Primary use
Emergency surfacing, oxygen refill, and beginner mistake recovery.
Emergency ascent gear
Air Bladder Guide
Inventory icon
Keep an Air Bladder accessible before entering a cave or wreck. Inhale its stored air for brief emergency support, or use its ascent function when the surface overhead is clear. Refill at the surface after use.
Quick answer: Air Bladder is emergency mobility gear for surfacing mistakes and oxygen recovery, not a replacement for Air Tank upgrades. Equip it, press F to refill oxygen, or right-click to trigger a fast ascent toward the surface.
Reviewed .
Route and unlock plan
Oxygen-depth guide, first tank upgrades, and early wreck safety.
Step 1
Use it as emergency gear
Air Bladder helps recover from bad timing, but it should not replace better oxygen planning.
Step 2
Know the two controls
With Air Bladder selected, press F to refill oxygen. Right-click when you need a quick upward escape toward the surface.
Step 3
Upgrade tanks first when possible
Standard Air Tank and later tanks improve the whole dive, while Air Bladder is a recovery button.
Step 4
Pair with route discipline
A visible exit line and enough oxygen margin matter more than carrying one rescue item.
Player decisions
| Question | Status | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Best use | Emergency ascent | Use it when return timing fails or a route goes wrong. |
| Oxygen refill | F key | Select Air Bladder and press F when you need the oxygen refill behavior. |
| Fast surfacing | Right-click | Right-click is the quick ascent action, useful when a deeper detour is about to become a death swim. |
| Not a replacement | Tank upgrades still matter | It does not give the same route margin as more oxygen capacity. |
| Early value | Beginner safety | Worth considering if repeated deaths happen before better gear. |
Gameplay notes
High confidence
Role
The item is best treated as emergency mobility and oxygen recovery gear.
Confirmed use pattern
Control split
F handles oxygen refill, while right-click handles fast ascent.
Do not overstate
Exact speed
Use the control advice, but do not turn fast ascent into a fixed metres-per-second value.
Useful links
Questions people ask
What does Air Bladder do?
Air Bladder is emergency oxygen and ascent gear. Select it, press F to refill oxygen, or right-click to fast ascend toward the surface.
Should I craft Air Bladder before an Air Tank?
Usually no. Tank upgrades improve every dive; Air Bladder mainly helps recover from mistakes.
Does right-click refill oxygen?
No. Right-click is the fast ascent action. Use F for the oxygen refill.