Why Can’t I Dive in Animal Crossing? A Comprehensive Guide to Underwater Exploration

It’s frustrating when you’re ready to explore the depths of the ocean in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, only to find yourself splashing aimlessly at the surface. The simple answer to “Why can’t I dive in Animal Crossing?” is that you need a wetsuit. Without a wetsuit, your character will not be able to submerge and explore the sea bed for those elusive sea creatures. This article will guide you through the process of getting your wetsuit and delve into everything you need to know about diving in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

The Necessity of a Wetsuit

Diving isn’t an immediate ability in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Unlike swimming at the surface, which you can do from the start, venturing into the depths requires a specific piece of equipment: the wetsuit. This essential item isn’t just for show; it’s the key that unlocks the underwater world and allows you to dive and collect sea creatures.

How to Obtain a Wetsuit

There are two primary ways to obtain a wetsuit:

• Nook’s Cranny: The most common and quickest method is to purchase a wetsuit from Nook’s Cranny. Head inside and find the cabinet that usually holds tools, seeds, and wallpaper. You’ll find a randomly selected wetsuit design available for purchase, often costing 3,000 bells. This option provides immediate access to diving once you’ve changed into the wetsuit.

• Nook Shopping App: You can also purchase wetsuits from the Nook Shopping App on your Nook Phone. However, unlike the wetsuits at Nook’s Cranny, those purchased via the app are mailed to your mailbox and arrive the next day. While the convenience of online ordering is nice, you won’t get instant gratification if you opt for this method.

Why Not Able Sisters?

You might wonder why the wetsuit isn’t sold at Able Sisters, the clothing store. This is because Able Sisters is not available from the start of the game. The developers likely made wetsuits accessible through Nook’s Cranny to ensure players can begin diving once they unlock swimming, without having to unlock Able Sisters first.

Diving Mechanics: How It Works

Once you have your wetsuit and have put it on, diving is quite intuitive:

1. Enter the Water: Walk into the ocean from the shore or a pier.
2. Swim: Use the control stick to move around in the water.
3. Dive: Press Y while swimming to dive underwater.
4. Catch Sea Creatures: Look for bubbles appearing on the water surface. Swim over the bubbles and press Y again to dive down and grab the sea creature below.
5. Underwater Movement: If a shadow you’re pursuing starts to move away, you can swim faster underwater by tapping A. Press A again once you’re over the shadow to catch the creature.

Snorkels: Optional Accessories

Nintendo provides every player with a snorkel mask for downloading the update that introduces swimming and diving. However, these snorkels are purely cosmetic. While they add to the overall look, they are not necessary for diving or catching sea creatures. Your wetsuit is the only essential item needed. Snorkels can also be purchased from Mabel before building Able Sisters, or once the shop is open.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about diving in Animal Crossing: New Horizons to provide even more clarity and help you get the most out of your underwater adventures:

1. Do I need a snorkel to dive in Animal Crossing?

No, a snorkel is not required to dive in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It’s an optional accessory that can be worn to enhance your character’s appearance. The only essential item needed is the wetsuit.

2. Why can’t I get a wetsuit in Animal Crossing?

You must buy a wetsuit at Nook’s Cranny or the Nook Shopping app. It cannot be found at Able Sisters or anywhere else. Make sure you have enough bells for a purchase.

3. How do I dive for sea creatures in Animal Crossing?

First, you must wear a wetsuit. Once in the water, swim to an area with bubbles, press Y to dive, and then press Y again to catch the sea creature. You can swim faster underwater by tapping A.

4. What is the rarest thing to dive for in Animal Crossing?

The Gigas giant clam is considered the rarest and most valuable sea creature to dive for. It has a very large shadow, making it relatively easy to spot.

5. How long until my wetsuit arrives when purchased from the Nook Shopping App?

Wetsuits ordered via the Nook Shopping App will be delivered to your mailbox the next day. If you want immediate access to diving, purchase one directly from Nook’s Cranny.

6. When can I start diving in Animal Crossing?

You can start diving as soon as you have a wetsuit and the required update to enable swimming and diving in the game.

7. What is the rarest fish in Animal Crossing?

The Coelacanth is renowned for being one of the rarest fish to catch. It only appears in the ocean while it’s raining, regardless of the time of day or year.

8. Can you catch a shark in Animal Crossing?

Yes, you can catch various species of sharks in the ocean. Sharks are typically available between 4 PM and 9 AM, but some shark species like the saw shark appear at different times.

9. Where do I find the saw shark in Animal Crossing?

The saw shark can be found in the ocean from June to September, between 4 PM and 9 AM.

10. Can you wear a snorkel while diving?

Yes, you can wear a snorkel while diving, but it doesn’t offer any functional advantages for diving. It’s purely a cosmetic accessory.

11. What is the fastest way to move underwater in Animal Crossing?

In Animal Crossing, tapping the A button allows you to swim slightly faster when pursuing sea creatures. There are no advanced underwater swimming strokes.

12. How does the game load sea creatures?

Deep-sea creatures are not constantly present in the ocean; the game loads them once the player enters the water, creating an element of surprise and discovery.

13. Do snorkels do anything practical in Animal Crossing?

No, snorkels do not offer any practical advantage in diving. They are a purely cosmetic item and make no impact on speed or catch ability.

14. Are there specific times when certain sea creatures are available?

While some sea creatures are available all day, many only appear during specific times or seasons, similar to fish and bugs.

15. How much does the wetsuit cost?

Wetsuits usually cost 3,000 bells when purchased from Nook’s Cranny, but the price might vary slightly depending on the design.

Conclusion

Diving in Animal Crossing: New Horizons adds a fantastic layer of depth to the game, both literally and figuratively. With the correct equipment – a wetsuit, and a basic understanding of the game mechanics you can dive into the ocean’s depths and uncover a whole new world of sea creatures. The answers to “Why can’t I dive in Animal Crossing?” are now clear: obtain a wetsuit, equip it, and you are ready to explore!