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[Icebreaker74]

I'm relatively new to the forums, although I've been playing minecraft for a while now. This topic is going to be about what to do in a pinch underwater, especially under a frozen layer of ice. I'm currently sitting on top of enormous amounts of valuables on my survival world in minecraft and have the game paused at 0 oxygen and 3.5 hearts. There is one block of ice separating me and freedom, but I fear I may not be able to shatter it and surface before I drown. I'm aware that the pickaxe is the tool of choice for ice. I was wondering if anyone had some stats underwater digging, drowning speeds, and/or could tell me whether I should go for broke and try to surface or if I should just pull out my map with the last few seconds I have to live and do my best to get an idea of where to run and go look for my stuff once I respawn.

[erntcariu_ua12_me]

if you have torches, go to the nearest wall as fast as you can, and place a torch. Make sure your head is next to the block you're placing the torch on, so then you'll regain oxygen. If you can't do this, turn it on peaceful, and use your pic to try and break the ice. Hope this helped!








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[Coconut]

Well,
A- Press F3 to get your X/Y/Z coords and that's exactly where you need to go if you die.
B- You either need to get to the nearest wall and do the torch trick, or try to push through the ice in your remaining seconds of life.
B2- Can you place blocks on the underside of ice? I honestly don't know. If so, you may have time to place a block, and quickly place a torch on the block so you can get your head to that height.

Please be sure to update this thread when you're done

[Dan10105]

Yep, torches are the way to go. If you have a block in your hotkeys, like dirt or cobblestone, place it under the ice (well, not like you can place it anywhere else), place the torch, put your head there and voila - you're safe!

Well, you're safe until the water washes out the torch. But with your breathing reset, you should have enough time to break the ice.

[Abecedarius]

This is why it's always a good idea to have a door with you underwater. Unlike the torch idea many people know of, doors can be placed anywhere along the bottom without needing a head-height ledge to place it on, and they won't wash away either.

[Pinkamena_314]

*blink*

*blink*

This is gonna be kind of ironic coming from me, but how did you manage to get stuck underneath a frozen lake?! I've been in some weird and sometimes unfortunate places in my time, but... did you poke a hole, go down to check it out, and have the hole freeze shut on you or something? And yeah I recommend placing a block then placing a torch. Even if you manage to break the ice, I'm not sure you'd be able to actually reach air fast enough since swimming is so slow.

[KinglyNinja]

Move back. Place a block of dirt, cobble, anything. Place a torch on it. If theres ice, theres a spot to place a block. Never go for a wall if you're at low health. Placing blocks right next to you will be quicker than swimming to a wall.

[JTTCOTE2]

As everyone has mentioned, you have to get a torch in your head. That means putting a block and placing a torch on it. What happens is the air bar gets reset and then a fraction of a second later the torch breaks. Put down a torch to reset your air meter, then place another one every time you get low on air. Do this to get to 10 hearts and then try to break the ice. Ice breaks much faster with a pick if you have one.

[AlyssaNights]

If you have sugar cane, that can help. use the stuff to make an air pocket. If not then torches are the way to go. If you do die and note the co-ordinates, before you dive for your stuff, place a block on top of the ice with torches on all four vertical sides. Smash all the ice around it. The torches should keep that section of the ice melted so you'll have a way out from your dive.

[Elephant]

I don't think it's going to be possible to place both a block and a torch in time, especially if you don't have them on your hotbar. If I was you, I'd make getting your coordinates the main priority.

[ULM_Mizoki]

Sefirah, on 14 November 2012 - 04:46 AM, said:

*blink*

*blink*

This is gonna be kind of ironic coming from me, but how did you manage to get stuck underneath a frozen lake?! I've been in some weird and sometimes unfortunate places in my time, but... did you poke a hole, go down to check it out, and have the hole freeze shut on you or something? And yeah I recommend placing a block then placing a torch. Even if you manage to break the ice, I'm not sure you'd be able to actually reach air fast enough since swimming is so slow.

OhGodSoMuchPink.png

In my early days of minecraft, back in Alpha 1.1.0, my first map was a snow-world. As time went on crafting houses and whatnot, I eventually wanted to make brick blocks. So I went out onto the nearest frozen lake I knew of and bore out a '1x1' hole. I hopped in the hole and descent to a nearby pocket of clay, hitting it with my shovel and grabbing about 1-2 pieces per trip before resurfacing for air. On the last trip as I was surfacing for air, looking straight up at my hole, my life-line, it freezes solid before my eyes. *Cue sonic the hedgehog drowning music* needless to say, I wasn't able to break the hole back open in time to survive, forcing me to return to the lake and swim back down for my inventory.

TL;DR: I was trapped under Ice.

Icebreaker74, on 14 November 2012 - 02:17 AM, said:

I'm relatively new to the forums, although I've been playing minecraft for a while now. This topic is going to be about what to do in a pinch underwater, especially under a frozen layer of ice. I'm currently sitting on top of enormous amounts of valuables on my survival world in minecraft and have the game paused at 0 oxygen and 3.5 hearts. There is one block of ice separating me and freedom, but I fear I may not be able to shatter it and surface before I drown. I'm aware that the pickaxe is the tool of choice for ice. I was wondering if anyone had some stats underwater digging, drowning speeds, and/or could tell me whether I should go for broke and try to surface or if I should just pull out my map with the last few seconds I have to live and do my best to get an idea of where to run and go look for my stuff once I respawn.

OP, I'd pull out the map and hit the 'F2' key to make a screenshot. Even with a pickaxe, it's going to be a close call trying to break it with no oxygen. I'd just prepare for the worst and pick up the pieces afterwards.

[Delthyn]

Fences, trapdoors, torches, ladders, doors, sugar cane, signs etc. are all excellent ways to survive underwater. In your situation, I would put a fence on a nearby ice block, swim into the air bubble, and breathe. Assuming you don't have that, then go ahead and place a block, and then put a torch on it.

Consider playing the Super Hostile: Training Map. It gives a whole bunch of tips and tricks for survival, including underwater survival.

[rodabon]

I always pack a bucket.  If you have one use it to remove a block of water to get a gulp of air.

[donnyh13]

thanks to the wonderful realistic nature of minecraft lol

[Boundegar]

1. Gather up valuables.  Do not forget diamonds.
2. Make a small hole in a big frozen lake.
3. Swim way way down.  What could possibly go wrong?

I like the answer with the torch trick.  I usually consider it somewhat cheaty, but this is an emergency.  Also, take heart - I think the new version makes it easier to swim up, if you ever get that ice broken.