Surviving the treacherous island in Sons of the Forest requires gathering specialized equipment to explore hidden depths. The Rebreather is one of the most critical early-game tools, allowing players to breathe underwater and unlock flooded cave pathways. Without this crucial piece of diving gear, your progress will completely stall, as it is required to reach other essential progression items like the shovel.
Finding the Coastal Cave Entrance
To locate the Rebreather, players must head toward the northernmost coastline of the remote island. You will find the correct cave entrance tucked away near a sandy beach area by the ocean. Keep a sharp eye out for unique environmental markers, such as yellow storage containers and warning signs scattered outside the opening.
If your character happens to spawn on the northern beach at the start of a fresh game, you are already very close to this position. Before attempting to step inside, ensure you equip a basic starting weapon like the tactical axe. The entrance itself is heavily boarded up with wooden planks that you must smash apart to create a gap to squeeze through.
Navigating the Pitch Black Tunnels
The interior of this coastal cavern is incredibly dark and populated by hostile mutant variants that will attack on sight. It is highly recommended to craft a torch using a simple stick and a piece of cloth before venturing too deep. Alternatively, navigating with your starting lighter can work, though it provides a much smaller radius of visible illumination.
As you move forward through the narrow tunnels, the main path will eventually split into two distinct directions. Taking the right-hand path will lead players toward a dead-end chamber where the Stun Gun weapon can be recovered from a suspended body. However, to secure your diving gear, you must ignore that distraction and stay along the left-hand side of the fork.
Retrieving the Rebreather Gear
Following the left tunnel will eventually guide you past several life vests floating in shallow water pools. Continue pushing forward through the damp corridors until you reach a massive underground chamber glowing with a distinct blue hue. This subterranean room features a deep central pool of water where the prize is located.
The Rebreather sits directly on the rocky ground near the edge of the deep water pool, emitting a bright light. Simply walk up to the equipment and press the interaction key to add it directly to your inventory. Be cautious of the aggressive shark guarding the deep water if you decide to plunge into the pool immediately.
Exiting the Cave System Safely
Once the item is securely equipped, it automatically provides oxygen and a subtle headlamp feature whenever your character is fully submerged. You can choose to backtrack through the dangerous tunnels the exact way you came in. However, the fastest exit route involves putting your new gear to use right away.
Equip the apparatus and dive directly down into the deep pool located in the center of the final chamber. Look closely for a hidden underwater tunnel that cuts through the rock and leads directly back to the ocean. Swimming through this submerged passage will safely deposit you right back out onto the northern shoreline.
