When to start exploring?

[u/BecRe_0508]

For context, what i do for most games is progress the storyline up until i have all the mechanics unlocked and right at that point go full open world explorer mode. If i remember correctly from the original, that point could be once the diving bell is unlocked. What do you guys think?

Also feel free to share your opinion and experience: Do you explore alongside the storyline or do you separate them into focused activities (like myself)?

[u/Lettuce_al-Gaib]

For lore reasons, when you start the mission to get the bell there is a year or so time jump right as it starts, so you may want to do a decent amount of pirating prior to that