Exploring the mysterious island in Sons of the Forest requires specialized gear to uncover hidden caves and essential progression items. Among these key tools, the Rebreather is critical for breathing underwater and accessing flooded caverns like the shovel cave. Understanding where to find this item early in your playthrough saves valuable survival time.
Locating the Northern Beach Cave
The Rebreather is hidden inside a coastal cavern designated as Cave A along the northern shoreline. Players can reach this spot by following the northern coast toward the northwestern stretch of the beach. You will spot yellow drums floating near the shoreline and skewered corpses near the cave entrance.
Before heading inside, players should prepare a reliable light source such as a flashlight or a crafted torch. The cave entrance is initially blocked by wooden barricades. Equip an axe to smash through the wooden boards and squeeze into the narrow passage.
Navigating the Tunnels to the Main Fork
Once inside the cavern, search the entry area thoroughly for useful early-game supplies. You can find an air tank near the first laptop, along with ammunition scattered around nearby corpses. Advance carefully down the narrow tunnel while keeping your light source active to navigate the dark terrain.
As you press deeper into the cave, you will encounter floating rubber rings and hanging skeletons. Shortly after encountering a few cave mutants, the pathway splits into two major routes. The right path leads toward a Stun Gun, while the left route is necessary to retrieve the Rebreather.
Reaching the Rebreather Chamber
Take the left path at the intersection to continue toward the breathing apparatus. You will know you are heading in the correct direction when you wade through shallow water filled with floating life vests. Follow the winding corridor until you emerge into a large, dimly lit chamber with a body of water in the middle.
Exercise caution along the dry ledge and avoid falling into the pool immediately. A dangerous shark patrols the submerged area of this chamber, posing a threat to unprepared players. Follow the right side of the rocky ledge to find a large leather backpack containing the Rebreather.
Escaping the Cave and Underwater Mechanics
Picking up the Rebreather automatically adds it to your inventory for instant underwater use. The device automatically consumes oxygen canisters whenever you dive into deep water. It also features a built-in headlamp that brightens dark underwater pathways.
To escape the cavern, equip the Rebreather and carefully enter the central pool when the shark is at a distance. Dive beneath the surface to locate a submerged tunnel opening leading out of the cave system. Swimming through this underwater passage will bring you back safely out to the open ocean shoreline.
