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How To Breathe Underwater In Minecraft

Underwater exploration in Minecraft can be quite rewarding as you will discover and acquire hidden gems and rare items that are not found on land.

In the depths, you can search through tons of hidden trunks with valuable treasures inside ship ruins or wrecks.

However, there is a time limit on how long you can breathe underwater in Minecraft.

You need to get back to the surface before reaching the limit, or you will start suffering from drowning damages.

How To Breathe Underwater In Minecraft?

Unfortunately there is no special trick or movement that can make you swim underwater indefinitely in Minecraft.

The Water Breathing effect in Minecraft is temporary. The effect will wear off over time and you must ascend back to the surface before the time is up.

As for the longevity of the Water Breathing effect, this depends on how you get the effect in the first place. 

The most common way to obtain the Water Breathing effect is by using potion. To make this potion, all you need is 1 water bottle, 1 nether wart, and lastly 1 puffer fish.

Potion of Water Breathing To Breath Underwater in Minercraft

The potion allows you to stay submerged underwater for 3 minutes (3:00) without suffering any drowning damage.

Of course, you can also create a 8 minutes (8:00) Potion of Water Breathing by mixing 1 redstone dust with the 3 minutes Potion of Water Breathing. 

To know the time left on the potion effect, you can check it through the inventory menu under the Water Bending indicator.

If you observe 2.30 beneath the indicator, this means the effect only has 2 minutes and 30 seconds till it wears off.

How To Breath Underwater Without Potions?

Potions might be the most popular way to gain the ability to breathe underwater in Minecraft, but it is not the only way to achieve the ability.

There are different resources that will also give you the ability to swim and breathe underwater.

Refer below list to know what other resources that you can use to attain Minecraft underwater breathing effect. 

Resources Use To Get Minecraft Underwater Breathing Effect:

  1. Shells of Turtles
  2. Breathing with an Arrow of Water
  3. Conduit Energy (water bending ability is combined with night vision and speed for this effect).

What Does Respiration Do In Minecraft?

Another way to have the ability to swim underwater without causing damage to your health points is by using the respiration. 

Respiration is a form of helmet enchantment that is used to extend your breathing time underwater. You can also apply this helmet enhancement on different armors by using different commands. 

Breath Underwater In Minecraft Using Respiration

Usually without potions or enchantments, the default time a player can only hold their breath is 15 seconds before submerging underwater and starting to run out of air.

With respiration, you can extend your underwater breathing time by +15 seconds per enchantment level on top of the default time.

There are different levels of respiration in Minecraft and the maximum level you can get without any command is at level 3.

The time can also be extended for another additional 10 seconds with the use of a turtle shell. 

The levels of of respiration are summarized as below:

  • Level I: player to stay underwater for 30 seconds.
  • Level II: player to have the ability to be underwater for 45 seconds.
  • Level III: player to stay underwater for 1 minute.

Importance Of Respiration In Minecraft

Respiration is crucial for players that are on the mission of gathering submerged blocks (sand, gravel, clay, sponge, prismarine stairs, prismarine).

Using the respiration, players are able to stay longer times underwater searching through sea temples under shipwrecks to accomplish their Minecraft mission.

The respiration enchantment also comes in handy to players when trying to destroy the sea temple.

Sea Temple

As part of the mission, players need to battle against barricades made up of the Elder guardians and guardians while underwater. 

Thankfully, obtaining the respiration enchantment isn’t difficult, nor is it the rarest enchantment in Minecraft.

You can easily obtain the respiration enchantment through trading, loot or an enchanting table. 

Conclusion

The Water Breathing effect is essential for any underwater exploration. Underwater exploration gives players the opportunity to obtain rare items.

It is also helpful when it comes to submerged blocks collection and defeating sea temples.

Unfortunately, the default time to breathe underwater in Minecraft only lasts for 15 seconds. You need to rush back to the surface before running out of air and drown.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways you can use to extend your breathing time in the water. The most popular way is potion where you can swim underwater for 3 or 8 minutes.

Besides potion, you can also use enchantments or some other commands to increase the breathing time.

As for which option is the best, it is up to you to decide the one that suits your needs!

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