence Mine for Scarred Extracts.
What Slayer level do Abyssal Arbalests need?
Abyssal Arbalests require 73 Slayer. The original proposal set the requirement at 79, but the November 9 revision lowered it so players can get the Abyssal Gland earlier.
Will the new diving Slayer areas be on Konar's task list?
Yes. The new areas will be added to Konar's possible locations when they contain a monster that is already on her task list, which includes Abyssal Demons and Jellies.
Does the underwater jewellery area replace the Shilo Village gem mine?
No. The Shilo Village gem mine remains the better option for mass gem mining and Mining XP. The underwater areas are designed for making jewellery in bulk in one place, with a mermaid courier who can ferry your crafted items to the bank for a small fee.
When will Deep Sea Diving be released in OSRS?
No release date has been announced. The poll decides which parts of the expansion go into development, and any content that passes is committed under the lock-in poll rules.
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