Eventually you’ll need to return to the Aether House on Route 15, to let everyone know you made it out of Acerola’s trial alive, although perhaps not unscathed. As you approach, however, you should notice that a crowd has gathered in front of the entrance. A crowd bearing the Team Skull insignia…

Team Skull Admin Plumeria¶

Team Skull’s capable admin is back with her Golbat. Like the ones in the abandoned supermarket, it’s weak to Electric, Rock, Ice and Psychic. Hers is purely offensive, with Poison Fang and Wing Attack being its favorite moves.

Next up is her Salazzle, which has evolved from Salandit. Like its previous form, it’s weak to Water, Rock, Psychic, and doubly weak to Ground. Just like her Golbat, this queen of the volcano only focuses on attacking, not trickery.

Having driven off Team Skull, enter the Aether House to find out there’s some bad news. If you want to make things right, you’ll have to head straight into Team Skull territory. Before you leave on another journey, you’ll be given a Rare Candy as a token of support. Afterwards, exit the Aether House and head west towards the shore.

Standing in the center is a man in a black and white kimono, who reveals himself to be Grimsley. This laconic gentleman is a member of the Elite Four in the Unova region, although it seems he’s currently off on vacation.

With Sharpedo on your side, you can now continue past the sunken boulders blocking access to the rest of Route 15.

Before Grimsley changes his mind, hop aboard Sharpedo along the westernmost edge of the beach, then jet directly south, smashing through the row of boulders dumb enough to block the way.

Next, swim west along the southern part of this watery route, while observing what’s to the north. After going past the really tall island in the middle, change direction and jet north towards the island’s western shore. Upon landing, there’s a surfer up ahead, with his back to the wall, who you’ll need to fight to get past.

Surfer Jennis¶

This is the same Water and Flying-type Pokémon that you can ride to travel in-between the Alolan islands. Like Pelipper and Gyarados, it has a double weakness to Electric, and is weak to Rock. Also, take note of its exceptional Special Defense.

Past the surfer, head north along the island. At the far end, you’ll find a branch of the Surf Association. Before knocking on the door, pick up TM62 Acrobatics near the entrance, to the left. This nifty Flying-type move deals more damage if the user isn’t holding onto an item. Next, stand in front of the door and go right.

Retrieve Totem Sticker #070 from the bottom-right corner of the building, above the sign. If you’re curious, you can enter the Surf Association itself. Inside, there’s nothing you can take home, except knowledge of a long-forgotten surfing trick. Go back to the western shore and jump onto Sharpedo’s back again.

Continue north between the tall island and the smaller islands to its west. As you reach the north-western side of the big island, there’s a swimmer moving around in a wide circle.

Swimmer Jared¶

The evolved form of Tentacool that’s commonly found while swimming here. Like its unevolved form, it’s weak to Electric, Ground and Psychic. When preparing a strategy, be wary of its high Special Defense, although Mantine has it beat in that department.

North from Jared, you’ll come free of the small islands and the sea will widen. From here, head east, until you’ve gone past the really long island above. Afterwards, swim directly north towards a small beach in the corner. Over here, a pair of swimmers are doing pushup exercises near the center of the beach.

Swimmers Yumi and Jake¶

Not only are the pair extremely coordinated with their push up exercises, their Pokémon are well-coordinated as well. The blue and pink jellyfish can use Surf to damage all other combatants, and heal each other with Water Absorb. Return the favor with Electric, Grass, Ghost or Dark moves.

After that little exercise, go north from the pair’s position towards the north-east corner of the beach. Scoop up the Dive Ball lying on the sand, then leap onto Sharpedo towards the west side of the beach. Speed west along the waters between the shore above and the long island below. You’ll find a floating swimmer halfway along.

Swimmer Alexandria¶

This distinctively colored fish is weak to Grass, Electric, Bug, Ghost and Dark-types. Alexandria’s has the Dazzling Ability, which prevents moves that go first, like Quick Attack. It also has Crunch, which can eat up Ghost-types if you’re not careful.

At this point, Sharpedo’s job is finished. Head north towards the nearby shore and disembark from the back of your sharp-toothed friend. Around here, there’s a female trainer endlessly walking left and right, halfway across the beach.

Ace Trainer Karla¶

Karla has a decent variety of Pokémon. Her Sandshrew is the Alolan variety, weak to Ground and doubly weak to both Fire and Fighting. Meanwhile her Haunter is just like the ones in the spooky supermarket. As such, Psychic, Dark and Ghost-types are super-effective.

Finally, her Wigglytuff is the final evolved form of Igglybuff and Jigglypuff. This Normal and Fairy-type is weak to Poison and Steel only. Unless your Pokémon are weak to Fairy, you should have little reason to be scared, since its stats are pretty poor, besides its HP.

In any case, search the base of the cliff to the north of the Starmie to find a buried Pearl. Moving on, make your way towards the beach’s far west. You’ll pass by a slope leading north.

Either way, search the north-westernmost corner, where the cliff, beach and sea all intersect. Buried here is a Normal Gem, a rare hold item that boosts the power of one Normal-type move and then disappears. Obviously not suited for story battles.

Next, travel east and up the slope you passed by on the way here. As you reach the top of the slow, you’ll arrive in the next numbered route.