is there a trick to get into abysmal? ive waited on the boat for hours and never seen it yet, both in nadaria and natimbi.

The Magus in either zone can send you there.

For future reference - all boats are "disabled". In ocean of tears, there is a boat that sails around but it doesn't go to other zones. Instead, a couple gnomes can teleport ou in and out from the docks of BB and FP plus from the 1st dock in OoT. I'm unsure if there is a boat still sailing Timorous Deep, but if so then it too is only there for effect and not usable.

Just say 'Abysmal Sea' to the Magii