Final Fantasy VIII - Deep Sea Research Center

After defeating Bahamut and gaining him as a GF, leave and head back to the Ragnarok. Talk to a party member then talk to Irvine and land at the Deep Sea Research Center again, inside you will see the core has been destroyed, a Save Point and a small bridge. Cross the bridge to climb onto the pillar and head down to the room below.

Here you have to solve a puzzle to descend further; how this is done depends on whether Zell is in your party. Each floor will be explained for both solutions, the goal is to get to the Excavation Site with 10 units of steam left but you need to use these units to open doors.

Floor 1: Draw Point for Dispel can be found here.

With Zell: Talk to Zell, he will see a machine and Squall will check it out. You will use 4 units here.

Without Zell: Talk to the party member near the hatch in the floor who will see a machine which Squall will check out. You will use 4 units here.

Either way, once the door is open, head down to the next level (The way down is on the left side, if you approach from any other side you will just walk away from it)

Floor 2:

With Zell: Use the console at the bottom of the stairs and use 1 unit to open the door.

Without Zell: Use the console at the bottom of the stairs and use 2 units to open the door.

Floor 3:

With Zell: Use the console at the bottom of the stairs and use 1 unit to open the door.

Without Zell: Under the stairs, to the left, is a console that opens up to the "Steam Room", spend 4 units to open the door to the Steam Room. Enter the door to the far left, there is a Draw Point for Esuna here, then use the console to the far right to replenish 7 units.

Head back to the previous room, use the console at the bottom of the stairs and use 1 unit to open the door.

Floor 4:

With Zell: Use the console at the bottom of the stairs and use 1 unit to open the door.

Without Zell: Use the console at the bottom of the stairs and use 1 unit to open the door.

Floor 5:

With Zell: Use the console at the bottom of the stairs and use 1 unit to open the door.

Without Zell: Use the console at the bottom of the stairs and use 1 unit to open the door.

Floor 6:

With Zell: Inspect the machinery to the left of the levers and Zell will say he can handle it. Let him try and he will open the door to the left for free.

Without Zell: Use the console in the middle and use 4 units to open the door.

Finally, head left through the newly opened door.

In the next room is a Hidden Save Point and some stairs leading down. Head down, as you descend you will encounter many tough monsters which are worth fighting as they have high-level magic that you can draw such as Meteor, Curaga, Flare, Holy & Meltdown.

Keep descending the stairs; you will reach a landing with a Hidden Draw Point for Triple and a continuation of the stairs followed by a Hidden Draw Point for Ultima.

At the bottom you will find a Save Point, make sure to Save and heal up your party and GF's for the next Boss; check the details below for some tips.