How to Breathe Underwater in Minecraft?

If you want to visit the depths of the ocean, build an underwater base, or get all achievements in Minecraft, you'll need to be able to breathe while diving.

We'll show you several ways to do that.

While some are pretty simple, others may pose a bit of a challenge.

Nonetheless, with a little bit of effort, you can discover all the amazing things the world beneath the waves has to offer.

Why Go Exploring Underwater in Minecraft?

When you think of the game, images of towering castles and lush forests probably come to mind.

However, there is an entire world hidden underneath the shimmering water surface of this blocky world.

From ruins containing treasures and valuable materials to beautiful fish and coral reefs, there is plenty to discover. And if you want to do that with your friends, you can set up your own server with the help of the best providers.

But before you can take the plunge, you need to make sure you won't drown.

Let's see the available options.

How to Breathe Underwater in Minecraft?

Depending on where you are in your game development, you can opt for different methods.

Using a Turtle Shell

That is the most straightforward way to prolong the time you can spend underwater in Minecraft.

You'll need to craft the shell and wear it on your head to get extra ten seconds of breathing time.

1. Find turtles and give seaweed to two of them to make them breed and lay eggs.
2. Protect the turtle eggs until they hatch (it takes a random amount of time).
3. Help the baby turtles grow by feeding them seagrass until they mature to get scutes in Minecraft.
4. Place five scutes on the crafting table — three on the first row and one in the first and third slots of the second row.
5. Equip the turtle shell you just made to breathe underwater.

Using the Respiration Enchantment

Extending breathing time with a Minecraft water breathing enchantment on a helmet is a more advanced approach.

Every enchantment level will give you extra 15 seconds, but the maximum buff is 45 seconds.

1. Craft or find an enchanting table.
2. Surround the table with a maximum of 15 bookshelves, placed one block apart from it, to increase the enchantment level and breathe underwater in Minecraft for longer.
3. Ensure you have enough experience levels to pay for the enchantment.
4. Put the helmet or turtle shell in and add one to three Lapis Lazuli.
5. Choose "Respiration" from the random enchantment options you'll get.

Using a Minecraft Water Breathing Potion

That can be quite expensive to make, but it gives you a water breathing buff for three minutes.

1. Craft a brewing stand using three stones of any kind in the third row of the crafting grid and a blaze rod in the very center.
2. Open it and add blaze powder to activate it.
3. Place a water bottle in one of the three bottom slots.
4. Put a nether wart on top to make an Awkward Potion (with no function).
5. Add a Pufferfish on top to transform the bottle's contents into a Potion of Water Breathing.

Using a Conduit

Crafting and utilizing a conduit is an endgame-level challenge, but it'll give you permanent water breathing in Minecraft while in range.

1. Acquire eight nautilus shells from killing drowned or trading. It might take a while, as there is a slim chance the drowned will spawn holding a shell.
2. Find a Heart of the Sea inside a treasure chest. There are different ways to discover such chests, but you may come across them randomly as well.
3. Make the conduit by placing the nautilus shells on the crafting table, leaving only the center slot empty for the Heart of the Sea.
4. Build a rectangular frame out of at least 16 prismarine (dark or regular) blocks or bricks underwater.
5. Activate the conduit by positioning it in the very center of the frame to be able to breathe underwater in Minecraft.
6. Enjoy the conduit power status effect in a 16-block range for every seven blocks of prismarine you put in the frame.

Using a Bucket

That is more of a Minecraft water breathing cheat, but it still works.

You can use an empty bucket to make air pockets underwater. Go near a wall or the bottom of the lake or ocean and take out your bucket. Start right-clicking repeatedly to remove one block of water and take a breath. You can do that for as long as you need.

Underwater Achievements

Once you've mastered how to breathe, you can start exploring the underwater world and find some of the many secrets it holds.

There are also two achievements you can get with your new skill.

• Free Diver — if you successfully stay two minutes underwater in Minecraft.
• Sleep with the Fishes (Bedrock edition) — if you manage to spend a day underwater.

To Wrap Up

Now that you know how to breathe underwater in Minecraft, you can use these methods, depending on your game level, to get some air while diving.

You'll be able to stay submerged for as long as you need to build or explore without worrying about running out of breath.

Have fun with your new skill!