Can't believe I missed this thread! Utterly amazing work, gentlemen.. I hope Okti manages to get on top of his RL situation and returns to this project..
Most games have some sort of paddling-pool-and-water-wings beginning to ease you in: Oolite takes the rather more Darwinian approach of heaving you straight into the ocean, often with a brick or two in your pockets for luck. ~ Disembodied