Yes, you can cry underwater. Your tear ducts still function underwater; however, the tears will simply mix with the surrounding water and won't be as noticeable as they are on land.
Why Tears Still Flow Underwater
Your body's natural processes, including tear production, aren't interrupted by being submerged in water. Your lacrimal glands (tear glands) continue to produce tears even underwater. This is confirmed by multiple sources [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
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Irritation: Many bodies of water, such as swimming pools (chlorine), lakes (bacteria), or the ocean (salt and sand), contain irritants. Your eyes react by producing tears to flush these irritants away [1, 7].
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Emotional Response: Your emotional response to sadness, grief, or other strong feelings also triggers tear production. This remains true regardless of your environment, including underwater [2, 4, 8].
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The Difference: The main difference is that underwater, your tears are immediately dispersed and diluted by the surrounding water, making them less visible than tears shed in the air. You won't experience the same sensation of tears streaming down your face [2, 3, 4, 6].
Practical Implications and Additional Considerations
- While you can cry underwater, it is unlikely that you will experience the same emotional catharsis as crying above water.
- The feeling of tears may be less pronounced due to the lack of air resistance and the immediate mixing with water [2, 4].
- The specific composition of the water could affect the experience; for example, salty water might sting more than fresh water.
Some sources offer playful or anecdotal accounts of crying underwater [6, 7], however, the core principle remains consistent: your tear ducts function regardless of the environment.
