Few locations in Hollow Knight: Silksong puzzle players quite like the Deep Docks. Amid its molten hazards and shifting machinery lies a door sealed by an ornate clamp, attached to an old diving bell. Many explorers stumble upon it early and assume they’ve missed a switch, a hidden lever, or the right key—but in truth, this door is part of Silksong’s later progression and cannot be opened during your first visit.
The Ornate Clamp and the Diving Bell in Silksong
When Hornet inspects the diving bell, the description reads:
“An old diving bell. Its door is shut tight by an ornate clamp.”
This isn’t a mere background detail. The clamp marks a locked pathway tied to a later chapter in the game. Unlike Simple Keys that can be bought or found in Pharloom, the diving bell requires a unique key that’s tied to the story itself.
How to Open the Diving Bell Door?
To unlock the ornate clamp, players must obtain the Diving Bell Key, an item only available in Act 3. This ensures that the bell becomes part of Hornet’s natural progression rather than an optional shortcut.
The sequence unfolds like this:
- Meet the Forge Daughter – Found deep within the docks, she serves as a vendor and craftsman.
- Seek Guidance from Ballow – The Forge Daughter hints that someone else knows the way below. That someone is Ballow, a worker stationed beside her.
- Ballow and the Bell – After speaking with him, Ballow offers to meet Hornet at the diving bell. Once there, he helps operate it, and Hornet uses the Diving Bell Key to break the ornate clamp.
What’s Inside the Bell?
The payoff isn’t treasure or a hidden boss but something subtler:
- A bench where Hornet can rest.
- A speaker mechanism to begin the descent.
The bell functions as a transport system, carrying Hornet into the depths of Pharloom during Act 3. Its purpose is narrative and atmospheric, not loot-driven.
Should You Worry About Missing Out?
Absolutely not. The ornate clamp is progression-locked, meaning there’s no way to waste a Simple Key or bypass it early. If you’ve circled the Deep Docks searching for a solution, you haven’t overlooked anything—it simply isn’t meant to open yet.
Why this is an Important Milestone?
Team Cherry has always hidden intrigue in the world design of Hollow Knight. The sealed diving bell continues that tradition, sparking speculation and community debate while quietly pointing toward future content. By the time players return with the Diving Bell Key, the mystery has had time to build into anticipation—making the eventual descent all the more memorable.
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