Hidden or unknown.
“Other worldly” or detached from reality.
A desire to escape reality or take a break.
The environment of your inner life at the time of the dream (for example, clear water might represent mental clarity, or murky water might represent confusion).
Acting or thriving outside your comfort zone (since water is outside of a human’s usual air-based environment).
Being able to breath underwater can represent: an ability to thrive in a challenging environment, a feeling of invincibility, power, uniqueness, or specialness (or a desire for such).
Panicking underwater can represent a feeling or fear of overwhelm, losing control, or mental or emotional smothering.
See also: Swimming, Diving, Water, Water, Body of, Flood, Drowning [1]
A common dream is to be able to breathe and move with ease underwater; this represents a level of grace and ease with a current emotional situation. Fear of being underwater reflects the opposite.
If it is you that is underwater, then it is your own life experience that is being expressed.
If someone else is underwater, then the aspect of your character that the person represents may be key to what is creating an upheaval of feelings. [2]
If you can breathe underwater in your dream, this represents a retreat back into the womb. You want to return to a state where you were more carefree and had no responsibilities. [3]
2. One needs to learn how to navigate one’s life better.
3. In “over one’s head.” 4. If breathing underwater, one has returned—temporarily and emotionally—to the womb. [4]
A very healthy sign. [6]