Animal Crossing: New Horizons Swimming update goes off the deep end

What’s new in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Swimming update

After downloading the most recent update to Animal Crossing: New Horizons and installing it, I was ready to dive into the new swimming content. I promise that’s my last pun. Probably.

Once you hop into the game, Isabelle tells you all about how Nook Inc. has been investigating the water surrounding the island, and after a survey has determined it’s safe to swim in. Checking your mail gets you a snorkel and goggle set (which you don’t need) and then ducking by Nook’s Cranny (or looking on your phone) lets you purchase a wet suit which you need for swimming.

Once your wet suit is on, swimming is pretty easy. Go up to the beach and press A to dive in. Do it off the rocks and you’ll jump in. Run and jump off the beach and do little things like flips. Swimming itself is done mostly by smashing the A button while aiming in the direction you want to get in. When you see bubbles coming out of the water, hit X and you’ll dive down and, if your aim be true, you’ll come up with a deep-sea creature of some sort.

Some things are exciting like sea slugs or spotted eels, sometimes it’ll be a clump of seaweed. All of these can be turned into Blathers as donations for the nautical area and added to a new section of your index next to bug and fish called “sea creatures”.

One of the best parts, and the part that very much excited both of my little kids who were watching over my shoulder as I type this (I see you, Damian) was when I found a scallop. At that time Pascal, the adorable otter, popped up out of the water asking for it. As you find more scallops you encounter him who happily accepts them in exchange for mermaid themed DIY items. Keep in mind that these recipes require pearls which are one of the many many things you find on the seafloor so don’t think this is something you’re going to farm quickly.

All in all, this is an excellent addition to the game that adds a whole new level of depth (I’m so sorry) to a game I was worried was starting to get shallow (I know I said I’d stop with the puns but I’m a dad). Give it a shot and tell us what you think!

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