Nikolaf's More Realistic Underwater Breathing
⚪ Last updated 2021⚠️ Install Order · 5 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview
🔍 Analysis
- 👍 3.4% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #25 of 119 Gameplay mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
This mod simply changes one gamesetting value, fActorLeaveWaterBreathTimer from 4 to 10 seconds, which is more realistic in my opinion.
It works best with mods that explore the underwater world a bit more, like Depths of Skyrim.
IRL I've tried and succeeded in staying underwater for over 4 minutes, so why shouldn't the Dragonborn also be able to survive at least a bit longer than vanilla?
I've made an optional version that will also increase the time before you start drowning from 30 to 60 seconds ( argonians not included :D ).
Choose which file, they've been flagged esl, and are safe to add/remove at any time. Put it at the bottom of your load order, just in case.
If you like the mod, consider supporting me on Patreon, every little bit helps! Thank you for your time!
Nikolaf's More Realistic Underwater Breathing tweaks Skyrim's underwater breathing timer from 4 to 10 seconds, with an optional version extending drowning time from 30 to 60 seconds. It's a lightweight, ESL-flagged gameplay tweak for players who want more forgiving underwater exploration, especially when paired with mods like Depths of Skyrim.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Tiny, lightweight mod that does exactly what it says—no bloat, just a simple timer tweak.
- Community-trusted with 258 endorsements and over 7,500 downloads.
- ESL-flagged means it won't eat up your mod slots, and it's safe to remove anytime.
⚠️ Cons
- Only changes a single game setting, so if you're looking for deeper underwater mechanics, this won't cut it.
- The optional version's longer drowning timer might make survival too easy for some players, especially with mods that add underwater combat.
- Compatibility risk with mods that alter the same game setting (fActorLeaveWaterBreathTimer) or overhaul survival mechanics—load order will matter.
For Skyrim players who find vanilla underwater breathing too punishing and want a quick, realistic tweak without overhauling the game. It's perfect for explorers who use mods like Depths of Skyrim to make underwater areas more interesting. Skip if you want complex underwater gameplay changes—this is a simple quality-of-life adjustment.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Place the mod at the bottom of your load order to ensure it overrides any conflicting settings.
- If you use a mod manager like Vortex or MO2, just download and enable—no manual file placement needed.
- Pair it with Depths of Skyrim for a more immersive underwater experience, but be aware that other mods might also tweak breathing timers.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim Mods
- Author
- Nikolaf
- Version
- 1.0
- Downloads
- 7,540
- Endorsements
- 258
- Category
- Gameplay
- Created
- 4/1/2021
- Updated
- 4/1/2021
🧩 Commonly Used Together
Users add these mods to the same collections — a real compatibility signal, not an AI guess.
🔧 How to Install Skyrim Mods
Download from Nexus.
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