diff -r 2ac3658a2a13 -r bbea77a8dff9 hedgewars/uGearsHandlersMess.pas
--- a/hedgewars/uGearsHandlersMess.pas	Sun Sep 02 00:07:33 2018 +0200
+++ b/hedgewars/uGearsHandlersMess.pas	Sun Sep 02 01:25:37 2018 +0200
@@ -307,9 +307,28 @@
         AddVisualGear(bubbleX, bubbleY, vgtBubble)
 else if Random(12) = 0 then
         AddVisualGear(bubbleX, bubbleY, vgtBubble);
+// Insta-delete gear and skip drowning animation if water is 100% opaque
 if (not SuddenDeathDmg and (WaterOpacity > $FE))
-or (SuddenDeathDmg and (SDWaterOpacity > $FE))
-or (hwRound(Gear^.Y) > Gear^.Radius + cWaterLine + cVisibleWater) then
+or (SuddenDeathDmg and (SDWaterOpacity > $FE)) then
+    begin
+    // Teleport gear to a suitable position for the damage tag in the water
+    if (WorldEdge = weSea) and (hwRound(Gear^.X) - Gear^.Radius < leftX) then
+        begin
+        if (hwRound(Gear^.X) - Gear^.Radius > leftX - 90) then
+            Gear^.X := Gear^.X - _90
+        end
+    else if (WorldEdge = weSea) and (hwRound(Gear^.X) + Gear^.Radius > rightX) then
+        begin
+        if (hwRound(Gear^.X) - Gear^.Radius < rightX + 90) then
+            Gear^.X := Gear^.X + _90
+        end
+    else
+        Gear^.Y := int2hwFloat(Gear^.Radius + cWaterLine + cVisibleWater);
+    DeleteGear(Gear);
+    exit;
+    end;
+// Delete normally if gear is outside of visible range
+if (hwRound(Gear^.Y) > Gear^.Radius + cWaterLine + cVisibleWater) then
     DeleteGear(Gear);
 end;