TL;DR
- To swim in Pokémon Pokopia, you need to unlock the Surf move.
- Surf is unlocked by completing Piplup’s “Swimming time!” request at Bleak Beach.
- Before that, you must start the “Brighten things up” Important Request.
- To progress, build the Tropical Seaside habitat to attract Lapras.
- Once Lapras arrives, talk to it — Ditto transforms into Lapras in water by pressing the B button.
How do I swim? It’s one of the first questions players ask when they start Pokémon Pokopia. After all, there’s an awful lot of water in Pokopia, and Ditto doesn’t know how to swim at all. Jumping through water or testing how long Ditto lasts underwater aren’t reliable solutions — spoiler: it’s not long.
Thankfully, swimming is very much available. Here’s exactly how to swim in Pokémon Pokopia by unlocking Surf.
How to Swim in Pokémon Pokopia
To swim in Pokémon Pokopia, you need to unlock the Surf move by completing the “Swimming time!” request for Piplup at Bleak Beach. Before this becomes available, you first need to start the “Brighten things up” Important Request — Piplup’s request unlocks during this chain, so keep a close eye on your requests list.
Step 1 – Start the “Brighten Things Up” Request
Progress through the game until the “Brighten things up” Important Request becomes available. This is what triggers Piplup’s “Swimming time!” request to appear, so you can’t skip it.
Step 2 – Accept Piplup’s “Swimming time!” Request
Once unlocked, Piplup’s request revolves around wanting to go for a swim with Ditto. Since Ditto sinks rather than swims, this presents a challenge. Professor Tangrowth steps in with a suggestion: seek advice from a Lapras.
Piplup is one of many Pokémon you’ll encounter on your journey — see the full Pokémon Pokopia Pokédex for every Pokémon, their habitats, and their specialties.
Step 3 – Build the Tropical Seaside Habitat
To meet Lapras, you need to build the Tropical Seaside habitat. This requires:
- x1 Large Palm Tree
- x4 Hedge (Any)
- x2 Ocean Water
For the ideal location, try the palm tree just west of where Smearguru paints on Bleak Beach — there’s enough space for your hedges and it sits close enough to the ocean. Rather than growing hedges from scratch, a much faster approach is using Rototiller to pull up existing hedges from around Bleak Beach.
Need help gathering materials? Check out our guides on how to get lumber and how to get bricks to keep your island building running smoothly.
Step 4 – Wait for Lapras to Arrive
After building the Tropical Seaside habitat, it’s time to wait. Lapras typically takes three to five minutes to appear. Short as that sounds, it’s strongly recommended to place a Security Camera pointing at the habitat so you get notified the moment Lapras arrives — no need to stand and stare at it.
Step 5 – Talk to Lapras and Learn Surf
When Lapras appears, head back to the habitat and talk to it to learn Surf! From this point on, pressing the B button whenever Ditto enters water will transform it into Lapras, letting you swim freely without sinking. Pressing B again while in water will undo the transformation — though be careful in deeper areas, as Ditto may start sinking again if you revert.
Enjoying Swimming in Pokopia
With Surf unlocked, you’re free to swim around Bleak Beach — and Ditto-Lapras is genuinely adorable. It’s also worth taking a moment to finish up Piplup’s full request. There’s no additional reward, but you do get to enjoy a lovely swim together with Piplup, which is a nice moment.
Swimming opens up new areas of Pokopia and makes navigating the coast significantly easier. While you’re exploring, it’s a good time to check whether you’ve completed some of the water-adjacent habitats and Pokémon. Our Habitat Dex guide lists every habitat including the water-based ones you’ll now be able to access. You may also want to check your PP levels before diving into extended exploration sessions.
You can pick up Pokémon Pokopia on Nintendo Switch 2 if you haven’t already and dive straight into Ditto’s adventure.
FAQs – How to Swim in Pokémon Pokopia
Q: How do you swim in Pokémon Pokopia?
A: To swim in Pokémon Pokopia, you need to unlock the Surf move by completing Piplup’s “Swimming time!” request at Bleak Beach. Once unlocked, press the B button while Ditto is in water to transform into Lapras and swim freely.
Q: How do I unlock Surf in Pokémon Pokopia?
A: Surf is unlocked by completing the “Swimming time!” request from Piplup. To trigger this request, you first need to start the “Brighten things up” Important Request. After that, build the Tropical Seaside habitat to attract Lapras, talk to it, and Surf will be yours.
Q: What habitat do I need to build to unlock swimming?
A: You need to build the Tropical Seaside habitat, which requires 1 Large Palm Tree, 4 Hedge (Any), and 2 Ocean Water. Place it near the beach at Bleak Beach for the easiest setup.
Q: How long does it take for Lapras to appear at the Tropical Seaside habitat?
A: Lapras usually appears within three to five minutes of you building the Tropical Seaside habitat. Setting up a Security Camera aimed at the habitat means you’ll be notified as soon as it arrives.
Q: Can Ditto go back to normal while swimming in Pokopia?
A: Yes — pressing B while swimming will revert Ditto back to its normal form. Just be aware that in deeper water, Ditto will start sinking again after reverting, so make sure you’re in a safe spot before transforming back.
Guide based on current Pokémon Pokopia version. Steps may vary slightly with future updates.