Sparkling Waters, as the name in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe would imply, is a water level. You’ll encounter plenty of Cheep Cheeps, Urchins, Bloopers, and more. You’ll also find New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe’s first Ghost House level, the Haunted Shipwreck.
Sparkling Waters 1 — Waterspout Beach Star Coins
Star Coin 1: The first Star Coin is easy to see — you’ll just need a little running start off the nearby water spout.
Star Coin 2: The second Star Coin is also easy to see, but it’s not so easy to reach. It’s under a pipe next to a water spout, and jumping to it is tricky. You could do that, but it’s much easier to use your Ice Flower powers to freeze the nearby Huckit Crab and toss the block of ice into the water below the Star Coin. It will float, giving you a platform to jump from.
Star Coin 3: Near the end of the level, you’ll see a series of water spouts and a POW Block. Throw the block, and the Star Coin (and many other coins) will rain from the sky. Make sure to time the throw so the coins drop when the spouts are up — once the water drops, the Star Coin sinks.
Sparkling Waters 2 — Tropical Refresher Star Coins
Star Coin 1: Look for a collection of three pipes (red, then yellow, then red) pointing up and to the left. You’ll find the first Star Coin drifting along the side of these pipes.
Star Coin 2: Just after the checkpoint, you’ll see a platform with a giant Porcupuffer on either side. A trail of coins will appear and lead you below this platform, where a hidden P Switch will release coins and a Star Coin from above.
Star Coin 3: After you collect the second Star Coin, you’ll pass by a few giant Urchins before you see one guarding a pipe. Enter the pipe, and you’ll see that another giant Urchin is blocking your way. There are theoretically two ways to reach the Star Coin below the giant Urchin. The easier way requires that you have a power-up of some kind, so you can pass by the giant Urchin on the way down and back up, taking damage each time. The hard way requires a Starman, which you can get by entering the green pipe to the right of where you collected the second Star Coin. You’ll have to swim fast to make it before your Starman runs out.
Sparkling Waters Tower — Giant Skewer Tower Star Coins
Star Coin 1: The first Star Coin is hidden just above and to the left of the first giant skewer you encounter. When the skewer resets, swim left into the gap the skewer slams into, then up to find the hidden Star Coin.
Star Coin 2: This Star Coin is easy to find — it’s at the top of the first set of skewers. A run and a jump will snag it for you.
Star Coin 3: You’ll see the final Star Coin easily, but collecting it is less obvious. You’ll see a place where two Dry Bones are patrolling an area with music note blocks on the floor and a skewer above you. Head to the far right side of the screen to uncover a hidden POW Block. Throwing it will dispatch the Dry Bones and send the Star Coin down onto some music note blocks. There’s no need to put yourself in the path of the skewer — just bump the music notes from below to collect the Star Coin.
Sparkling Waters Ghost House — Haunted Shipwreck Star Coins
Star Coin 1: In the first area of the ship, you’ll see a Star Coin hanging just below the door. To reach it, you’ll need to ride the floating block to the left and jump off just below the platform to enter the hidden passage that leads to the Star Coin.
Star Coin 2: In the second area of the ship, with the circling ghosts, the Star Coin is hanging in the air above the third circle.
Star Coin 3: The final Star Coin of the level is hanging in a chamber just above the entrance to the final area of the ship, with all the false walls. To reach it, go to the right of the door, then jump back to your left and wall jump to make it into the chamber. There are no Super Acorns in this level, but if you’re able to bring one in and keep the power-up for the entire level, a glide jump will make matters much easier here.
Sparkling Waters 3 — Above the Cheep Cheep Seas Star Coins
Star Coin 1: The first Star Coin is visible above a row of Donut Blocks. Let the scale platform to the left descend until you can jump out onto the Donut Blocks and collect the Star Coin.
Star Coin 2: Just after the checkpoint, you’ll see three water spouts. Let the second spout drop you onto a row of Donut Blocks. Keep moving, and run to the right to collect the Star Coin, then let the spout lift you up.
Star Coin 3: You’ll need Yoshi for this one, or if you’re finding him hard to hang on to, use a Super Acorn before entering the level. You’ll pass by a series of scale platforms, the last of which is next to a pipe. Let this last platform descend, then use Yoshi’s flutter jump or a Super Acorn glide jump to reach the pipe. Inside the pipe, you’ll see several scale platforms and a POW Block. You might want to hop off Yoshi for greater maneuverability before you hit the POW Block, because it will send coins and the Star Coin down onto the scales, and you won’t have much time before the weight causes the scales to drop.
Sparkling Waters 4 — Urchin Shoals Star Coins
Star Coin 1: Early in the level, you’ll see a giant Urchin below a row of Donut Blocks. Let the block to the right drop you, and then jump right as it falls to get to the space next to the giant Urchin. There is a brick here — hit it and jump up to get the Mini Mushroom. Head right and jump in the water — as Mini Mario, you can run on the water and collect the first Star Coin.
Star Coin 2: As soon as you collect the first Star Coin, a trail of coins will appear leading up the side of a water spout. Use Mini Mario to run up the spout and into the pipe — the Star Coin is easy to collect here.
Star Coin 3: After the checkpoint, you’ll pass through an area with lots of giant Urchins. After this, you’ll come to an area with smaller Urchins riding on water spouts, with a red Koopa Troopa patrolling above them. Knock out the Koopa Troopa and carry its shell below the platform, where the Urchins are. When the Urchins’ spouts are all up, throw the shell to take out the Urchins, then walk on the cleared spouts to reach a pipe. Inside the pipe will be two giant Urchins, coins, and your final Star Coin.
Sparkling Waters 5 — Dragoneel’s Undersea Grotto Star Coins
Star Coin 1: The first Star Coin is easy to spot near the top of the screen. Take it slow so you can avoid Dragoneel.
Star Coin 2: The second Star Coin is similarly easy to spot, and it’s encased in bricks to slow you down. Dragoneel is your big challenge in this area as well.
Star Coin 3: After the checkpoint, look for a red pipe in the ground. It will take you to a room with the final Star Coin and two smaller Dragoneel.
Sparkling Waters Castle — Larry’s Torpedo Castle Star Coins
Star Coin 1: After the grates in the first area, you’ll see two question blocks. Climb on them and wall jump up and to the left to collect your first Star Coin (or, to make it easier, bring a Super Acorn into the level and use your glide jump). Make sure to time your jump around the fire that’s spouting right next to the Star Coin!
Star Coin 2: Just after the checkpoint is the next Star Coin. You’ll have to time the torpedoes flying through this area, and swim fast!
Star Coin 3: In the third area of the castle is another set of moving grates and fire spouts. Ride the center grate up to access the Star Coin hidden behind the wall.
Sparkling Waters — Skyward Stalk Star Coins
Star Coin 1: The first Star Coin will be to the left of the stalk, above a platform on the left wall. Start looking for it after the red coin challenge.
Star Coin 2: Just above where you found the first Star Coin is a wall with a pipe sticking out of it at an angle. Get on top of this wall, and from there you can jump up to a platform where the second Star Coin is hidden in some clouds.
Star Coin 3: After you get the second Star Coin, work your way right — the final Star Coin is above another wall with a slanted pipe. Your Super Acorn glide jump will make collecting this Star Coin a snap.
