100% GAMEBREAKING BUG! READ THIS, DEVS

[Mudbill]

Spoiler below!

I'm trying to make it across the ocean floor being pursued by the WAU beast (which is really difficult, btw) and when I'm caught by it, it gets caught in a loop of taking me back to the start, so I'm just constantly going round and round! Have to exit and reload

That actually is a real shame o.0 That's the first time I have heard that one. In that particular area...

Spoiler below!

the mechanics are designed to not always make you backtrack too greatly. You may get spat out off the side of the cliff at one point but it is recoverable. Essentially you want to head for the climber (the tall black thing with red lights) and not stop. It takes a few tries (took me three progressive sprints, but I've seen people complete them in two, some as much as five) but you're meant to get there eventually.

Adding to this with an actual stratergy (spoilers):

Spoiler below!

You're not meant to run in one go without stopping, even if that's what most people do. There are small rocks and containers and cliffs on the sides of the path. You're meant to hide under those while the WAU worm swims by, then continue to the next. The only reason people were able to run all the way is because Frictional Games don't make things trial-and-error style. If you fail too much, they help you progress to not kill the immersion.